Jun
16
6:00 PM18:00
Jul
7
1:00 PM13:00
Workshop: Tropical Bonsai with Mike Lane
Description: Work with Mike Lane, expert with tropical bonsai, during a workshop limited to 10 participants. Participants should bring trees and tools. The workshop will be held July 7th from 1:00-4:00, ahead of the evening’s General Society Meeting in which Mike will present on tropical bonsai.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center
Participants: The workshop will be limited to the first 10 members, first come first serve.
Cost: $40.00
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Jul
7
7:00 PM19:00
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.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center
Jul
21
6:00 PM18:00
Aug
4
7:00 PM19:00
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
Aug
18
6:00 PM18:00
Sep
8
7:00 PM19:00
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
Sep
15
6:00 PM18:00
Oct
6
7:00 PM19:00
October General Meeting
Program: Phil Mahliot, a leading bonsai artist in the Chicagoland area will take us through the process of determining a style for a difficult tree. Members are encouraged to bring that difficult tree and let Phil suggest a route to a bonsai.
Location: Pullman Room, Regenstein Center
Oct
20
6:00 PM18:00
Nov
3
7:00 PM19:00
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
Jun
2
7:00 PM19:00
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
May
19
6:00 PM18:00
May
18
1:00 PM13:00
Workshop: Vietnamese Blue Bell with Kawa No Okta Bonsai
Description: Come and work with Kawa No Oka Bonsai on an amazing smelling Vietnamese Blue Bell. During the workshop you will repot the tree and do a beginning styling. These are tropical trees that get a purple flower that smells just like grape soda! The tree, pot and soil are included. Please bring bonsai tools as well as 1-3 mm wire (if not available, wire will be available for purchase)
Registration and Materials Fee: $85
Skill Level: Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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May
18
9:00 AM09:00
Workshop: Portulacaria Afra with Waters Edge
Description: Portulacaria Afra, five-tree forest planting class. Included - 5 Portulacaria trees, 7” ceramic pot, soil and wire. Please bring your own tools (pruners and/or cutters)
Registration and Materials Fee: $85
Skill Level: Beginner
Location: Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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May
18
9:00 AM09:00
Workshop: Procumbens Nana Juniper with BC Bonsai
Description: Work to style a Procumbens Nana Juniper in this workshop! These winter hardy trees are easy to care for and a good starter tree. The tree and wire will be provided, as well as the use of shared tools (bring your own tools if possible)
Registration and Materials Fee: $80
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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May
17
1:00 PM13:00
Workshop: Green Gem Ficus with BC Bonsai
Description: Style a Green Gem Ficus! These easy to care for trees are a good beginner tree. These trees need to come indoors in the fall before cold temperatures. The tree and wire will be provided, as well as the use of shared tools (bring your own tools if possible)
Registration and Materials Fee: $80
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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May
17
1:00 PM13:00
Workshop: Shohin Chinese Elm with Kawa No Okta Bonsai
Description: Come and work with Kawa No Oka Bonsai on a Shohin sized Chinese elm. These make amazing small bonsai. During the workshop you will repot the tree and do initial styling. The tree, pot and soil are included. Please bring bonsai tools as well as 1-3 mm wire (if not available, wire will be available for purchase)
Registration and Materials Fee: $95
Skill Level: Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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May
17
9:00 AM09:00
Workshop: Dwarf Mugo Pine with BC Bonsai
Description: Style a dwarf Mugo Pine! These cold-hardy trees are easy to care for, and are already potted in a ceramic container. The tree and wire will be provided, as well as the use of shared tools (bring your own tools if possible)
Registration and Materials Fee: $90
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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May
5
7:00 PM19:00
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
May
5
1:00 PM13:00
Workshop: Mark Fields Bring your Own Tree Workshop
Description: Mark Fields, an accomplished nurseryman and bonsai artist, will be conducting a workshop on trees (limit two trees per member) members bring in for evaluation, direction, design and refinement on the afternoon of May 5th from 1:00-4:00.
Location: Burnstein Hall, Regenstein Center
Participants: The workshop will be limited to the first 10 members, first come first serve. Please bring your own tools.
Cost: $40.00
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Apr
21
6:00 PM18:00
Apr
7
7:00 PM19:00
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
Mar
17
6:00 PM18:00
Mar
3
7:00 PM19:00
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
Feb
3
7:00 PM19:00
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
Nov
4
7:00 PM19:00
November General Meeting
Location: Regenstein Center, Burnstein Hall
7:00 PM - Bonsai 101
7:30 PM - Main program, topic TBD
Oct
7
7:00 PM19:00
October General Meeting
Location: Regenstein Center, Burnstein Hall
7:00 PM - Bonsai 101
7:30 PM - Main program, topic TBD
Sep
9
7:00 PM19:00
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.
Aug
18
1:00 PM13:00
Kristy Majeske of Asian Artique - Pairing Scrolls with Bonsai (Sunday)
Description: Questions on pairing scrolls with bonsai? Join this presentation from Kristy Majeske of Asian Artique to discuss a series of questions to ask yourself when choosing a scroll for a particular tree. After the presentation, join Kristy as she leads the group through the Exhibition to work through ideas. Handouts of checklists and symbolism will be provided.
Registration Fee: Free
Location: Regenstein Center, Alsdorf Auditorium
No registration required!
