2025 International Japanese Garden Conference
The Intersection of Art, Science, and Nature
October 15-18, 2025
organized in partnership with our host:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Conference Schedule
The fees listed above are our early bird fees available until July 31, 2025. Afterwards, the 3-day conference rate will increase by $100.
To register, click here. If you have any questions, please contact Marisa Rodriguez at [email protected] or 503-222-1194.
Detailed Schedule
Day 1, October 15, 2025
8:00 AM- 8:05 AM: Welcome
(1) 8:05 AM- 8:25 AM: Opening Keynote: Ben Schrepf
Growing Together: Lessons in Leadership from the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
8:30 AM- 12:00 PM: Morning Session
Pick Your Experience
Option 1
The Art of Japanese Gardens: Interactive Japanese Garden Hands-on Workshops*
(2 Fence Building (with John Powell)
(3) Stone Setting (with Bill Castellon)
(4) Pruning (with the Aesthetic Pruners Association)
Option 2
Japanese Garden Design Vignettes: Blending Tradition with Innovation**
(5) Tea garden charrette with Sadafumi Uchiyama
Option 3
Stewarding Japanese Gardens: from Surving to Thriving- Administrative Excellence in Garden Management
8:30 AM- 9:30 AM
(7) Cultivating Support: Fundraising for Japanese Gardens
(8) Building and Growing Successful Volunteer Programs
9:40 AM- 10:40 AM
(9) Measuring What Matters: Benchmarking for Garden Excellence
(10) Enhancing the Garden Tour Experience
10:50 AM- 11:50 AM
(11) Integrating Technology with Garden Tradition
(12) Nature Meets Art: Exhibitions that Enrich the Garden Experience
12:00 PM- 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM- 4:30 PM: Afternoon Session
Pick Your Experience
Option 1
The Art of Japanese Gardens: Interactive Japanese Garden Workshops
(2 Fence Building (with John Powell)
(3) Stone Setting (with Bill Castellon)
(4) Pruning (with the Aesthetic Pruners Association)
Option 2
Japanese Garden Design Vignettes: Blending Tradition with Innovation
(5) Tea garden charrette with Sadafumi Uchiyama
Option 3
Stewarding Japanese Gardens: from Surving to Thriving- Administrative Excellence in Garden Management
1:00- 2:00 PM
(13) Bridges for Collective Growth: Sharing Best Practices Among Gardens
(14) From Visitors to Garden Stewards: Growing and Sustaining Memberships
2:10 PM- 3:10PM
(15) Designing a Memorable Guest Experience
(16) Living Culture: Creating Impactful Garden Programs
3:20 PM- 4:20 PM
(17) Engaging the Future: Outreach Strategies for Younger Generations
(18) Storytelling in Bloom: Marketing Strategies for Japanese Gardens
4:30 PM- 6:30 PM
Savor the Garden: Garden Strolls & Tasty Bites- Cocktail Hour at MoBot. An Evening of Networking (add-on event- $39)
Day 2, October 16, 2025
Exhibitor Booths + Poster Sessions All Day
8:30 AM- 8:45 AM: Welcome
8:45 AM- 9:15 AM: (19) Opening Keynote: The Intersection of Art, Science, and Nature: A Vision for the Future
9:15 AM- 9:55 AM: (20) Opening Plenary: From Vision to Legacy: The Story of Seiwa-en at Missouri Botanical Garden
10:05 AM- 11:15 AM:Concurrent Sessions
(22) Carbon Offsets and Climate Action in Japanese Garden Practice
(23) Gardens of the World’s Fairs: Landscapes of Vision and Diplomacy
(24) Crafting Connections: International Collaborations and Artisan Exchanges
11:25 AM- 12:35 PM: Concurrent Sessions
(26)Cultivating Insight: Pathways to Deeper Engagement with Japanese Gardens
(27)Cultivating Commerce: Best Practices in Public Garden Retail Gift Shop Operation
12:35 PM- 1:45 PM: Lunch
1:45 PM- 2:55 PM:Concurrent Sessions
(29) Preserving Collections: Conservation and Plant Records in Public Gardens
(30) Cultivating Harmony: Interdisciplinary Foundations of Japanese Garden Development
(31) Gardens Without Borders: Sharing Tradition Through Exchange
2:55 PM- 3:10 PM: Break
3:10 PM- 4:20 PM: Concurrent Sessions
(32) Preserving the Craft: The Care and Conservation of Wooden Structures in Japanese Garden Design
(33) Tairyu-sanso Garden Presentation
(34)From Idea to Immersion: Creating a Contemplative Curriculum for Japanese Garden Study
SPECIAL SESSION
(35) The Science and Biology of Pruning (a tree tour with Chris Roddick)
4:30 PM- 5:00 PM: (36) Closing Keynote: Stronger Together: Building Global Connections Through Gardens and Cultural Partnerships
5:30 PM- 9:00 PM Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency at the St. Louis Arch (add-on event: $89)
5:30 PM- 6:30 PM: Cocktail Hour
6:30 PM- 9:00 PM: Japanese Garden Leadership & Legacy Awards Ceremony and Dinner
Friday, October 17, 2025
8:30 AM- 9:00 AM: (37) Opening Keynote
9:00 AM- 9:40 AM: (38) Opening Plenary: Timeless Landscapes: The Evolution and Legacy of Kawana Gardens in Their Middle Age
SPECIAL SESSION:
(40) Governance with Kim Andrews
9:50 AM- 11:00 AM:Concurrent Sessions
(41) Language for Cohesive Pruning in the Garden
(42) Chinese and Japanese gardens
(43) Green Spaces, Global Destinations: Public Gardens as Cultural Destinations
11:10 AM- 12:20 PM: Concurrent Sessions
(44)Sustaining Beauty: Effective Maintenance and Renovation for Thriving Gardens
(45)Rooted in Heritage: Japanese American Community Involvement in North American Japanese Gardens
(46)Securing Tranquil Spaces: Balancing Security and Serenity in Public Japanese Gardens.
12:20 PM- 1:30 PM: Lunch
SPECIAL SESSION:
(47) A Garden’s Legacy: Preparing for the Future of Your Private Garden
1:30 PM- 2:40 PM: Concurrent Sessions
(48) Sustainable Beauty: Selecting and Adapting Plants for Resilient Japanese Gardens
(49) Hiding in Plain Sight: Incarceration Camp Gardens and Shrines
(50) Nourishing the Spirit: Integrating Cafes and Food Service into Japanese Garden Spaces
2:40 PM- 3:00 PM: Break
3:00 PM- 3:30 PM: (52) Closing Session. Closing Remarks & Evaluation
Saturday, October 18, 2025
9:00 AM- 4:30 PM: St. Louis Garden Tours (add-on event $149)
*Advance registration is required for the Hands-On Garden Workshops and Design Vignettes, but there is no extra cost to participate. Be sure to register now for the conference. All registered attendees will receive a notification in July with details about when workshop and vignette sign-ups will open, allowing you to plan ahead. Each workshop will be offered twice: a morning session from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and an afternoon session from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
**During the Design Vignette, participants will walk through the design process with Sadafumi Uchiyama. They will view the garden at MoBot, understand the design, and make suggestions for future development.