Meetings
Meetings of the Midwest Bonsai Society are held at the Regenstein Center of the Chicago Botanic Garden - 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022. Meetings will be held in either the Burnstein Hall or in the Alsdorf Auditorium. The guard in the Regenstein Center will direct you to the correct room. A map of the rooms within the Regenstein center is available at the Garden's website.
There is no cost to attend our meetings once inside of the Garden, but regular parking rates and per-person admission ticket prices apply for entry into the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please see the Garden’s dedicated webpage for pricing details.
The Chicago Chapter of the Society also holds meetings. Please check the Chicago Chapter page for dates and times.
Meeting Schedule for 2025
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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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
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 may bring their own pots and plants for their arrangement. Alternatively Young Choe will have plants available for purchase and Linda Camp will have suitable pots. Cost will be $40 per participant.
Young Choe’s demonstration planting will be raffled off, at the end of the 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
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
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