Author: Rick Manning

Satsuki Azalea 皐月  Satsuki azalea bonsai—Rhododendron indicum—are as iconic as a Japanese maple or Japanese black pine bonsai. Members of the huge Rhododendron family are the most flamboyant of flowering shrubs, producing masses of bright flowers in late spring. Many originate from Japan, where these plants have been propagated and hybridized since the 1600s.The name is derived from the Asian lunar calendar, and it refers to when the tree blooms. The term Satsuki is in reference to the Asian lunar calendar, in particular, to the fifth month. The Japanese gave it that name…

Indoor: If at all possible, these trees will benefit greatly from a summer in 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…

This was a great picnic!   On Sunday, June 25th, we held our annual picnic at Cantigny Park.  We counted the number of participants at the picnic ranging from 32-35 at various times.  If you missed it, you missed a great time! The food was delicious, with various members bring a wide variety of dishes to stimulate our taste buds.  We had many trees on display for the public to view and Char Field set up her display showing various types of trees and discussing many of the basics…

Fuji (Wisteria) The Fuji (藤), also known as Wisteria, is a strong, fast-growing deciduous vine with alternating compound leaves. In spring, it produces long drooping clusters of bluish-purple fragrant flowers. The genus Wisteria comprises less than 10 species, most of them native to China and Japan and two native to North America. In gardens, it is often used to grow over pergolas or facades. Several cultivars have different flower colors, like white, pink, and dark purple. The most common species for bonsai are the Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and…

President’s Letter for June 2023  It is almost Picnic Time! On Sunday, June 25th, we will hold our annual picnic at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL.  This year we have reserved the pavilion immediately to the left after you pass through the booths collecting parking fees.  We have been in this location before and have typically drawn a lot of interest for our trees from other picnickers in the area.  As always, we encourage each of you to attend to enjoy the company of your fellow club…

Outdoor: Place trees in a maximum sunlight location. Make certain to water as often as needed. As the weather warms, the trees will need to be watered more frequently, often daily. Be sure to provide enough water at each watering to thoroughly saturate the soil. 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 as needed, but be careful when working around the soft new growth as it is easily damaged.…

TAKE OUT YOUR TROPICALSTips and advice from senior members on moving your trees outsideSummer has arrived and your tropical trees are happy to get back outside and into the sun! This typically occurs once the low temperatures remain above 50 degrees. We suggest some of the following advice when taking out your trees. Weather should be above 55° consistently at night. Usually later in the second half of May or Memorial DayCheck your trees for any pests/infestations/fungus/etc and spray as needed Remove any wire that is biting inFertilize weekly with liquid…

Cut the Candles on Your Double-Flush PinesRed, black, and other pines need to have their energy balancedThe goal is to balance the energy of the tree to make it relatively the same across the tree. The removal of spring growth from red or black pines is to stimulate a second flush of growth in summer. This is accomplished by the process of candle cutting in June.Check the branch and decide where you want budding to occurCut the bottom of the candle with scissors, while leaving a small amount of green…

Katsura (Cercidiphyllum) The katsura tree, native to Japan, makes an excellent specimen or shade tree in Midwestern landscapes. Its foliage offers an array of color throughout the year. In spring, heart-shaped leaves emerge reddish-purple, changing to blue-green as they mature. In autumn the color display changes again as leaves turn a clear yellow or apricot color. In Japan the wood is sometimes used to make Shougi game boards and Buddha statues. It has recently started to become endangered in Japan.  Cercidiphyllum, commonly called katsura, (Katsura (カツラ) is the Japanese name for the tree.) can…

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 is…