Gardeners from Kanazawa Visit Buffalo

Introduction

The traditional Japanese garden or niwa strives to achieve a sense of balance and peace by using the key elements found in nature: water, stone, and plant. While Western gardens often focus on the visual natural beauty of form and color, Japanese gardens embody the symbolic ideals found in philosophy and religion. The Japanese Garden of Buffalo combines these key elements to promote the sense of peace and harmony for which it was originally conceived.

Completed in 1972, the Japanese Garden of Buffalo is more than a beautiful space to visit. It is a gentle, horticultural symbol of friendship between Kanazawa, Japan and Buffalo, New York. Becoming sister cities in December 1962, Kanazawa and Buffalo have a wonderful history of sharing resources. In 1996, Kanazawa was largely responsible for the major renovations to the Japanese Garden of Buffalo providing us with trees, shrubs, paths and the unique stone lanterns.

And now in 2008, the city of Kanazawa is once again making a gesture of friendship to the city of Buffalo. Three professional garden experts from Kanazawa will visit Buffalo in late June to work with the Olmsted Park Conservancy to advise our city gardeners on the design and philosophy of Japanese gardens.

The Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo and the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee invite the community to join them for a special Champagne Brunch to celebrate and honor our guests from Kanazawa. After the brunch, Mr. Akihide Uemura, Former President of the Ishikawa Prefecture Landscape Association, will present a lecture on The Elements of the Japanese Garden at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society auditorium open to the public.

Itinerary of Visit -- June 20-24

Friday June 20		Mr. Akihide Uemura, Former President of the Ishikawa Prefecture Landscape Association; Mr. Hideaki Nakae, Managing Director of the Ishikawa Prefecture Landscape Association; and Mr. Makato Ura, Kanazawa City Gardener all arrive in Buffalo, New York
Saturday June 21		Meet with the Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy gardeners and administration Tour of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Sunday June 22		11:00am-12:30pm: Champagne Brunch at the Delaware Park Marcy Casino 1:00pm-2:30pm: Part II of Japanese Garden Lecture Series: Elements of Japanese Gardens at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin Martin House and Gardener's Cottage. Dinner sponsored by Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee
Monday June 23		Meet again with the Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy gardeners Tour of Niagara Falls Private dinner reception sponsored by Sunrise Rotary in Lewiston New York.
Tuesday June 24		Leave Buffalo and return to Kanazawa, Japan

Champagne Brunch -- June 22nd

The Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo and the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee cordially invite you to a Champagne Brunch to honor our guests from Kanazawa Time: 11:00am, June 22, 2008 Place: The Marcy Casino on Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park Tickets: $20/person for brunch only or $25/person for brunch and lecture at 1pm Please RSVP by June 15th Call 887-2921 for ticket information and telephone RSVP See http://www.yearofjapan.org/2008/gardeners.html for more information

Plaque dedicating the Japanese Garden of Buffalo

Part II of Japanese Garden Lecture Series: Elements of Japanese Gardens -- June 22nd

Exploring Japanese Gardens Lecture Series
Part II: Elements of Japanese Gardens

Join us for the second lecture in a three-part series on Japanese Gardens. Elements of Japanese Gardens will explore the many elements found in Japanese gardens design. Join one of the visiting expert gardeners from the Japanese city of Kanazawa in a talk about how the Japanese gardens are cared for. Learn about the relationship between the Japanese Garden in Buffalo and the exquisite Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa.

Date: Sunday, June 22nd
Time: 1pm to 2:30pm
Location: Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society
25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo, NY

Tickets: $8 (free with new membership to the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo

Photo Gallery
(Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image)

Celebrating at the Champagne Brunch:
                               

Presenting the lecture on the Elements of a Japanese Garden:
                               

Working in the Japanese Garden of Buffalo: