NEW PODCAST!
The Nature of Japanese Gardens:
The Intersection of Art, Science & Culture
Hosted by Ben Chu with Dr. Kendall Brown,
Oscar Romero, and Seamus Lewin
Photo caption: From top left, clockwise, Koichi Kawana, designer, Seiwa-En Japanese Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden, Oscar Romero and Takaaki Matsunaga, 2024 NAJGA International Conference, Fort Worth Texas, Koichi Kawana and Alan Godlewski, Missouri Botanical Garden, Seamus Lewin, NAJGA 2024 Japan tour
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Please join me and the NAJGA community in September for our next International
Japanese Garden Conference. I look forward to personally introducing you to Seiwa-en,
our Japanese ‘garden of pure, clear harmony and peace’ located on 14 acres here at the
Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the nation. Our team
is organizing a wonderful conference full of enriching learning opportunities and
experiences. You’ll be able to connect, share and network with members of our diverse
North American Japanese garden community.
-Benjamin Chu
NAJGA President & MoBot Horticulture Manager
Seiwa-En
n 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!
Together, 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.