Greater New Orleans Bonsai Society

04/12/2026

SAVE THE DATE - Bonsai Auction & Plant Sale August 8, 2026

The Greater New Orleans Bonsai Society hosts its Annual Bonsai Auction and Plant Sale August 8, 2026. Huge selection of bonsai, starter material, plants and pots for every budget from the novice to dedicated enthusiast. FREE and open to the public. Viewing of trees and plant sale begins at 4pm. Auction 6-9pm. VFW Hall, 1133 Hickory Ave, Harahan, LA 70123

Annual Bonsai Auction 2026 Annual GNOBS Auction Saturday, August 8, 2026VFW Hall – 1133 Hickory Ave, Harahan, LA 70123Now is the time to go through that overcrowded bench and decide which of your trees should go to the auction for a new home. All donations contribute to the operating budget of the...

04/10/2026

Come out and see Sylvia work her magic tonight and tomorrow.
All are welcome as silent observers if you are not taking the workshop.

Really looking forward to working with the great folks in New Orleans this weekend. We’re going to have a blast!! Hope some of you can join us.

04/09/2026

The container matters as much as the soil inside it. Some commonly used planters leach compounds into vegetable root zones — and the risk is higher in acidic soil, heat, and UV exposure, which are exactly the conditions a summer vegetable garden creates. 🌿

Containers to avoid for food crops:

Old tires are the most commonly recommended "upcycled" planter and the most problematic for edibles. Rubber contains zinc, cadmium, and petroleum-based compounds that leach into soil, particularly in heat.

Treated lumber before 2004 used CCA — chromated copper arsenate — as a preservative. That wood is still in a lot of older raised beds. Post-2004 treated lumber uses different chemistry, but untreated cedar or pine is still the safest choice for edibles.

Decorative glazed pottery from unknown sources can contain lead in the glaze, particularly older pieces or imports without safety certification.

Galvanized steel buckets and containers leach zinc into acidic soil. At low levels zinc is a plant nutrient, but at higher concentrations it becomes a problem. Most risk is in acidic growing conditions.

Styrofoam and PVC both break down under heat and UV, releasing compounds into the soil. PVC in particular degrades faster in direct sun.

Containers that are safe for food crops:

Food-grade plastic — look for recycling codes #2 (HDPE) or #5 (PP) on the container bottom. These are the plastics used for food storage and are considered stable for vegetable growing.

Untreated cedar is naturally rot-resistant without any chemical treatment and is the standard recommendation for wooden raised beds growing edibles.

Unglazed terracotta contains no chemical additives, breathes well, and is fully safe for food crops.

Fabric grow bags are food-safe, provide excellent drainage, and air-prune roots to prevent circling — one of the best container options for tomatoes and peppers. 🌱

02/10/2026

gnobs.org website is back up!

02/08/2026

Our next meeting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Program: Show Preparations - Helping your collection whether you show or not by Dawn Koetting 7:00pm

Dawn, one of our most experienced and award winning members, will have a presentation with slides and demo showing how early we should start preparing our trees for a show, what should happen when, and how the process improves your ability to move your collection forward, whether you show or not, by REALLY looking at our trees.

Meetings take place at the American Legion Hall, 1225 Hickory St., Harahan, LA.

01/19/2026

Our website is down for the time being.
Please message us here (messenger)for inquiries.
January meeting is tomorrow night. 20th 7 pm, silhouette show.
Following meetings are on 2/10 and 3/10.

01/15/2026

We are beyond fortunate to have Randy Bennett as a veteran member of our club sharing his extensive knowledge of bonsai freely. More specifically his bald cypress knowledge. Now you can have access to that knowledge as well as his book is now available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQWBL8Q?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_43FP8FRYG6MHPGQNAQQY&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_43FP8FRYG6MHPGQNAQQY&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_43FP8FRYG6MHPGQNAQQY&bestFormat=true&fbclid=IwZnRzaAPWNXlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeb14kC5ioOtUDpgV4KiT1HY1_d-z064bqjLcndbbzYridmZjSlWXKhsIPkw8_aem_DqjloQ34pZUXk7ZWaKVUsQ

This book is not just about bonsai; it is not just about bald cypresses; it is about a journey, one that began in the late 1960’s and continues to this day. A journey of observation, patience, and a willingness to look beyond tradition to better understand how trees truly grow in nature. Notable ....

01/07/2026

Due to a hall scheduling conflict our January meeting will take place on January 20. Please see details below.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Note: Date was changed to the 20th due to a hall scheduling conflict.
Program: Silhouette Show and Presentation/Lecture by Randy Bennett on Deciduous trees 7:00pm

11/12/2025

Jefferson Parish Ag agent Chris Dunaway, told us about this giveaway tonight at our meeting. He gave a presentation on insect and disease treatments.

11/10/2025

Mark your calendars!

11/06/2025

Help support Underhill Bonsai, and get some great material while you're at it!