In this edition of the NAJGA Podcast, host Ben Chu—NAJGA President and Horticultural Manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden—offers a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming 7th NAJGA International Japanese Garden Conference, taking place October 15–18 at MoBot.

Joining him are three special guests:

• Dr. Kendall Brown, Professor of Asian Art History at CSU Long Beach, founding NAJGA member, and past president

• Seamus Lewin, recent intern at the Scott Arboretum with a deep passion for Japanese gardens

• Oscar Romero, Seattle-based arborist, garden designer, and owner of Zenzia. Oscar is also serving as NAJGA Ambassador, building bridges and important relationships in México and Latin America. He, along with Seamus, will be a digital ambassadors at the conference!

They reflect on the origins of NAJGA’s international conferences, the impact of Japanese gardens on their personal and professional journeys, and what attendees can look forward to this October—from hands-on workshops and design sessions to the unique ways this vibrant community gathers to connect, share, and grow.

Learn more about our guests and see pictures of Amache at: najga.org/amache

In this special episode of the NAJGA podcast, hosts Jan Liverance and Marisa Rodriguez are joined by two remarkable guests—Dr. Bonnie Clark and Greg Kitajima—for a moving conversation about gardens, resilience, and the enduring legacy of Amache.

Dr. Bonnie Clark is professor and curator for archaeology in the University of Denver’s Anthropology Department. Since 2005, her primary research focus has been the Amache Community Archeology Project, a collaborative endeavor committed to preserving, researching, and interpreting the tangible remains of Amache, the World War II Japanese American incarceration camp in Colorado. She is author of Finding Solace in the Soil, coeditor of Archaeological Landscapes on the High Plains, and coauthor of Denver: An Archaeological History.

Greg Kitajima is an independent Certified Aesthetic Pruner based in Santa Barbara, and currently serves on the board of the Amache Alliance. He spent 14 years pruning and maintaining the Japanese Garden at Ganna Walska Lotusland, apprenticing for eight of those years under Frank Fujii—the garden’s original designer and caretaker for 45 years. In addition to his training at Lotusland, Greg has also studied Japanese gardens and pine pruning in Japan, and has trained with Dennis Makishima on the art of Aesthetic Pruning.

Together, they paint a vivid picture of Amache’s landscape, past and present—sharing stories of discovery, reflection, and the power of place. From archaeological fieldwork to family narratives and garden traditions, this episode invites listeners to consider why the legacy of Amache still matters, and how we continue to carry these stories forward.

Check out our final podcast of 2024, an interview with renowned Garden Designer, Hoichi Kurisu and his daughter, Michiko Kurisu. Hoichi Kurisu is President and Founder of Kurisu LLC. He has been designing and building gardens for nearly 50 years. His daughter, Michiko, is a NAJGA Board Member and Project Coordinator and Public Relations at Kurisu LLC. The podcast is hosted by Steven Pitsenbarger, Garden Supervisor at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. You can learn more about Mr. Kurisu and his company, Kurisu International, at kurisu.com

NAJGA Board Member & Director of Japan Institute at Portland Japanese Garden Aki Nakanishi, was recently in London. Listen to his powerful interview with Director Richard Deverell of Kew Gardens. Kew Gardens is the largest botanical institution in the world. This unscripted interview that took place during Aki’s informal visit to Director Deverell’s office at Kew, is an impactful statement of action, inspiring us to think differently about our own gardens as a vehicle for positive social change through public engagement and communication.

Check out our latest podcast on DIY gardens. Our host, Phil Pochoda, a private garden owner from New England, interview Nikolai Loveakis and Jeanne Kay Guelke about their gardens. You can listen here and see pictures of Nikolai and Jeanne’s gardens here: najga.org/diygardens

In this episode of the NAJGA podcast, Nick Esthus discusses climate change, sustainability and water conservation with Barrie Agar, Head Gardener Emeritus, Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia, and Terri Clay, Horticultural Supervisor of the Japanese Garden at Lotusland, Santa Barbara, California.

In this episode of the NAJGA podcast, Shayna discusses the art, craft and heart of Japanese garden design with Tim Gruner, who shares his extensive knowledge and experiences related to pine trees and pine pruning in Japanese gardens. They explore various aspects of pine shaping, training, pine pruning, the differences between bonsai, niwaki or garden trees, the importance of space in Japanese gardens and placement of pines and how to create a cohesive effect in a Japanese garden.

Tim Gruner emphasizes the significance of achieving the right scale, transparency, and the role of pines in creating space. He also discusses techniques such as candling, cleaning the bark, and needle pruning to enhance the aesthetics of pine trees in the garden.

The conversation delves into the challenge of helping visitors connect with and appreciate Japanese gardens fully, especially when unfamiliar with the style. Tim suggests that turning off distractions and observing in silence can help individuals better appreciate the gardens' beauty.

Finally, they touch on the different shapes of pine trees, with Tim expressing a preference for compositions that involve multiple trunks functioning as part of a harmonious whole, particularly in combination with deciduous material, which offers a dynamic and invigorating experience.

To explore the world of Japanese garden design further go to our website at www.najga.org for all the resources available from the North American Japanese Garden Association.

In this podcast episode, host Shayna Price explores the world of Japanese dry gardens, or karesansui, with guest Heather Grzybek, the garden curator at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Florida. Heather shares her background and journey into Japanese garden design, highlighting the unique aspects of their contemporary take on a dry garden there. They discuss the challenges of maintaining dry gardens in the US, including the impact of weather, tools, and techniques for raking patterns, and the unconventional use of dry gardens for initiatives like Gardens for Peace. Heather emphasizes that the heart of dry gardens lies in simplicity, elegance, restriction, and the ability to provide a sense of peace and quiet in a chaotic world.

To explore more Japanese garden insights, resources, and engage with the community, visit the NAJGA website at www.najga.org and follow us on social media. Membership will provide community and access to a wealth of knowledge in the world of Japanese garden design. Happy Japanese gardening!