President’s Message for November 2022

A Look Back and a Look Ahead   The pandemic made the years 2020 and 2021 challenging to keep PSBS alive and active, even holding some Zoom meetings at the end of 2021.  But there was nothing like beginning to see one another’s faces in person again on the first Wednesday of the month, beginning in March with the Mini Bonsai workshop presented by Linda and BC Bonsai.  My Japanese Wisteria is still growing and is 18” tall.  Seeing someone actually do what is being discussed is always my…

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Read more about the article Tree of the Month – November 2022
Parent and child style cork bark Japanese black pine. Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Tree of the Month – November 2022

Parent and child style cork bark Japanese black pine. Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Arboretum. You can check out the cork bark bonsai above at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It is in a parent and child style configuration that has been in training since 1980, when two prunnings from another cork bark pine bonsai in the Museum’s collections were grafted to a Japanese black pine rootstock. The trees represent a mature parent tree in the wild that has given rise to a younger succession which has…

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Things to do in November 2022

Outdoor: The trees will need to be moved to a wintering area this month. If you need any supplies such as mulch, heater, or shelving, you should acquire them very soon. Have everything ready so you can put the trees away quickly if needed. Do not bring trees indoors on chilly nights. Be sure to water as needed both before winterizing your trees and while they are in winter storage. Do not fertilize. Remove leaves from deciduous trees and fruit or seeds before putting the trees into the wintering…

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Protect your Semi-Hardy

As winter is soon to be here, it is time for the semi-hardy trees to go into protection. This usually is around the end of October.  Read helpful hints on how serval senior members protect their semi-hardy trees.Some of the trees that are semi-hardy and cannot withstand a Chicago winter are:Japanese UmeSatsuki AzaleaChinese ElmCedar ElmPomegranateCoast RedwoodHarland BoxwoodKingsville BoxwoodOliveTrident MapleThe club recommends that for these trees you:Keep these trees stored in a cold house, garage, or other protected areaStore them in an area that does not get colder than 20…

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