Author: Rick Manning

Colorado Blue Spruce Also known under its scientific name Picea pungens “glauca,” the Colorado Blue Spruce is a popular bonsai tree in the United States. This evergreen is native to cool weather forest regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The Colorado blue spruce has attractive silvery blue/green needles. This cone bearing evergreen (conifer) has thin, scratched looking bark with beautiful blue-hued evergreen needles. This bonsai has a traditional tree shape and a pointed peak making it one of the most popular Christmas trees around. The Blue Spruce bonsai is native to the Rocky Mountains…

Powered By EmbedPress Powered By EmbedPress Powered By EmbedPress HELPFUL IDEAS FOR PUTTING AWAY YOUR TREES FOR WINTER These are a couple of things that may help you when you start to put your trees into winter quarters. This is from our president, Craig. Craig says, “This is how I store my hardy trees for winter in my wife's garden. I wrap a piece of lawn fabric (after making a cut halfway through) around each tree and secure it with a lawn staple. Then, when I bury the pot, I put…

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…

Just a few short weeks ago we had our biggest event of the  year, the Prairie State Bonsai Society Exhibit at Destination Asia.The exhibit is a culmination of a year’s worth of work involving many people. In fact, we would never have been able to put the show together if it weren’t for the generosity of our volunteers. Thanks again to all the volunteers this year; you all helped us to have asuccessful and extremely busy show!

We had another great Destination Asia Festival Show By many measures, the Prairie State Bonsai Society’s show at the Destination Asia Festival at The Morton Arboretum was one of the best ever. One of the primary ways we measure our impact is by the number of people participating in the People’s Choice voting over the weekend.  Most people are willing to cast a vote, although there are always a few sourpusses who refuse to participate. On Friday, we had 320 votes this year versus 416 in 2022, but we…

Outdoor & Indoor: Watering is still a very important job at this time of year. Trees can dry very quickly during hot days. When the soil stays dry for too long the roots can be damaged or even killed. This can have devastating effects on your tree. Now is the time to switch to a low nitrogen fertilizer. The soil should be moist before the fertilizer is applied. This is a time when trees prepare themselves for winter. Trunks and branches will thicken as materials are stored there for…

August is definitely Bonsai month in the Chicago area  The Prairie State Bonsai Society’s show at the Destination Asia Festival hosted annually by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle is scheduled for August 4, 5, and 6, 2023.  On Thursday, August 3rd, we will be setting up tables and displays in the Sycamore Room in the Arb’s Visitor Center.  On Friday, starting around noon, we will be accepting trees brought by members for display in the show, and the show will be open for a preview by Arboretum members and…

In the annals of cinema history, Gloria Stuart will forever be remembered for her iconic portrayal of older Rose Dawson in the timeless classic “Titanic.” However, beyond her illustrious acting career, few may know about her lesser-known passion for the captivating art of Bonsai.Gloria Stuart, who passed away in 2010 at 100, had a deep-rooted love for bonsais that she cultivated throughout her life. When she wasn’t gracing the silver screen, she could often be found in her serene garden, meticulously tending to her cherished miniature trees.Bonsai, originating from…

Momiji 紅葉 (Japanese Maple)  Momiji, also known as The Japanese Maple, (Acer palmatum), is originally from Japan, China, and Korea. It owes its botanical name to the hand-shaped leaves with five pointed lobes. Palma is Latin for palm, as in the palm of your hand. In spring the new leaves have a yellowish or orange to bright red colour, depending on the variety or cultivar. The maple is also known and loved for its attractive autumn colours in all shades of yellow, orange and red. The bark of young trees is green…

Outdoor: The most important thing is to water the trees. The second most important is water. Heat and drought can have a significant effect on our bonsai. A tree in a bonsai pot can dry out surprisingly fast in the sun. Check the trees as often as possible and water them thoroughly whenever you water them. Spraying water onto the foliage late in the afternoon can help cool the foliage and container and reduce water loss. Reduce or suspend fertilization. If you are not seeing new growth in your…