Author: Rick Manning

Dear Members, Our general meeting on November 6, 2024, featuring a presentation and lecture by Jason Davids on overwintering bonsai trees, was very well received. I'm confident our members gained valuable insights into protecting our prized trees during Chicago's harsh winters. One of the trees styled during the DA Show was raffled off, along with other wonderful items donated by various members. Thank you to all who contributed to making this a fun and engaging event. Due to firing delays, the pots created during the workshop on September 11,…

It has been a month since we completed the Bonsai Show at Morton Arboretum during the Destination Asia Festival.  Most of the bills have been finalized, awards prepared and presented, and so it seems a good time to reflect on the show, what went right and what can be improved for 2025. The ShowWe had 22 members bring a total of 58 trees to the show.  Thirty-six trees were included in the judging and twenty-two were categorized as Trees in Training.  I always enjoy talking to the people viewing the…

Portulacaria afra The Portulacaria afra, commonly known as the Dwarf Jade or Elephant Bush, is a succulent species that thrives as a bonsai. Its resilience, low maintenance requirements, and appealing appearance make it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike. Though similar in appearance, it is not related to the Jade Plant.  Unlike Jade plants which are toxic the Dwarf Jade is completely safe. It is native to South Africa. The two most common varieties for bonsai are the green leaf type and the variegated type. The…

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…

Dear Members,Our general meeting on October 2, 2024, featuring the Iron Bonsai competition between three experienced artists, Phil Malhoit, Larry Magee, and Elle Nieto-Brodnick, was a tremendous success. Each artist styled a raw Shimpaku Juniper tree in under two hours, and the results were impressive. Members voted, with one tree receiving 14 votes as the top choice, while the other two tied for second place with 11 votes each. All three beautifully styled trees, along with other items, were raffled off, and we saw record participation in the raffle!Due…

Dear Members,While I was away on vacation, I heard that our general meeting on September 11, 2024, was both informative and engaging. Members had the pleasure of participating in a pot-making workshop led by one of our past presidents, Mr. Don Lindstrom. He skillfully guided participants through the various steps of creating bonsai pots. These raw pots will be fired off-site by Don and returned at the next meeting to be distributed to the participants. A special acknowledgment goes to Don Lindstrom for sharing his skills and passion for…

Korean Hornbeam Bonsai, Carpinus Turczaninowii Photo by: https://valavanisbonsaiblog.com/korean-hornbeam-3/The Korean Hornbeam Bonsai, Carpinus Turczaninowii, is a captivating tree with a unique appearance. Its small leaves and delicate branching growth pattern give it a graceful and elegant look. The tree is especially known for its stunning display of orange-red leaves during autumn, adding a vibrant touch to any bonsai collection.When fully mature, the Korean Hornbeam Bonsai can reach heights of up to 10 meters. However, it’s important to note that over time, the tree’s branches may become weak and lose lower branches.…

Outdoor:This is a time to be preparing for the coming winter.  Decide where and how you will protect your trees; mulch bed, cold storage house, cold greenhouse, etc. Acquire any needed materials now so that you are not caught without needed supplies when it is time to store the trees. Keep trees outdoors on cool fall nights.  Do not bring winter-hardy trees indoors. Adjust watering to the changing temperatures. The soil is likely to stay damp longer on cool, and in particular cloudy, days. Fertilization with a very low…

This article will cover the techniques that I use for late fall maintenance on my double flush pines such as Japanese Red and Black Pines. You may want to consider adapting this to your circumstances depending on the tree and the stage of development/ramification it is in. Do not perform this technique on trees that are in a weakened state or that are not healthy. In early September the new buds that have formed at the tips of the candles should be reduced to two buds. I try to pick…

Yuzu is a type of winter-hardy Japanese citrus tree (read more about It in this article: https://prairiestatebonsai.com/tree-of-the-month-march-2023/). It is very similar to lemon trees. Since the plants are so rare and impossible to purchase in the USA, I decided to grow my own! I purchased a Yuzu fruit imported from Japan at the local Japanese supermarket. I sliced it open and began to extract the seeds.  Having read an article online previously on how to grow citrus from seeds, I did a test of completely removing the skin of the…