Prairie State Bonsai Society

Destination Asia Festival - The Morton Arboretum
2021-09-25 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | IL
Destination Asia Festival
The Morton Arboretum

Explore the diverse cultures of Asia through music, dance, food, and more. Join us for a fun-filled day that will transport you across the globe.
On Saturday, September 25th, enjoy diverse cultural performances and demonstrations, various shopping and art vendors, and local food trucks.
PSBS is proud to host a booth this year in Arbor Court next to the main Visitors Center. This event attracts new members to our club and provides an opportunity for members to gather and work on their trees while engaging the Festival attendees.
We need club members to display a tree or two from their collections. You may drop off your trees upon arrival and pick them up at the end of your visit. If you cannot attend but would like to display your trees, we can arrange to transport your trees to and from the Arboretum.
Volunteers are needed to staff the tables. Bring a couple of trees you have wanted to work on but just haven’t found the time or are unsure how to proceed with styling. Expert and novice artists will be available to lend a hand and offer advice. The volunteer tables provide an excellent opportunity to engage with visitors interested in bonsai and grow our club.
If you are interested in volunteering time at the tables or need transport for your trees, please contact Nick DiBattista (nicholasd_1@yahoo.com or 630-479-2112).

Volunteers will be able to attend the Festival free of charge if prearranged with Nick DiBattista.

Timed-entry Admission: Passes for Members and Volunteers

The Morton Arboretum is open to the public with new guidelines (7:00 a.m. to sunset daily.) Timed-entry tickets are required for all visitors to help ensure paced arrivals and moderated attendance numbers. Please note: Once purchased, tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable.

Click here to be directed to the website of the Arboretum for more information about the Destination Asia Festival and to request your timed-entry tickets.

PSBS & MBS – September 19th – Garden Walk Joint Venture with Midwest Bonsai Society
2021-09-19 10:00 - 16:00 | IL
2021 Bonsai Garden Walk
The Prairie State Bonsai Society is pleased to announce our second “Bonsai Garden Walk.” We have three gardens scheduled for September 19th. Gardens will be open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Our one last garden can be visited on September 26th. See the Schedule below for more details.
This event is not open to the public, only our two clubs (MBS and PSBS). All club members in good standing are eligible to participate and to bring guests. You can choose to visit as many or as few gardens as you want. There is no formal registration, but you do need to call the hosts of the gardens you want to visit to get their street address and ensure there aren’t too many members all showing up simultaneously.
Our garden walk is the perfect way to enjoy a COVID-19 conscious opportunity to walk through and discuss these personal Bonsai Gardens. It’s an ideal opportunity for members to open their yards and fellow members to tour the environment where they grow and display their trees. In addition, there may be trees, pots, tools, and bonsai supplies for sale at some of these gardens. Please note you will need to ask the garden host if they would like you to wear a mask while visiting the garden. Also, all social distancing measures will be in effect.
Sunday, September 19th
Craig A. Cronquist, Carol Stream
Call to visit 630-244-0155
Larry Magee, Wayne
Call to visit 630-650-1285
Jim Beck & Linda Camp, Wheaton
Call to visit 630-690-0404

Sunday, September 26th
Victor Zurczak, Skokie
Call to visit 773-416-0493

September General Meeting - Rock Plantings
2021-09-01 19:00 - 20:30 | IL
Join us on September 1 for a Rock Planting demonstration via Zoom by Rodney Clemons.

Rodney Clemons and his wife Charlie are the owners/operators of Allgood Bonsai, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The nursery specializes in premier Bonsai of various kinds. Rodney is a well-known speaker/teacher and enjoys his travel opportunities in sharing his passion for bonsai as well as workshops and private sessions at Allgood Bonsai. He curates two public collections and strives to help elevate the quality and advancement of bonsai in the US.
Rodney Clemons studied with E. Felton Jones and enjoyed workshops with many visiting artists like John Naka and Yugi Yoshimura. His style has been formed by studying nature, drawing heavily on childhood memories of coastal Florida. Rodney excels in capturing the tension in nature and translating it to bonsai. He is best known for his unique “rock plantings” and his love of “Kingsville” boxwood.
​A few of the highlights are:
​-1993 World Bonsai Convention in Florida
-1997 International Bonsai Conference in England
-Returning guest artist at Brussel’s Rendezvous in Mississippi for nine years
-Returning artist at The Winter silhouette Show in North Carolina
-Bonsai curator at the Smith Gilbert Gardens
-Bonsai curator at The Monastery of the Holy Spirit
“I will always remember the first tree that I climbed and the first tree that I fell from. My initial glimpse of a bonsai evoked my childhood memories and relationships with trees. Bonsai teaches the nuances of all the needs and growth habits of each particular species of tree. Through a lot of time, dedication and heart a bonsai asks you to care for it in a relatively little bitty container for years on end forging a committed, symbiotic relationship. Many have said that trees are the best teachers of bonsai so then all the student needs to do is observe and listen to the silent yet potent language of trees. “
-Rodney Clemons

