Blog

It is with sadness that we share the news that longtime Prairie State Bonsai Society member Richard "Dick" Anderson passed away on March 19, 2026. Dick was a lifetime member of the club and leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service and friendship. Former PSBS President Phil Malhiot shared this remembrance: "When I came on as president in 1998, Dick Anderson was the treasurer for Prairie State Bonsai Society. He was a very active member for the next 12 years and served as treasurer for 10 of those years.…

Dear Members,As we look back on 2025, we closed the year with a wonderful holiday celebration at Larry Magee’s home in Wayne, Illinois, on Wednesday, December 12. We are truly grateful to Larry for generously hosting this festive gathering for the second year in a row. It was a pleasure to spend time together over good food and conversation, and the White Elephant gift exchange, as always, brought plenty of laughs and surprises. Larry also donated a beautifully crafted bonsai turntable as a door prize, which I was fortunate…

https://www.wigertsbonsai.com/Fort Myers, FL I will review some different bonsai nurseries outside the Chicago land area for something new. I have been to this nursery several times, and club member Jennifer Price apprenticed with Eric at Wigerts. The nursery is only open during weekdays but is a must-stop if you are in Southern FL. Wigert specializes in tropical trees. They offer everything from large quantities of starter material to high-quality large show-ready trees. Their website also has a wide offering and an excellent virtual tour of their impressive show-ready trees. Wigerts also…

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 receiving very 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 may need to…

Outdoor: All trees should now be tucked away in their winter housing.  Be sure to water as needed while in winter storage.  Do not fertilize.  Wiring should be checked carefully, and any loose or tight wires should be removed if not already done.  Many trees seem to have put on an exceptional amount of girth this season, so be sure to thoroughly check the wires. Do not repot at this time. Indoor:  All indoor trees should now be indoors. Be sure to water as needed.  The watering needs may differ…

Taken from October 1, 2025 ABS Newsletter Powered By EmbedPress

Hello,I hope everyone is doing well and had a wonderful growing season. For the first time, I am opening up the tree sales from the Chicago Botanic Garden bonsai collection to the local clubs. Historically, the sale has only been for volunteers, and they do a great job buying stuff up, so there was not much left. This year, we have 16 trees up for sale with a wide range of refinement and costs. The list includes both hardy and tropical trees. Most are med to small trees. There…