Prairie State Bonsai Society

Silhouette Show
2026-02-21 10:00 - 2026-02-22 16:00 (America/Chicago) | The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL, US
The annual winter bonsai exhibition showcasing deciduous trees in their leafless form, highlighting trunk structure, branch ramification, and the skeletal beauty of bonsai. Members display their best deciduous specimens. Vendors and a raffle will be on site as well. Free with Arboretum admission.

March Member Meeting: Board Elections & Juniper Styling Workshop
2026-03-04 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Presenters: Linda Camp & Larry Magee
The meeting will begin with the annual board elections, followed by a hands-on Juniper styling workshop. Members will work with Procumbens Nana (Shimpaku) material, learning twisting and styling techniques. Trees are provided at approximately $30-35 each. A great opportunity for new members to jump right in with something hands-on.

April Member Meeting: Repotting Workshop
2026-04-01 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
A hands-on repotting workshop. Members are encouraged to bring trees that need repotting and put into practice the soil preparation and techniques discussed at the February meeting. This is a staple of the PSBS spring calendar — an opportunity for members of all skill levels to get guidance on root work, soil selection, and pot fitting from experienced club members.

May Meeting: Mauro Stemberger Demonstration
2026-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Guest Artist: Mauro Stemberger
Mauro Stemberger is one of the most sought-after bonsai artists in the world. Born in 1978 in Feltre, Italy, he trained under masters including Hotsumi Terakawa, Marc Noelanders, and Salvatore Liporace. An architect by profession, Mauro founded the Italian Bonsai Dream in 2005 and the Italian Bonsai Dream School in 2011. He has been a BCI-certified bonsai instructor since 2008 and served as president of UBI (Italian Bonsai Association) from 2008-2010.
Mauro specializes in conifers — Pines, Junipers (Itoigawa, Sabina), and especially Larch — and is known for his unique styling approach and engaging teaching style. His accolades include a Gold Medal at the Noelanders Trophy, multiple international photo competition wins, and demonstrations at the most prestigious bonsai shows worldwide. He has over 105,000 followers on Instagram (@bonsaidream).

June Member Meeting: Satsuki Azalea Demonstration
2026-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Guest Artist: Dave Kreutz
Dave Kreutz operates Satsuki Bonsai-en in the St. Louis metro area and is a recognized specialist in satsuki azalea bonsai. He completed formal training under Tatemori Gondo at the El Dorado Bonsai School in California during the 1990s, graduating from a three-year program to become a certified satsuki bonsai instructor. He grows and imports diverse satsuki varieties and supplies, with much of his inventory sourced directly from Japanese nurseries.
Dave will demonstrate styling and care techniques for azalea bonsai and typically brings trees and supplies for sale — a great opportunity to add a flowering species to your collection.

Annual Club Picnic
2026-06-14 11:00 - 15:00 | Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville, IL, US
Join us for the annual PSBS summer picnic at the beautiful Blackwell Forest Preserve. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of food, conversation, and camaraderie with fellow bonsai enthusiasts and their families. A guest bonsai artist will be in attendance. Bring a dish to share, your lawn chairs, and your appetite — details on timing to follow.

July Member Meeting: Show Prep & Tree Evaluation
2026-07-08 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Moved to the second Wednesday due to the July 4th holiday.
Phil Malhoit or Larry Magee will lead a show preparation workshop and discussion. With the Destination Asia festival just weeks away (August 1-2), this is the time to evaluate your trees for exhibition readiness — learn about display techniques, accent plants, stands, and the judging criteria used at formal bonsai shows.

Destination Asia Festival
2026-08-01 - 2026-08-02 | The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL, US
Saturday, August 1: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PMSunday, August 2: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Guest Judge: Peter Chan
The premier bonsai exhibition of the year at the Morton Arboretum, featuring bonsai displays from across the Midwest, vendor sales, and workshops led by world-class artists.
Peter Chan is the doyen of bonsai in the United Kingdom. He is a self-taught bonsai artist whose journey began on a London balcony in the late 1960s. In 1986, he and his wife Dawn founded Herons Bonsai, which became Britain’s premier bonsai nursery. Peter holds the extraordinary record of 21 Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals — a feat unmatched by any other bonsai specialist. He served as Chairman of the British Bonsai Association (1980-1987) and is a founding member of the Federation of British Bonsai Societies. His first book, Bonsai: The Art of Growing and Keeping Miniature Trees (1985), remains a world bestseller still in print. His YouTube channel has over 500,000 subscribers and 70 million views.
Peter will conduct 4 workshops (2 per day) and serve as judge for the exhibition. 8 workshops are planned across the weekend, running 9 AM–noon and 1:30–4:30 PM.

August Member Meeting: Program TBD
2026-08-05 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Program to be announced. Check back for updates as the program is finalized.

September Member Meeting: Program TBD
2026-09-09 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Moved to the second Wednesday due to the Labor Day holiday.
Program to be announced. Check back for updates as the program is finalized.

October Member Meeting: Iron Bonsai Competition
2026-10-07 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
The annual Iron Bonsai event — one of the most entertaining meetings of the year! Inspired by the TV cooking show format, experienced bonsai artists compete head-to-head, each styling raw material into a finished bonsai within a limited time while the audience watches. Come watch the drama unfold and vote for your favorite creation.

November Member Meeting: Program TBD
2026-11-04 19:00 - 21:00 | College of DuPage (TEC1038B), 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
Program to be announced. In past years, November meetings have featured topics on winter storage and care of bonsai, preparing trees for dormancy, and other seasonal subjects. Check back for updates.
