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Here is a photo from Page 15 of this ABS Journal. It shows Chris Baker's tree planted in a brake drum and the accent plant is in a pot made by Phil Malhiot.

Spring is the time for field collecting or what bonsai hobbyists generically call yamadori, which is technically trees collected from mountains  There is no calendar date to start collecting; the signs that it is time to start digging trees are bids swelling on deciduous trees and crocus and daffodils sprouting  The reason for this is the science of trees  I will give you the middle school version of this science lesson, but if you want a more in-depth version, check out one of the Ryan Oniel videos at the…

Outdoor:           This is the busiest month in bonsai.Once the danger of temperatures in the low twenties or less has passed, it is time to bring your trees out of winter protection and into their summer homes. For trees in mulch beds, be sure that the mulch has thawed below the pots before lifting the trees out of it. Do not force trees from a frozen mulch bed, as significant damage can result.Watering requirements will increase, so be prepared to water more frequently. Fertilization can begin…

President's Letter April 2024March 6, 2024, General Meeting – Forest Workshop:The meeting was quite productive and engaging. Creating new forests and seeking advice on old forests from senior members shows an excellent level of initiative and willingness to learn within our group. It is lovely to see such collaboration and support among members. I want to thank Linda Camp, Jim Beck, Phil Malhoit, Larry Magee, and Matt Mazza for their contributions and assistance in making the workshop successful.March 6, 2024, General Meeting - Election:Elections were conducted, and the following…

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…