Allgood Bonsai’s Winged Elm was accepted into the Pacific Bonsai Museum Collection in Federal Way, WA. (September 2018)

Visit the Allgood Bonsai website to view a gallery of trees and educational videos. https://www.allgoodbonsai.com/

Examples of Rodney’s Rock Plantings from previous workshops.

Midwest Bonsai Society - 43rd Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition
2021-08-20 09:00 - 2021-08-22 17:00 | IL
Our sister club is having its annual show on the third weekend of this month. Please consider showing a tree and taking a workshop. All levels are welcome. The Midwest Show will be held the weekend of August 20- 22nd. at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
The exercise of prepping your tree by getting it ready for the show is a great learning experience within itself along with the advice, feedback, and compliments you will get during the show.
Our very own Phil Malhiot is this year’s guest artist. Congratulations to Phil who has been a longtime member and past president of our club. I look forward to the event and supporting Phil at the show. Hope to see you there.

Click here for the event page – https://www.midwestbonsai.org/august-exhibition

August General Meeting - Tropical Presentation by David Cutchin
2021-08-04 19:00 - 20:30 | IL
David Cutchin is a 6th generation Floridian and a 2nd generation bonsai professional and grower. Born and raised in the Florida panhandle David moved to central Florida in 2011 to study horticulture at UF following an 11 year career with the Forest Service. This is also when he met David & Linda VanBuskirk of DL Nursery and began training to be a bonsai professional while simultaneously learning how to manage a multi-decades old growing operation. In 2016 David became a student of Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai where he concentrated on technical application and design. Bridging the historically self-taught bonsai application of the southeast and the technical mastery of the west really pushed David to a greater appreciation of the art form and nuances in his home state. With Florida being the most diverse state in the US to practice bonsai, and his nursery centrally located, it has allowed him the opportunity to deploy many stylistic approaches across many horticultural applications. Currently in his 10th year, David teaches temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical cultivation through DL Nursery and Mirai Live, as well as clubs and individuals across the United States.

PSBS Annual Club Picnic
2021-08-01 08:00 - 17:00 | IL
It’s hard to believe that we are just over a week away from our first in-person event in more than a year.
This year’s summer picnic is Sunday, August 1st at Cantigny Park, 1s151 Winfield Rd. in Wheaton, IL 60189.
Cantigny is a beautiful park that includes gardens, the Robert R. McCormick House, and the First Division Museum.
Our club picnic is the perfect time to come together and enjoy bonsai. We should take this opportunity to bring a tree to show others and bring trees that we would like advice on. It is a great time to hang out together and work on trees. Nothing beats a summer day talking bonsai and wiring trees.
Our picnic will take place under the shelter at the picnic pavilion. Lunch will take place around noon. The club will provide the burgers, hot dogs, and drinks; members are asked to bring their own sides and share if they feel comfortable. Phil will give a demonstration at 2 pm.
Members, please plan on bringing a tree or two to work on. The club will have our wire box available if people need wire for their trees.
I would love to see people bring trees to show the public at this event. It is not a formal show, so the trees don’t need to be in perfect show shape. We want to let the public know about all the trees we are working on. However, please do if you are inclined to bring your tree that you are planning to show at the Midwest symposium. We would love to get a preview of the tree.
So we hope to see you on August first!

Please be aware that while there is no entry fee to Cantigny, there is a $10 parking fee per car.
Please feel free to call me (Nick DiBattista 630-479-2112) should you have any questions.

Map of Cantigny with picnic area circled in red

Midwest Bonsai Society June Bonsai Event
2021-06-26 10:00 - 16:00 | IL
June 26 2021 – 10AM-4PM – Wheaton, IL
Taking the place this year of the MBS’s Spring Show

About
At this time, the Chicago Botanic Garden is still not allowing Horticultural society events, such as our normally scheduled May Bonsai Show. In its place, this year, we will have a smaller “Bonsai Event” in Wheaton, IL. This event focuses on the following goals:

Bringing members together, for the first time since the COVID pandemic, in an outdoor space
Providing space for some of our regular vendors to sell their wares, needed by our members who haven’t been able to “stock up” since the COVID pandemic started
This low-key event is free to attend. There will be no ‘show’ of trees, as this is primarily an event for mingling and sales.

