Discover these imaginative miniatures for yourself as members of the Prairie State Bonsai Society show off their masterpieces and demonstrate the award-winning techniques. The Art of Bonsai show will be free with Arboretum admission and open to the public, Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
During the show, see more than 60 bonsai specimens, ranging in age from a decade to more than a century, then vote for your favorite in the best in show competition. Bonsai and bonsai supplies will be available for purchase. At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., get professional tips on creating and nurturing bonsai as society members display their skills in live demonstrations.
Once a predominantly Chinese and Japanese art form, bonsai can now be found around the world. Contrary to common believe, bonsai are not created with genetically dwarfed plants but are naturally occurring plants that growers keep small through careful training and pruning. Bonsai are designed to showcase the inherent beauty of the trees and create a sense of nature in miniature, the natural world captured within a single pot.
Want to dig deeper? Enroll in a bonsai workshop Saturday, September 21 or Sunday, September 22. To register, visit mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468.
