Public Programs

Gardens were among the first forms of Japanese culture to gain popularity in the United States. Since their introduction to the American public at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Japanese-style gardens have proliferated across the country.

Landscaping America reveals the personal stories, historical journeys, communities, and creativity that underlie the surface of the "Japanese garden." This multimedia exhibition highlights how West Coast Japanese Americans drew upon their agricultural and ethnic backgrounds to carve out a viable vocational niche in gardening while reinterpreting Japanese garden traditions, offering alternative approaches to working with nature, and contributing to the diversity of the American landscape.

Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden is made possible, in part, by major support from the Aratani Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation. Generous support was also provided by The James Irvine Foundation, the National Endowment of the Humanities, and The Boeing Company.

Media Sponsors: Los Angeles Downtown News, LA18 KSCI-TV and The Rafu Shimpo.

Celebrate Father's Day at the exhibition opening of Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden

Join us for a relaxing afternoon
BBQ PARTY ON THE PLAZA
-Live Entertainment by Gary Fukushima Jazz Quartet
-Food Vendors
-Members-only Raffle Drawing (winners must be present)
-Exhibition Activities-Terrace Garden display, Guide-by-Cell audio tour, in-gallery activity, and screening of Mamo's Weeds (exclusive film short by the National Museum's Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center)

FREE admission for National Museum members. Museum exhibitions and Museum Store open from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. For information call 213.625.0414.

To mark the opening of Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden, this program explores the poetry of Japanese gardeners. Author and Edgar Award-winner Naomi Hirahara and Sunny Seki, director of the Rashin Senryu and author of The Tale of the Lucky Cat discuss the creative parallel between beautifully crafted senryus and Japanese gardens. Poetry readings by retired gardener and director of the Pioneer Senryu group, Shotaro Dofuku, will be accompanied by a presentation of photographs by Japanese gardeners from the National Museum's collection.

In conjunction with the exhibition Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden,
the National Museum presents a four-part series of gardening demonstrations led by horticultural experts.

PART1
For centuries, gardens have been touted across cultures for their many medicinal properties. Getty Center and Getty Villa horticulturist Michael De Hart demonstrates how you can cultivate the healing potential of your garden. Single demonstration price: $8 National Museum members, $10 non-members. Series price: $25 National Museum members, $35 non-members. Includes Museum admission. Reservations strongly recommended.

Made possible, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and The Boeing Company.

Four-Part Gardening Demonstration Series
July 28 - The Herbal and Healing Garden
August 11 - An Introduction to the Art of Bonsai
August 26 - Water in the Japanese Garden
September 9 - Urban Gardens for Small Spaces: A Container Gardening Demonstration

In conjunction with the exhibition Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden, the National Museum presents a four-part series of gardening demonstrations led by horticultural experts.

Part 2
Learn basic bonsai techniques from Shig Miya of the Venice Japanese Community Center. Single demonstration price: $8 National Museum members, $10 non-members. Series price: $25 National Museum members, $35 non-members. Includes Museum admission. Reservations strongly recommended.

This program is sponsored, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and The Boeing Company.

Four-Part Gardening Demonstration Series
July 28 - The Herbal and Healing Garden
August 11 - An Introduction to the Art of Bonsai
August 26 - Water in the Japanese Garden
September 9 - Urban Gardens for Small Spaces: A Container Gardening Demonstration

Join Courtyard Kaeru and help make the world a greener place! In conjunction with the exhibition Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden, this year's Courtyard Kids events are tailor-made to raise families' awareness about the environment in a fun and creative way! With whimsical arts and crafts, workshops, and lively music, the afternoon will be a celebration of the beauty of our environment. FREE Museum admission all day!

Click here for more details >>

Produced by the National Museum's Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center, Mamo's Weeds is about Mamo Ikeda, a Kibei gardener, besieged with a destructive weed epidemic and a series of strange phone calls. In his search for answers -- from the Southern California Gardeners' Federation to a retro Little Tokyo chop suey house to the lawns of Japanese American neighborhoods -- Mamo finds that the weeds are keys to both his past and his future. Following the screening, scriptwriter Naomi Hirahara joins technical adviser Roy Imazu, director Akira Boch, and actor Ken Takemoto in conversation. Reservations recommended. Free with Museum admission. Dessert reception to follow.

Mamo's Weeds is included in the Beyond the Japanese Garden: Short Stories and Documentaries exhibition DVD available through the Museum Store Online.

In conjunction with the exhibition Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden, the National Museum presents a four-part series of gardening demonstrations led by horticultural experts.

PART 3
Dr. Vergil Hettick, curator, Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University, Long Beach, explores aspects of water in Japanese gardens including its use as a source of meditative inspiration. Topics include pre-industrial water effects in Japan, modern circulatory pumps, water recycling and filtration, and the Japanese influence on modern reflective ponds. This demonstration will feature a sample water recycling setup complete with live fish. Single demonstration price: $8 National Museum members, $10 non-members. Series price: $25 National Museum members, $35 non-members. Includes Museum admission. Reservations strongly recommended.

