Join us for the inaugural Longwood Gardens Bonsai Festival, a six-day celebration welcoming bonsai artists, enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the beauty of this remarkable artform. Experience an exceptional bonsai display, engaging demonstrations and lectures from leading artists, a curated selection of vendors, an auction, and awards.
Participating clubs include Bonsai Society of the Lehigh Valley, Brandywine Bonsai Society, Deep Cut Bonsai Society, Great Swamp Bonsai Society, New Jersey Bonsai Societies, Pennsylvania Bonsai Society, and Susquehanna Bonsai Club.
Bonsai Display
Featuring a Juried Selection from Regional Clubs
Exhibition Hall, Main Conservatory and Patio of Oranges, East Conservatory
Enjoy dozens of top selections from participating clubs on display.
Demonstrations and Lectures
Patio of Oranges, East Conservatory
Enjoy live demonstrations and lectures.
Free with Gardens Admission. Capacity is limited.
Friday, June 26
11:00 am: Bonsai Basics: Regional Club Presentation
Bonsai is the art of shaping living trees in miniature, blending horticulture with creative design. During this presentation, explore its origins in ancient China and Japan, the classic styles that inspire today’s artists, and the principles that make bonsai look timeless and natural. Examine how containers, soil, and training techniques all work together to keep these trees healthy and expressive. Learn about Longwood’s growing bonsai collection, as well as starter species ideal for those ready to begin their own bonsai journey.
2:00 pm: Designing with Time: Principles of Deciduous Bonsai with Sergio Cuan
Known for his refined deciduous work, Sergio Cuan is a visual artist and largely self-taught bonsai practitioner. Trained in fine arts at Pratt Institute, he later integrated his artistic background with horticulture, studying with such masters as Bill Valavanis, Mauro Stemberger, and Bjorn Bjorholm. In 2014, he built a bonsai garden in northern New Jersey and now teaches widely through workshops, lectures, and virtual consultations.
4:00 pm: Redefining Bonsai: Working with North American Natives with Owen Reich
Bonsai professional and owner of Bonsai Unearthed, Owen Reich is known for his focus on aesthetic pruning and the use of native species. With a background in horticulture from the University of Georgia and a traditional apprenticeship at Fujikawa Kouka-en in Japan, Reich works as an educator, designer, and consultant, bringing decades of horticultural and nursery experience to his bonsai practice.
Saturday, June 27
11:00 am: TBD
2:00 pm: The Poetry of Line: Literati Bonsai with Jim Doyle
Horticulturist and long-time bonsai educator Jim Doyle founded Nature’s Way Nursery in 1973 after earning a Bachelor of Science in horticulture. Influenced early on by Chase Rosade, he transformed bonsai from a hobby into a lifelong profession, teaching nationwide and helping establish the Susquehanna Bonsai Club.
4:00 pm: More than One Tree: The Creation of a Forest Bonsai with Bill Valavanis
Bill Valavanis is a pioneering American bonsai master who began practicing at age 11 and later studied extensively in Japan with Kyuzo Murata and Kakutaro Komuro. Founder of the International Bonsai Arboretum and long time publisher of International BONSAI magazine, he has taught classical bonsai worldwide for more than 50 years. Valavanis is widely respected for his dedication to spreading traditional Japanese techniques in the West and organizing the US National Bonsai Exhibition.
Sunday, June 28
11:00 am: Bonsai Basics: Regional Club Presentation
Bonsai is the art of shaping living trees in miniature, blending horticulture with creative design. During this presentation, explore its origins in ancient China and Japan, the classic styles that inspire today’s artists, and the principles that make bonsai look timeless and natural. Examine how containers, soil, and training techniques all work together to keep these trees healthy and expressive. Learn about Longwood’s growing bonsai collection, as well as starter species ideal for those ready to begin their own bonsai journey.
2:00 pm: Bloom, Balance, and Structure: Satsuki Azalea Bonsai Fundamentals with Bob Mahler
Bob Mahler began bonsai as a teenager, apprenticing under Chase Rosade before spending four years studying in Japan under Susumo Sudo. Returning to the US in 1993, he served 11 years as curator of bonsai at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Mahler founded Kifu Bonsai in 2017 and remains active as an instructor, consultant, and president of the Pennsylvania Bonsai Society.
4:00 pm: TBD
Youth Activities
West Conservatory Plaza
Friday, June 26: 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Saturday, June 27: 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Gather under our grove of London plane-trees—just steps from our Bonsai Courtyard—and enjoy hands-on activities designed for our youngest bonsai enthusiasts, including bonsai coloring pages and crafts. Weather permitting.
Vendor Showcase
Ballroom, East Conservatory
Friday, June 26: 2:00–8:00 pm
Saturday, June 27: 10:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday, June 28: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Our extensive showcase brings together nearly 20 vendors from across the United States, offering bonsai pots, stands, trees, and more. Access to the vendor showcase is free with Gardens Admission.
Awards Presentation
Best in Show Bonsai and Atlantic Bonsai Society Pauline Muth Award of Merit
Exhibition Hall Stage
Saturday, June 27: 6:00 pm
Join us for an award presentation of Best in Show, presented by Longwood Gardens and decided by Bonsai Festival guest votes. Guests are invited to vote Wednesday, June 24 through Saturday, June 27. The Atlantic Bonsai Society Pauline Muth Award of Merit, selected and presented by the American Bonsai Society for the best displayed bonsai that is a native species to the United States, will also be presented.
Auction
Music Room, Main Conservatory
Saturday, June 27: 7:00 pm
Auction preview: 12:00–7:00pm
Pre-auction cocktail reception with cash bar and live music at the Exhibition Hall Stage: 6:00–7:00 pm
Engage in a live auction of bonsai trees, provided by participating vendors, nurseries, Longwood Gardens, and The Kennett Collection. A portion of the proceeds support local nonprofit bonsai clubs. Access to the auction is free with Gardens Admission. Large item pick-up is available near the auction area.
Event Schedule by Day
Related Programs
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Bonsai Master Class with Sergio Cuan
Event
Bonsai Master Class with Sergio Cuan
Enjoy a hands-on bonsai master class with Sergio Cuan, renowned multi-disciplinary artist with nearly 40 years of experience in the art and practice of bonsai.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 8:00 am-12:00 pm -
Creating Kusamono
Event
Creating Kusamono
Through a lecture and demonstration, learn characteristic kusamono styles, methods for creation, display techniques, and care.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 am-12:00 pm