COVID-19 Precautions
Masks and distancing will be in accordance with state guidelines in effect at the time.
Vendors
The following vendors are scheduled to attend:

BC Bonsai (also presenting a workshop)
Karen Shuman Pottery
Jack Ken Matsumoto Scrolls
Jim Baily, Victor, and other members intend to sell some of their trees.

We will be selling items from Ivan Watters toolsets and some memorabilia from his collections.

Workshop
BC Bonsai will host a Shimpaku Juniper wiring workshop. The cost for the workshop is $40, which includes the tree. The location for the workshop will be across the street from the event in a garage protected from inclement weather. Contact BC Bonsai as seating is limited.

Location
The event will be held at 1708 Ashton Court, Wheaton, IL 60187.
(South of Rt. 64 (north Ave.) and West of Rt. 83 (Robert Kingery Expressway)).

Bonsai and Bonsai Pot Sale - Fred Tarnow's Collection
2021-06-05 10:00 - 2021-06-06 16:00 | IL
The family of the late Fred Tarnow is inviting all members of the Mid-West and Prairie State Bonsai Clubs to a sale of the remainder of Fred’s trees and handmade pots. There will be some finished bonsai, but mostly pre-bonsai for sale. The prices have been reduced to honor Fred’s memory and to make sure that the trees get a good home.

The dates of the sales will be:

Saturday, June 5, 2021, From 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, June 6, 2021 From 10:00am – 4:00 pm

Please contact us at website@prairestatebonsai for more information and the location.

Learning all about Root Stands for Bonsai display
2021-06-02 19:00 - 20:30 | IL
Our meeting on June 2, 2021, at 7 PM, will feature a Zoom presentation by Christopher Consenza. He has been studying bonsai seriously for about four years and is a BSF district scholarship champion competing for the state title this May. He taught himself how to make root stands as a result of having too much time on his hands during the pandemic.
PSBS General Meeting – June 2, 2021
Wednesday, June 2,⋅7:00 – 9:00 pm

Bonsai Sale - Jim Keith Residence
2021-05-22 09:00 - 2021-05-23 15:00 | IL
On Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23, 2021, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Jim Keith will be having a bonsai sale at his residence. Jim will have bonsai and pre-bonsai available for purchase. If you would like to attend the sale, please email Jim at sequoia65@comcast.net and request his address.
THESE TREES & MORE NEED A GOOD HOME

PSBS - May General Meeting - Zoom presentaion by Linda Camp - Air Layering Propagation
2021-05-05 19:00 - 20:30 | IL
Click Here – Monthly Meetings and Videos
Our meeting on April 5th, 2021, at 7 PM, will feature a Zoom
presentation by long-time member Linda Camp. She will be showing us how
to create a pre-bonsai from another tree by a process called air layering.
Air layering is a very useful tool. Got a tree that’s gone too leggy,
but it has wonderful bark and branches? Air layering can let you shorten
the trunk while preserving the upper bark and branching. Got a tree in
your yard, maybe a nice dwarf Japanese maple? You can use air layering
to turn a nice side branch into a bonsai.
Linda has been teaching bonsai, for many years now, at BC Bonsai, along
with her husband, Jim Beck.

Photo by Bonsainut.com

Meeting of the Board - April 2021
2021-04-12 19:00 - 20:00 | IL
Members of the board will meet via zoom. The link will be sent via email.

PSBS - April General Meeting - Zoom presentation by Jennifer Price - European vs United States Bonsai styling
2021-04-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
All active members from 2020 will have access to the Jennifer Price presentation via ZOOM. Log into the ‘Members Section’ ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, April 07 at 7:00 pm. The link will be posted on the ‘Monthly Meeting Page’.
You can join right from the website. Please check that you are able to login to the ‘Members Section prior to the meeting.
Please contact me at website@prairiestatebonsai.com if you have issues or questions.

March Board Meeting
2021-03-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
The Zoom link will be forwarded to board members prior to the start of the meeting.

PSBS - Juniper styling demonstration event
2021-03-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Members Only Invite
NOW OPEN TO FRIENDS AND NON-MEMBERS
Bjorn Bjorholm will demonstrate Juniper Styling via ZOOM
The Meeting is limited to the first 50 active members to sign up
If you would like to view a live demonstration of Juniper Styling by Bjorn Bjorholm you must REQUEST TO BE PUT ON THE LIST below. This demonstration is limited to the first 50 members to sign up below.
NOTE: After you submit the request you will be sent an email that verifies you have been put on the list. You will not be added until you do so.

Don’t miss the March 8th Meeting !