Made possible, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and The Boeing Company.

Four-Part Gardening Demonstration Series
July 28 - The Herbal and Healing Garden
August 11 - An Introduction to the Art of Bonsai
August 26 - Water in the Japanese Garden
September 9 - Urban Gardens for Small Spaces: A Container Gardening Demonstration

In conjunction with the exhibition Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden, the National Museum presents a four-part series of gardening demonstrations led by horticultural experts.

PART 4
Horticultural consultant and LA Times garden writer Lili Singer shows you how you can improve your green thumb -- even in small spaces -- through container gardening. Single demonstration price: $8 National Museum members, $10 non-members. Series price: $25 National Museum members, $35 non-members. Includes Museum admission. Reservations strongly recommended.

Made possible, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and The Boeing Company.

Four-Part Gardening Demonstration Series
July 28 - The Herbal and Healing Garden
August 11 - An Introduction to the Art of Bonsai
August 26 - Water in the Japanese Garden
September 9 - Urban Gardens for Small Spaces: A Container Gardening Demonstration

California Japanese-style Gardens: Tradition and Practice
September 28-30

Organized by the Garden Conservancy and the Los Angeles Conservancy, this three-day conference features lectures covering a range of topics about landscaping and gardening, plus tours of Southern California gardens. For more information or to register visit www.cglhs.org, e-mail conference@cglhs.org or call 323.462.2443.

A Two-part Writing Workshop with Paula Panich
What happens when you allow your senses to guide you? Let Paula Panich, journalist and author of Cultivating Words: The Guide to Writing about the Plants and Gardens You Love, awaken your inner writer by helping you find new ways of expressing what/how you see, smell, and touch. Writings focus on the seiryu-en or the Garden of the Clear Stream (the James Irvine Garden). Participants take a stroll to the garden after meeting at the National Museum. The following week, participants return to the Museum to discuss/review their work. $15 National Museum Members; $25 non-members, includes Museum admission and a copy of Panich's book.

Co-sponsored by the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Made possible, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.

FREE

Join horticultural experts as they sell their wares and share their expertise during a gardening extravaganza involving bonsai (trees in containers), aiseki (viewing stones), bamboo, and more! Participants include Aiseki Kai, Fuji Bonsai Nursery, San Gabriel Nursery, Kushi's Tree Design, Torrance Cymbidium Society, NK Tree Nursery, Descanso Bonsai Society, and Ralph Evans Botanical Partners.

Made possible, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.

Saturday & Sunday, October 27-28
At the Long Beach/Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, California State University, Long Beach

Come see the Japanese Garden bathed in thousands of colored chrysanthemums. Purchase tea and treats, and mums for your home or garden.

FREE to National Museum members
(valid membership card must be presented)

For more information call (562) 985-5930 or visit www.csulb.edu/~jgarden.

75th Annual Chrysanthemum Show and Sale
At the Descanso Gardens

Learn how to successfully grow these fall flowers. Purchase plants and flowers on the last afternoon.

Japanese Garden Festival
The grace of traditional music and dance, and the beauty of ikebana and chrysanthemums reflect the indelible mark of Japanese-American culture.

FREE to National Museum members
(valid membership card must be presented)

For more information call 818-949-0121 or visit www.descansogardens.org.

Target Free Family Saturday

Celebrate the beauty of flowers and all things blooming during this free and fun family day for kids of all ages! Create beautiful and everlasting blooms using the most unusual materials.

Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together.

2007 Target Free Family Saturdays
July 14 - Let's Go Fly a Kite!
September 8 - Shake, Rattle, and Bang!
November 10 - Flower Power!

As part of Flower Power! this workshop teaches you how to transform plastic 6-pack rings into unique flowers. Limited to 15 participants, ages 12 and up. Advance reservations required.

FREE!

At the Long Beach/Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, California State University, Long Beach

Purchase healthy, beautiful koi fish at affordable prices. Auction preview, 11:30 AM; auction, 12-Noon. $3 bidding participation fee.

FREE to National Museum members
(valid membership card must be presented)

For more information call (562) 985-5930 or visit www.csulb.edu/~jgarden.

Just in time for the holidays, the National Museum presents a series of three workshops with the season of gift-giving in mind. In this first workshop, Elizabeth Asawa shows you how to make a beautiful, everlasting pikake lei from cording. Come to the first hour to learn basic crocheting techniques. If you have needlework experience, come to the second hour to start creating your lei. $10 National Museum Members; $15 non-members, includes materials and Museum admission. Limited to 15 participants, ages 16 and up. Advance registration required.