Dear Members,
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the beauty of summer alongside your trees.
At our recent general meeting, on June 4, 2025, members had the opportunity to buy and sell bonsai-related items. It was a great success—an excellent way to find unique tools and pots, clear out your shelves, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Thanks to the strong turnout and positive feedback, we plan to make the Bonsai Garage Sale an annual tradition.
We also held our Annual Picnic on Sunday, June 29, at Blackwell Forest Preserve—our first time at this beautiful location. It was a warm and wonderful day filled with camaraderie, tree work, and delicious grilled food, snacks, and refreshments.
A special thanks to Rob MacKenzie and his wife Gail for grilling hamburgers and hot dogs under the open sun. We’re also grateful to our guest, Chris Baker, who generously shared his expertise and offered thoughtful advice to members working on their trees. Our senior officers, Phil Malhiot and Larry Magee, were also on hand to assist members with their trees—thank you both!
The pavilion was filled with laughter, conversation, and activity until around 3:00 p.m. A big shout-out to all the volunteers who helped clean up afterward, and a special thank-you to Behvish Patel for bringing a leaf blower to clear leaves and debris from the pavilion floor.
In addition to our regular monthly programs, we have the following special events scheduled for this summer:
Naperville Riverwalk Display – Sunday, July 13, 2025
Destination Asia Festival – August 2–3, 2025
Holiday Party – December 3, 2025 (venue to be determined)
These events are wonderful opportunities to showcase our trees, engage with the public, and strengthen our bonsai community. We encourage all members to participate and help make these events a success.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm. It’s your passion and energy that make the Prairie State Bonsai Society such a vibrant and welcoming group. Let’s continue learning, growing, and sharing our love of bonsai throughout 2025.
Warm regards,
Badar Zulqarni
President, Prairie State Bonsai Society
