Bonsai Essentials 1: Beginner Workshop with Peter Olson

Bonsai Essentials 1: Workshop with Peter Olson
Sundays | May 17 & July 19, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Practice the basic design and pruning skills to start your lifelong bonsai journey. In this introductory class, we discuss the care and maintenance of the trees. Learn everything you need to keep your tropical bonsai healthy throughout the winter and beyond, including proper watering, lighting, repotting, and fertilizing.

Peter Olson is the head bonsai professional at New England Bonsai Gardens and studied under a genuine Japanese bonsai master. He is an instructor in the prestigious Kaikou School of Bonsai and has been practicing bonsai for 12 years.

This is the first in a series of four workshops leading to a certificate of completion in bonsai techniques. Materials are included.

Registration is required and limited to 12. Adults only.

$65 Members | $75 Non-Members

Register Here

About the Instructor: Peter Olson is the head Bonsai Professional at New England Bonsai Gardens. He has been practicing bonsai for 12 years and turned pro in 2020. He learned the art from a genuine Japanese Bonsai Master named Jun Imabayashi, who is now in charge of the Larz Anderson Bonsai collection at Harvard University Arboretum. He teaches and demonstrates the art of bonsai throughout New England and is an instructor in the prestigious Kaikou school of Bonsai. He works closely with private clients throughout the North East, and in 2024, Martha Stewart invited him to her show “Martha Gardens” for her episode called “container gardening” which can be viewed on Roku from anywhere in the world. Last year after having to sign a non-disclosure, another celebrity invited me down to Washington D.C to display my work at one of their events as well. For the past two years I have been running my bonsai program with Polly and Mike of Robin hollow farm, unfortunately they have decided to retire and Iam looking to set up a new home for my bonsai program here at Blithewold for the foreseeable future.