Filtering by: Society Meetings
Apr
7
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

April General Meeting

Program: Victor Zurczak, proprietor of Morning Sun Bonsai and one of the best bonsai artists in the Chicagoland area will be demonstrating rock planting.

The demonstration material will be auctioned to the highest bidder at the end of the night.

Bonsai 101: Victor will discuss container selection prior to the main demonstration.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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May
5
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

May General Meeting

Program: Mark Fields, nationally recognized bonsai artist and owner of Bonsai by Fields will be presenting methods for propagation, grafting (scion and thread), air layering, and cuttings.

During the afternoon, from 1pm to 4pm, the Society will be hosting Mark at a bring-your-own-tree workshop for up to 10 participants, cost will be $40 per participant.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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Jun
2
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

June General Meeting

Program: Iron Bonsai Competition, Three artists will face off styling nursery stock into new bonsai. Come witness the initial consideration, primary styling, and transformation of raw stock into early stage bonsai in just two hours. Members will vote on the best composition.

The finished trees will be auctioned off to the highest bidders at the end of the competition.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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Jul
7
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

July General Meeting

Program: Mike Lane, tropical bonsai expert of Kitsune Bonsai will answer your questions on all things tropical. Mike will be bringing some of his stock from Florida for purchase, both tropical and hardy.

In addition, the Society will be hosting a workshop with Mike before the general meeting, from 1pm to 4pm, for up to 10 participants. Cost will be $40 per participant.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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Aug
4
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

August General Meeting

Program: Young Choe, a master of the art of kusamono will demonstrate the art of kusamono planting and lead up to 6 of our members in the creation of their own kusamono arrangement. Participating members will need to supply their own pots and plants for the arrangement. Cost will be $40 per participant.

Young Choes demonstration planting will be auctioned at the end of the meeting.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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Sep
8
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

September General Meeting

Program: Victor Zurczak returns to cover fall care and needle pruning of pines, this technique is necessary to maintain the health of your tree and creating your desired style. If you are raising pines or considering adding them to your collection don’t miss this program.
Location: Classroom #2, Learning Campus

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Nov
3
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

November General Meeting

Program: Victor Zurczak will close out our year with a presentation on overwintering bonsai and the best work to do on your hardy bonsai during the cold season. This program is essential to fully allow your tree to rest comfortably during the winter months and respond vigorously come springtime.

This will also be our annual membership sale/swap meet, so bring anything you might like to trade or sell.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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Mar
3
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

March General Meeting

Program: Linda Camp, A bonsai enthusiast of 27 years and partner in B.C. Bonsai for 21 years, Linda will be leading us through repotting forest plantings as a follow up to the forest building workshop from two years ago. Bring your forests for guidance and assistance repotting them.

Following the repotting instruction, Linda will be demoing forest planting.

Ceramic containers will be available to purchase for anyone who wants to repot out of plastic.

There will also be supplies and guidance available for those who are interested in building a new forest, please call Linda at B.C. Bonsai some days ahead of the meeting to ensure sufficient supplies are available if you want to build a forest.
Location: Pullman Room, Regenstein Center

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Feb
3
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

February General Meeting

Program: Don Lindstom is our visiting artist for the February 3rd meeting and will be discussing Bonsai Pots.

Don Lindstrom is a 30 year veteran of Bonsai art. After 6 yrs, he was able to spend time working at Brussels Bonsai Nursery in Mississippi as well as visiting artist at Nature's Way in Pennsylvania with Jim Doyle.  After that he returned to his Chicago suburban home and achieved professional awards at The Midwest show and also BCI conferences along with 2 Joshua Roth New Talent competitions.

He has continued to grow bonsai material and specializes in taxus/yew.    With a lifelong pursuit in the arts and experience in ceramics, he began filling the niche for stone textured pots after many years of contemplation. Having first focused on forest slabs and crescent pots, he is now pushing his work to incorporate hybrid forms of traditional and natural stone textures. Along with that is his Wabi Sabi approach to further incorporate and blend technique with freeform design.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center

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September General Meeting
Sep
9
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

September General Meeting

Please note the change of date due to the Labor Day holiday. Additionally, the meeting will be held at the Garden’s Learning Campus, instead of our normal space. Please see the attached map if you are unfamiliar with the Learning Campus.

