Author: Rick Manning

Indoor: If possible, these trees will benefit significantly from summer the outdoors. Ideally, they should have all been moved out by now, but there is still time if you have not already moved them out—water as needed. Watering will depend on the weather, the location of the trees (sunny or shady), the soil, the pot size, and other factors. In many cases, however, daily watering will be needed. Always check the moisture content of the soil before watering. Fertilization should continue. Check wires for tightness. Repotting may be done at…

In this article, I will discuss the carving of feather rock to create a bonsai rock planting. Feather rock is a type of volcanic stone created when lava is cooled before the air can escape it rendering it relatively light and suitable for carving. I chose a large boulder I purchased for the future demonstration and was big enough for future projects. It weighed in at a hefty 130 pounds! I use a variety of tools to get the stone workable. The main tools I use are a chain…

Normalcy  For two years, we have hoped to return to “normal,” and we are finally almost there, hoping it continues. For June, we are returning to one of our favorite types of PSBS meetings, the workshop. In the past, we have done crabapple and yew workshops. Here are the details: For many years the Society has maintained a Grow Plot with trees meant to be used for demonstrations and workshops. We have twelve boxwoods that were recovered from a hedge many years ago (urban yamadori) and are offered for…

ELEPHANT TREEThis month I have chosen the Elephant Tree. There are 4 species that are commonly referred to as the elephant tree because of their swollen stems/trunksBoswellia papyrifera, native to northeastern AfricaBursera microphylla, native to the southwestern United States and northern MexicoPachycormus discolor, native to Baja CaliforniaOperculicarya decaryi, are native to Madagascar. Specifically the Toliara Province of southwest Madagascar. This is the one we will be reviewing as it is used the most for bonsai. Also called Jabily, it is a succulent deciduous evergreen tree in the Sumac (Anacardiaceae)…

Outdoor: Place trees in a maximum sunlight location. Make sure to water as often as needed. The trees must be watered more frequently, often daily, as the weather warms. Be sure to provide enough water at each watering to saturate the soil thoroughly. Fertilize regularly to keep the trees growing and to support the new growth. Pinch new growth as needed to increase the fullness of the foliage pads. Wire the trees as required but be careful when working around the soft new growth as it is easily damaged.…

Outdoor: All outdoor trees should have been removed from winter protection and placed on their growing benches. The trees should be receiving as much sun as possible. Watering needs will be high, and all trees will need watering at least once a day. Be sure to saturate the soil at each watering thoroughly.  It is good to send a blast of water through the foliage now and then to help dislodge any insects lurking. Keep an eye out for possible insect infestations. The soft new growth on the trees…

My name is Craig Cronquist.  I am the new president of the Society for the next two years. My bonsai journey began with a trip to Chicago Botanic Garden in May 2012 on the weekend, which happened to be the Midwest Bonsai Society’s show.  I asked a couple of questions of a member in an apron walking among the displayed trees, and he told me, “They have bonsai classes here at CBG.”  I signed up, and in August, I started taking classes with Ivan Watters, then the curator of…

by Larry Magee The tree I am working on is a collected Colorado blue spruce. It was wired in a windswept style several years ago and left to grow on in an Anderson flat to improve the roots and recover. I obtained a sizeable natural slab collected by Matt Turner in Colorado. I used a diamond hole cutter to make a nice-sized drainage hole and drilled extra holes for the tie-down wires. When I removed it from the training pot, I was pleased to see plenty of compact and…

Bonsai need a pot for survival. (Not always, I have grown root-bound trees without a pot, after a pot broke). The pot is in the translation of the word Bonsai. Strict translation is ‘tree planted in tray.’ Finally, I like to think of the pot as earth, or ground. The stand would be the frame.To go into Pots, we need to talk ‘art and design.’  Design elements for Bonsai are as follows, Harmony, Rhythm, Balance, Symmetry, Movement, Proportion, Space, Line, Formal, Informal, Masculine, feminine, Compatibility, and Asymmetry.You need to…

Reprinted by permission from the Iowa Bonsai Association Newsletter March 2022, Michael Hagedorn