University of Utah Continuing Education — Bonsai 101: Tropical Trees

Category: Learning Also called: Bonsai 101 Tropical Trees (LLHG 462); U of U Lifelong Learning bonsai class; University of Utah Continuing Education Lifelong Learning; continue.utah.edu Last checked: 2026-10-08

What it is

Bonsai 101: Tropical Trees (course LLHG 462) is a dated, tuition-priced, in-person beginner bonsai class run by Lifelong Learning at Continuing Education at the University of Utah, held at the Continuing Education building, 540 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Fall 2026 section is a single three-hour evening session on Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:00–9:00 PM, in room UUCE 155. The class page says students learn the basics of growing, shaping and caring for a small tropical tree, “the only bonsai that can be cared for indoors in temperate climates,” and leave with a new tree, a basic set of tools and the knowledge to care for it. Tuition is $49.00 plus a $125.00 special fee for all needed materials, $174.00 total. This listing is Learning. It is not a nursery shop and not a membership club.

Who it’s for

Salt Lake Valley adults (18 and older) who want a single, structured evening that ends with a tree, tools and a care plan, especially apartment and condo growers who need an indoor-capable bonsai in Utah’s cold-winter climate. No degree, enrollment or prior bonsai experience is required. People who want ongoing monthly meetings and member workshops should look at Clubs listings; people who want to buy finished or pre-bonsai trees should look at Nurseries.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party university continuing-education page. It prints a course code, section term, date, start and end time, building and room, tuition plus a separate materials fee, a registration deadline and an Add to Cart button. The program publishes its own registration steps, drop/refund rules and parking information. It is curriculum and schedule first, not a shop and not a scraped event-aggregator card.

Fall 2026 section (class page, checked 2026-10-08):
- Fall 2026 Section 1, starting 11/05/2026: Thursday, 6:00–9:00 PM, room UUCE 155, Continuing Education building, 540 Arapeen Drive, SLC. In person.
- Tuition: $49.00 + Special Fee: $125.00 = $174.00. The page says the special fee “is for all needed materials.”
- Instructor listed as “Staff.”
- “Registration for this class will close on 11/04/2026 at midnight.” An Add to Cart button was shown at check.
- Outcome: “You’ll leave class with a new tree, a basic set of tools, and the knowledge you need to care for it.”
Program rules (Lifelong Learning home, Registration and Drop and Refund pages, checked today):
- Lifelong Learning registration is open to all adults 18 and older, with no degrees or matriculation required.
- Registration uses a shopping cart. After you submit your cart, Continuing Education contacts you to confirm the registration and give payment options.
- Lifelong Learning refunds: full refund if dropped 7 days before the class begins. Drops less than 7 days before the start (but before 50% of the class is over) get a 50% tuition refund but no special fee. Some classes have exceptions because of materials purchasing; check the class note.
Getting there (Parking page): free parking next to the 540 Arapeen Dr. building, with no permit required after 5 PM. UTA buses 3, 223, 313, 455 and 473 stop next to the building.

Session dates, fees and rooms above are what the official pages showed on the check date. Seats and prices change. Check the live class page before treating any figure as fixed.

Official URL

Primary page (Fall 2026 section): https://continue.utah.edu/lifelong/class/llhg_462_bonsai_101_tropical_trees

Lifelong Learning Home & Garden classes (lists Bonsai 101: Tropical Trees, 11/05/26): https://continue.utah.edu/lifelong/home-garden
Lifelong Learning home (open to adults 18+): https://continue.utah.edu/lifelong
Drop and refund policy: https://continue.utah.edu/drop
Class registration information: https://continue.utah.edu/registration
Parking and transit: https://continue.utah.edu/parking
Contact Lifelong Learning: https://continue.utah.edu/lifelong/contact
Continuing Education home: https://continue.utah.edu/

Location

Continuing Education building, 540 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 (Research Park, University of Utah); class room UUCE 155. Lifelong Learning office phone 801-587-5433; email [email protected]. Free parking is next to the building, and no permit is needed after 5 PM.

This is a university continuing-education class identity. Do not treat this Learning card as a retail bonsai nursery or as a membership club meeting hall.

Notes

Category is Learning. The University of Utah sells a class seat with a materials fee, not trees as a shop, and it is not a club.
Single session, short window: only one bonsai section was listed at check (Thu Nov 5, 2026). Registration closes Nov 4 at midnight. No 2027 bonsai sections were posted.
Companion classes not confirmed: a search index also referenced a “Bonsai 101: Conifers” (LLHG 460) page. That URL now returns the site’s page-not-found notice, which says class pages stop displaying once a class has ended. The Home & Garden and subject listings showed only Tropical Trees at check, so this card does not cite other Bonsai 101 sections.
Instructor not named: the page lists the instructor as “Staff.”
Refund detail: under the general Lifelong Learning rule, the $125 special fee is not refunded on late drops, and the policy notes that materials-heavy classes can have exceptions. The bonsai class note does not state a separate exception beyond describing the special fee as covering materials.
The class page also carries a generic waiting-list form. At check the section showed an Add to Cart button and no “full” notice.
Geographic spread: Salt Lake City UT is the plaza’s first Utah listing and its first Mountain West Learning card outside Denver. It is away from Wed Bristol RI, Tue Denver CO, Mon Orlando FL, Fri Carrboro NC, Thu Vienna VA, Wed Sep 30 Columbus OH, Tue Sep 29 Toronto ON and Mon Sep 28 Fort Pierce FL Learning geos.
Listing image: first-party Continuing Education / The University of Utah wordmark saved beside this file as university-of-utah-bonsai-101-tropical-trees-logo.png (from continue.utah.edu/images/cece-logo.png, 266×43).
Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza.
No Bonsai Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: When is the next University of Utah bonsai class, and what does it cost?
A: The official class page (checked 2026-10-08) lists Bonsai 101: Tropical Trees on Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:00–9:00 PM, in room UUCE 155 at 540 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City. Tuition is $49 plus a $125 materials fee, $174 total.

Q: What do I take home?
A: The class page says you will leave with a new tree, a basic set of tools, and the knowledge you need to care for it. The $125 special fee covers all needed materials.

Q: Who can sign up, and when does registration close?
A: Lifelong Learning says registration is open to all adults 18 and older, with no degree or matriculation required. The class page says registration closes November 4, 2026 at midnight.

Q: Can I get a refund if I can’t attend?
A: The Drop and Refund page says Lifelong Learning students get a full refund if they drop 7 days before the class begins. Drops less than 7 days before the start get a 50% tuition refund but no refund of the special fee. Call 801-587-5433 with questions.

Q: Where do I park?
A: The Parking page says free parking is available next to the Continuing Education building at 540 Arapeen Dr., with no permit required after 5 PM. UTA buses 3, 223, 313, 455 and 473 stop next to the building.