Author: Badar Zulqarni

Dear Members, I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the beauty of summer with your trees. At our August 6 general meeting, we were treated to a wonderful presentation on Kusamono by Young Choe. She shared the art of using tropical plants to create Kusamono, both as stand-alone displays and as accents to bonsai. To close, she created three elegant arrangements in record time, which were raffled off to delighted members. It was an inspiring and memorable program. Our annual bonsai show, held in partnership with the Destination Asia Festival…

Dear Members,I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the beauty of summer alongside your trees.At our recent general meeting, on June 4, 2025, members had the opportunity to buy and sell bonsai-related items. It was a great success—an excellent way to find unique tools and pots, clear out your shelves, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Thanks to the strong turnout and positive feedback, we plan to make the Bonsai Garage Sale an annual tradition.We also held our Annual Picnic on Sunday, June 29, at Blackwell Forest Preserve—our first…

Dear Members,I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the beauty of spring with your trees.At our recent meeting, we were treated to a fantastic demonstration by Elle Nieto-Brodnick on styling a Shimpaku Juniper. In just 90 minutes, Elle transformed an untamed tree into a beautifully styled bonsai. It was both inspiring and educational. A heartfelt thank-you to Elle for sharing her time, expertise, and passion with us.To top it off, the styled tree was raffled off—and congratulations to Annie Krzysko, who won it!Looking ahead, we’re excited about…

Dear Members,I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the spring season with your trees.At our recent meeting, we had an engaging and hands-on mini-workshop led by Linda Camp. Members had the wonderful opportunity to delve into the intricacies of wiring techniques. Under Linda’s expert guidance, we explored important details and best practices for properly wiring trees. It was a rewarding and educational experience, and I want to thank Linda for her time, knowledge, and dedication to helping us improve our skills.Looking ahead, we are excited for our…