Foundations of Bonsai in Colorado

Colorado’s bonsai story begins in 1945, when eight Japanese Americans—recently released from WWII internment camps—founded the Denver Bonsai Club. Their resilience and artistry shaped a legacy that influences our state’s horticultural culture today. Join Patrick and Patricia as they explain this rich Colorado history, highlight key bonsai artists and discuss the military and political figures who appear along the way. The Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society (RMBS), created in 1969 by the Denver Bonsai Club, grew into a thriving community of 320 members, showing how strongly bonsai resonates with Coloradans and our deep appreciation for native landscapes.

Learn what influenced the American bonsai movement—from working with local tree species to adapting traditional techniques—to create a uniquely Colorado style. The Rocky Mountain region and RMBS form one of the premier bonsai communities in the United States. Meet local bonsai legends past and present, discover Colorado-specific resources and gain insight into why bonsai continues to flourish in our state today.

Larry Jackel presents several heritage trees from Denver Botanic Gardens’ collection and shares their history, their importance to the Gardens and how these living trees reflect the ongoing evolution of bonsai in both Colorado and across America.