Location: Learning Campus, Classroom #2
7:00 PM - Bonsai 101
7:30 PM - Main program, Guest Artist Elle Nieto-Brodnick

Elle Nieto-Brodnick discovered her passion for bonsai appreciation and cultivation during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic while working in the healthcare industry.

She started educating herself via online videos and literature.  Her voracious quest for learning led her to attend workshops and classes with Todd Schlafer, Andy Smith, Owen Reich, Will Baddeley, and Julian Tsai. Within her four years of practice, and under the tutelage of Bjorn Bjorholm and Mauro Stemberger, she remains a motivated student who reveals an exceptional perception of bonsai creativity. She goes to great lengths to further her study, improve her skills, and develop the character traits reflective of a disciplined and committed bonsai practitioner.

Teaching basic to intermediate bonsai at The Hidden Gardens and working with private clients has pivoted her from being a serious student into an upcoming bonsai professional/artist.  She has recently demonstrated and conducted workshops for the Springfield Bonsai Society and the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society, and has additional upcoming events scheduled.

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Aug
5
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

August General Meeting

Location: Regenstein Center, Burnstein Hall
As our August Exhibition fast-approaches, the programs will focus on preparing for the show!
7:00 PM: Bonsai 101 Program: “Volunteer Roles for August Exhibit" presented by Robert Wright.
7:30 PM General Program: “Preparing Your Tree for Displaying at the August Exhibit” presented by Victor Zurczak.

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Apr
1
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

April General Meeting

Location: Regenstein Center, Bernstein Hall


The Society is happy to welcome guest artist and author Michael Hagedorn for discussion on his works “Bonsai Heresy: 56 Myths Exposed Using Science & Tradition.”  Members will have the opportunity to ask questions.  Because of the Guest Speaker for General Program there will be no Bonsai 101.

As always, senior members will be available in person to help with any bonsai questions you have.

The meeting will be in person in the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden, or is available through WebEx.

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Oct
2
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

October General Meeting

7:00 PM: Bonsai 101 program; “Bonsai Preparation and Winter Storage” presented by Victor Zurczak. 7:30 PM, General Program: “White Elephant Sale”.  All members are invited to bring supplies, pots plants or any other bonsai related item that you want to sell or give away.  MBS will have leftover Children's Workshop trees available for sale at $10 each.  Trees are  Zelcova, Chinese Wisteria, Japanese Maple, Trident Maple, and maybe one Amur Maple.

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Jun
5
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

June General Meeting

7:00 pm – No Bonsai 101 program, as we have a guest artist.

7:30 pm - General program; “Deciduous Bonsai Development” presented by Sergio Cuan via Webex, from his bonsai garden in New Jersey. Sergio specializes in the cultivation and development of deciduous tress. His favorite trees include maple, elm and beech.


Remember you are always invited to bring in a tree of any sort, as senior members will be available to answer questions and provide advice.

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May
1
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

May General Meeting

7:00PM - Bonsai 101 - Wiring Techniques presented by Victor Zurczak
7:30PM - Main Program - Presentation and Demonstration from Mark Fields on grafting
Meeting will be available in person, and via Webex. Members are also invited to bring a tree to get advice on care or styling from Victor Zurczak or other senior members.
Note: We will be meeting in the Pullman room, as opposed to our normal location. The Pullman room is still within the Regenstein Center.

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Apr
3
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

April General Meeting

7:00 PM - Bonsai 101 Program will be “Forest Design” presented by Victor Zurczak.
7:30 PM - General Program is "Forest Planting Workshop” led by Linda Camp.   You are welcome to just watch or bring your own trees and pot, or purchase package from BC Bonsai.  Package includes trees, soil and pot. Trees available will be Maples, Dawn Redwoods, Black pines, and Ficus.

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Sep
12
7:00 PM19:00
Society Meetings

General Meeting - September

Location: Chicago Botanic Garden Regenstein Center Burnstein Hall
Topic: 7:00 PM, Bonsai 101 Program: “Planting Tree On A Rock” presented by Victor Zurczak. Note that this demonstration tree will be raffled off at the meeting. 7:30 PM, General Program: “Video & Dis- cussion of August Exhibition Judge’s Review”

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