another novice

hello all,

my name is Lain and i live in Peoria, IL. i guess ill start with i've wanted to get into the bonsai art for some time now and finally settled down enough to do so haha. i've been surfin the web for a couple weeks now and picked up Bonsai 101 essential tips today. of course its a fast read and now im going back tomorrow for another book haha. but i have a couple of noobie questions. first i can't seem to find an up to list of local bonsai clubs around the peoria area the 2 closest to me are over an hour away and second what is a good indoor starter tree i can pick up at a local garden centre

Welcome to the forum!!! I don't have any advice as to what type of plant you could grow indoors, but I would like to suggest you read John Naka's books Bonsai Techniques 1 and 2... Both books changed my perspective/understanding of Bonsai. Also, I'm not sure if you're aware, but Bonsai are classified by size as well as style (the smaller being mame and shohin). I have limited space and have chosen to focus on mainly mame/shohin trees for now, until I have more space (a house I'm not renting). If your space is limited, I'd recommend looking into these smaller Bonsai. Another benefit is that you can achieve results in a much shorter time frame. Search for mame or shohin here on the forum, you'll see some stunning examples And, finally, unless you absolutely have to grow indoors I'd recommend outdoors. It's where the plants are happiest and you'll achieve quickest results that way!

Here are the Illinois bonsai clubs:

ILLINOIS - Glencoe

Midwest Bonsai Society meets at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, IL, the first Monday, of each month at 7:30 PM. Contact: Midday Bonsai Society, P.O. Box 1373, Highland Park, Il 60036,or by e-mail at midwest.bonsai@yahoo.com. One of the largest clubs in the Midwest, MBS has been goingstrong in Chicago for over 30 years. Come see our two annual shows; our Spring show is the third weekend inMay and our August show is the third weekend in August. Must see events! Website
ILLINOIS - Glen Ellyn

Prairie State Bonsai Society. Meets at College of DuPage, fourth Monday, 7:30 PM. The club hosts several programs, demonstrations, and lectures given by members, local masters, and visiting Masters from around the U.S. and Japan. We are one of the few clubs around that has our own Grow Plot where trees are raised and cared for by our members to be used for Master demonstrations, then raffled off to members. We also put on two annual shows. The first at the beginning of June and the other at the end of September or beginning of October. President: Mark Karczewski Contact: Prairie State Bosai Society, P.O. Box 2634, Glen Ellyn, IL. 60138-2634 Phone: (630) 257-7586 Website www.prairiestatebonsai.com
ILLINOIS - Oak Park

Near West Bonsai Society. NWBS meets on the third Monday (Feb.-Nov.) at Maze branch library, 845 S. Gunderson Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304. 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Contact Roger D. Thompson Roger@mindspring.com (708) 383-5267. Website: Groups.msn.com/NearWestBonsaiSociety/
ILLINOIS - Peoria

Bonsai Club Heart of Illinois. Meets at Bio Center, Glen Oak Park, third Thursday, 7:30 PM. J. Horvath, Jr., 109 W. Almond Dr., Washington, IL 61571, (309) 745-5256.
ILLINOIS - Rock Island

Quad City Bonsai Club. Meets at Deere-Wyman Carriage House, Moline, last Thursday, except December, 7:30 PM. Website: www.qcbonsai.org - Email: mail@qcbonsai.org
ILLINOIS - Rockford

Rock River Bonsai Society. Meet at the Rock Valley Greenhouse & Garden Center, 785 N Bell School Road, Rockford, IL the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Contact: Robert Seele, (815) 631-3956or by e-mail.
ILLINOIS - Sandwich

De La Ke Bonsai Society. Meets at Fox Valley Older Adult Center, 1406 W Suydam Rd., Sandwich, IL. The second Saturday, 10:00 AM. Year-round. Please contact: Kevin H. Johnson, 215 19th Ave Naplate, IL 61350 or E-mail: de_la_ke_bonsai_society@yahoo.com
ILLINOIS - Springfield

Springfield Bonsai Society. Meets at Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette, secondMonday of each Month at 7:00 pm. Contact: Gary Trammell by phone (219) 741-4849 or by e-mail to trammell.gary@uis.edu The Springfield Bonsai Society welcomes bonsai enthusiasts of all levels. Weconduct workshops for begining and advanced students and host annual shows for the community.Website: http://www.bonsaisbs.com/
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I'm an hour away from the nearest club too. It can be awkward -- especially in the winter -- but a club is the best way to learn bonsai and how it works in your environment.

As for starter trees. Indoors: Willow-leaf fig, Ficus Nerifolia, would be MY favorite. Outdoors (the best way to develop nice trees) beginners do well with Chinese elms, crabapples, hawthorn, or Cotoneaster.

Welcome to the sport of bonsai and to the IBC.

thnks for the help guys

When I meet with the club... I meet with the Springfield Bonsai Society, But I work in Springfield. I live closer to you, though. I'm around 35 minutes south in Lincoln. Let me know, we can talk.

I've been at it for 10 years and still consider myself a novice, so we can sit around and whine as we look at pictures of other people's trees! LOL

Jay

Although clubs are the best way for a novice to learn, a trip to Cass Bonsai an hour and a half south, near Edwardsville, is well worth the trip.
Probably the best Bonsai nursery around here. Here's their link...
http://www.cassbonsaigardens.com/