Aug
18
1:00 PM13:00
Golden Arrow Bonsai Bring Your Own Tree Workshop
Description: Bring your own collected or unstyled nursery conifer (no deciduous or tropical), or one that you want to refine further, to this workshop to start it on its path to bonsai. Students should bring their own wire and tools.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: None
Skill Level: Intermediate to Expert
Maximum Participants: 10
Location: Design Studio
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Aug
18
1:00 PM13:00
Kusa-Farm Premna Japonica Bonsai Workshop
Description: Premna Japonica (Musk Maple) in 6” bulb pan. Movement has already been established in the trunks, the workshop will focus on branch placement and cut-back to continue styling the materials. Participants should bring tools and wire.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $95, payable directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Maximum Participants: 6
Location: Regenstein Center, Linnaeus Room
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Aug
18
1:00 PM13:00
Children's Bonsai Workshop (Sunday)
Description: Your child, with the help of our experienced Society members, will learn how to pot a bonsai, which they can take home at the end of the workshop. The registration fee covers the cost of the materials as well.
Registration Fee: $16
Materials Cost: none
Skill Level: Children 5-17
Location: Regenstein Center, Burnstein Hall
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Aug
18
9:00 AM09:00
Dasu Raft Dwarf Arborvitae Bonsai Workshop
Description: Raft dwarf Arborvite workshop - wire a tree into forest form from a single tree for you to plant next spring. Plant in your pot or rockscape - appropriate pot and rockscape options are available for purchase by contacting 515-769-2446 ahead of the workshop. Students should bring wire cutters, basic concave cutters, or powerful scissors, as well as 2.5 mm, 3 mm and 3.5 mm aluminum wire.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $38, payable directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop. Pot and rockscape options available separately for purchase by calling 515-769-2446 ahead of time.
Skill Level: All
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Linnaeus Room
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Aug
18
9:00 AM09:00
BC Bonsai Narrow Leaf Buttonwood Bonsai Workshop
Description: Narrow leaf Buttonwood produces lovey very narrow foliage, great wood for carving, and is a hardy Florida native. Tropical favorite! Buttonwood likes full sun, and moderate water and fertilizer. Tropical tree, keep away from freezing temperatures. Tools and wire will be provided.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $30, payable directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop.
Skill Level: All
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
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Aug
18
9:00 AM09:00
Bring your own Bonsai Workshop with Guest Master Jack Sustic (Sunday)
Description: A unique opportunity! Bring your own bonsai to this workshop to gain styling and care insights from our Guest Master Jack Sustic. This workshop has no materials fee.
Registration Fee: $80
Materials Cost: none
Skill Level: All Skills
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
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Aug
17
5:00 PM17:00
Informal Dinner and Auction at Heller Nature Center
Description: Drinks, complementary wine and beer and soft drinks start at 5:00. The dinner is informal and will consist of ordered-in food. An amazing silent auction and raffle will be held during the dinner. The raffle will be for the tree styled by guest judge Jack Sustic in the Saturday afternoon demonstration. The silent auction will be for items donated by our fabulous vendors and club members. Note that the dinner is open to members and non-members alike!
Location: Heller Nature Center in Highland Park (just minutes from the Garden)
Cost: $18
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Aug
17
1:00 PM13:00
Children's Bonsai Workshop (Saturday)
Description: Your child, with the help of our experienced Society members, will learn how to pot a bonsai, which they can take home at the end of the workshop. The registration fee covers the cost of the materials cost well.
Registration Fee: $16
Materials Cost: none
Skill Level: Children 5-17
Location: Regenstein Center, Burnstein Hall
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Aug
17
1:00 PM13:00
Kawa No Oka Tiger Bark Ficus Bonsai Workshop
Description: A hands-on workshop designed for intermediate bonsai enthusiasts where we will focus on the Tiger Bark Ficus, a species renowned for its striking, well-developed trunk and resilient nature. Learn intermediate pruning, wiring, and styling methods tailored specifically to the Tiger Bark Ficus. Explore techniques to further develop and refine the impressive trunk structure of your Ficus. Gain information into the care routines required to maintain a healthy and thriving Ficus. From watering schedules to pest management. This workshop is ideal for intermediate participants who have basic bonsai experience. We will not be repotting, so you will receive one tree ready for styling. Participants will need to bring their own basic tools and wire of chice from 1mm/18 gauge through 4mm/10 gauge. Aluminum wire will be available for purchase.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $60, payable to instructor at the beginning of the workshop.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
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Aug
17
1:00 PM13:00
Bonsai Styling Demonstration with Guest Master Jack Sustic
Description: Guest Master Jack Sustic will perform a styling on a Colorado Blue Spruce. See a raw, un-styled tree, start its journey to become a bonsai.
Registration Fee: Free
Location: Regenstein Center, Alsdorf Auditiorium
No registration required!
Aug
17
9:00 AM09:00
Bring your own Bonsai Workshop with Guest Master Jack Sustic (Saturday)
Description: A unique opportunity! Bring your own bonsai to this workshop to gain styling and care insights from our Guest Master Jack Sustic. This workshop has no materials fee.
Registration Fee: $80
Materials Cost: none
Skill Level: All Skills
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Visitor’s Center
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