Author: Rick Manning

CrabappleCrabapples are small deciduous trees or shrubs with oval or elliptic leaves that can also be lobed in some cases and grow in an alternating pattern. They are native to northern temperate zones and are frost tolerant. The most popular crabapple species for bonsai are Malus halliana, Malus x zumi, Malus toringo, Malus sylvestris, Malus floribunda, Malus baccata, and Malus cerasifera, but several others can be used.Crab apple bonsai trees are a captivating choice for bonsai enthusiasts. Their delicate spring flowers and vibrant autumn fruits make them a stunning addition to any…

I met Arlene 35 years ago at Ivan Watters's house on the north side of Chicago, where he was teaching Bonsai. We were starting out in Bonsai and took classes with Ivan Jim and Kay Erlenborn for several years.      Arlene was also an early member of the Morton Arboretum Bonsai Society, which later became the Prairie State Bonsai Society. She was an active club member and served on the board for many years. She was best known for creating beautiful bonsai forests. After retiring, she assisted Ivan Watters,…

President's Letter for March 2024Silhouette Show at CantignyOn February 24, 2024, we held our fourth Silhouette Show at the Cantigny Park Visitor Center. The first show was held in 2020, just before the pandemic began. We skipped 2021 and held shows in 2022 and 2023. It seemed that the number of people at the park was lower than last year when we were swamped much of the day. That was likely due to the snow which fell the day before. If the weather had been as warm as Monday…

Bonsai for beginnersBonsai leaf reduction.Just how much will leaf’s reduce in bonsai soil and a bonsai pot?These are both Dwarf Umbrella Trees/ Schefflera Arboricola from cuttings I was given a meeting a year and a half ago. Once rooted the cuttings on the left were planted in a 6” deep pot with potting soil, compost, and sand mixture. The plant on the right was potted in a 2” deep bonsai pot with bonsai soil from BC Bonsai. Significant reduction of leaf size and internodes can be seen on the…

Larch/ Tamarack Photo of club larch from club show Larix laricinaLarch are a deciduous conifer tree that grow in wet areas as far north as Canada and as far south as West Virginia. Bark of mature trees are reddish brown with younger trees showing a smooth gray bark. Needles grown in blue-green clusters and turn a goldish color in fall. Needles and cones are perfect for bonsai as both are small to begin with, the cones are only 1 to 2 cm.Style: are usually grown as informal upright trees.…

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTHOutdoor: The situation here is the same as it was last month. Leave trees in winter for protection and water as needed. Do not fertilize. Deciduous trees and pines may be wired. If your trees can be moved, you may bring them indoors for up to eight hours for work. Be aware of possible flooding in in-ground cold frames.Indoor: Sunlight has been scarce lately, so be sure to give indoor trees as much light as possible. Trees at windowsills could use some supplemental artificial light…

Ground growing optionsIf you want ABS show quality trees with out spending hundreds or thousand of dollars, growing your own trees may be the way to go. If you are willing to put the time and effort in you can grow a tree with good taper and ramification at home. In this article I will discuss the various options to start growing trees to increase trunk diameter. In future articles we will explore the pruning process to create taper over the years and balance energy distribution in the foliage…

Dwarf Barbados Cherry (holly leaf)Malpighia glabra The Barbados Cherry is a beautiful, flowering tree that makes a stunning bonsai. Native to tropical America, the Barbados Cherry is an evergreen with glossy, dark green leaves and bright red fruits. The Barbados Cherry prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. The Barbados cherry has a high vitamin content and is a delicious fruit. This bright red berry has a really nice appearance in the garden when it starts to grow. Roots from Barbados cherry can be transferred to other countries via…

Indoor: The mid-winter time period can be a crucial time for your indoor bonsai. This is often a period when there are many more cloudy days than sunny ones and trees at windows are receivingvery low light levels. These trees will be doing little, if any, growing.  There also may be some yellowing or dropping of leaves due to the low light. Do not fertilize trees that are placed at windows. Also be aware that there can be cold drafts through the glass itself. You mayneed to move these…

It’s a brand new year!It is time to begin the year, which we hope to make one of the best ever for PSBS. A few minor adjustments have been discussed below, but we hope to have a great year, displaying great trees and spreading the club’s name throughout the Chicago area.We are on the move for a few months.For the first four meetings of the year, our General Membership meetings will move from our typical location in the TEC Building to the Homeland Security Education Center (HEC) next door…