Mid-American Bonsai Show

[redvw5]

I was wondering if anyone was going to the Mid-American Bonsai show at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe Illinois during Aug 14 ,15 and 16. Heres a link for it.

http://http://www.midwestbonsai.org/augustshow.html

 

[ericN]

I am planning to go. For the past tree years i have been going to this show and its worth the day-off, i go on friday mornings to have the chance on getting the good stuff, and always end-up with a tree and a pot or two.

eric

 

[kytombonsai]

I drove up for the show about 4 years ago. Very nice show, vendors area and botanical gardens. If I remember right, I liked everything except the high parking fees at the botanical gardens. I also picked up some nice trees from Cass Bonsai while there. I think I will try to make it this year.

Tom

 

[treebeard55]

It's an annual "pilgrimage" for us. I usually take the "Styling and Refinement" workshop and try to take in a demo or two. Then of course I have to browse the candy store, especially Meehan's and Sara Raynor's.

My wife and daughter enjoy the trees too, but they mainly go for the chance to stay in a hotel and enjoy its amenities.

Save me some good purchases! We can't get up to Chicago any earlier than Friday nite.

 

[ericN]

Two days before the Mid-American Bonsai show! My wife and I decided to go on saturday, maybe i will actually meet treebeard55 and other bonsainut people.

Eric

 

[Bill S]

Make the effort to get to Meehans booth, good starter stock, and good people.

 

[redvw5]

I usually end up buying at least one starter from Meehans. I am really interested to see some of Ron Langs pottery. I am going to try to get there early fri or sat morning before work. Its perfect how this comes a week before my birthday and two weeks before my anniversary. That way wife can't complain I spent too much.

 

[treebeard55]

... Its perfect how this comes a week before my birthday and two weeks before my anniversary. That way wife can't complain I spent too much.

There you go!

If you see someone who looks like my avatar pic, feel free to come up and say "Hi."

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I recommend this show! It is hosted by my old bonsai club! Make sure to reserve time to check out the botanic gardens if you have never been there before - they are amazing. I have honestly not seen anything in California that begins to compare.

The Chicago Botanic Garden

 

[treebeard55]

Here are some pictures from the 32nd Mid-America Bonsai Show, held last weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I'll post the pictures in several batches, to make viewing simpler.

The headliner for the show was Mr. Hiroshi Yamaji. Mr. Yamaji is a second-generation bonsai grower and teacher from near Osaka, Japan. Tho I had never heard of him until a few months ago, I think he turned out to be a fine choice as the visiting master.

Saturday afternoon he did a demonstration with this Austrian pine (Pinus nigra.) He first asked for ideas from the audience, and several were offered. Then he revealed what he had decided to do, and it was a good deal more ambitious than I had expected! I was glad for the chance to watch; this was the first time I'd ever watched this sort of procedure live.

Yamaji-san's assistant was Steve Jetzer, chosen both for his bonsai skills and (explicitly) for his strength!

The blue wrapping in the last pictures is veterinary bandage, made of a material called "coban" (TM?) Mr. Yamaji said it would need to stay in place for 3 years while the splits callous over and new bark grows.

 

[treebeard55]

Here are pictures, two each, of the Best of Show and the Best Professional.

The Best of Show is a Korean hornbeam owned and styled by Jack Fried. Let me say that my pictures don't do it justice. (Sorry.)

The Best Professional is a trident maple owned and styled by Matt Ouwinga of Kaede Bonsai, in the Chicago area.

 

[treebeard55]

Here are some more of the trees that were on display. My 9-year-old daughter thought that the Chinese elm, if full-sized, would make an "awesome!" climbing tree.

 

[treebeard55]

Saturday morning Mr. Yamaji led a Styling and Refinement workshop. Here are a few pictures from that.

Included are before-and after pictures of my Colorado spruce. What surprised me was that Mr. Yamaji left the trunk alone; he obviously thought it looked fine just as it is! (And I'd made a special trip to get raffia the nite before.) I hope to have this tree ready to display in two years, if all goes well.

 

[greerhw]

There you go!

If you see someone who looks like my avatar pic, feel free to come up and say "Hi."

Hey beard, I would set on your lap and tell you what I wanted for Christmas (Ichiban). Thanks for all the trouble posting the pictures, looks like some very good trees.

keep it green,
Harry

 

[treebeard55]

Hey beard, I would set on your lap and tell you what I wanted for Christmas (Ichiban). ... looks like some very good trees.

keep it green,
Harry

Yes, there were some great trees on display. Hopefully a few others who were there will post some too.

An ichiban would be nice, but it will be a few years before I broach the idea to my better half!

 

[greerhw]

Do like I do and mow lawns on the side for 35 bucks and it will only take you a short time to be able to buy one.........

keep it green,
Harry

 

[greerhw]

Saturday morning Mr. Yamaji led a Styling and Refinement workshop. Here are a few pictures from that.

Included are before-and after pictures of my Colorado spruce. What surprised me was that Mr. Yamaji left the trunk alone; he obviously thought it looked fine just as it is! (And I'd made a special trip to get raffia the nite before.) I hope to have this tree ready to display in two years, if all goes well.

Keep us posted, I like it.

keep it green,
Harry

 

[treebeard55]

A correction and a PS

Oops! The owner of the tree in one picture I posted has informed that I mis-identified her bonsai. What I thought was a euonymus is in fact a Natal plum, Carissa grandiflora. The owner and artist is Cat Nelson of the Midwest Bonsai Society.

And I allowed myself one purchase at the show, this Scots pine from Meehan's. First picture is how it looked when I bought it; second one is after I cleaned it up yesterday afternoon. I plan to grow this one on for several years before I decide on a style.

 

[ericN]

I was at the demonstration of Mr. Hiroshi Yamaji too. I was soooo into what Yamaji was doing that i did not even notice Treebeared in the room.

Here are some of my favorites from the show......

Eric

 

[rockm]

Who belongs to the Juniper? The container (Ron Lang?) could be seen as ungainly and the tree is good. But together I think they're spectacular. That composition takes me back to Arizona out in the canyons. I can smell the pinyon.