Japanese Garden - Guided Walk and Tea Experience

Denver Botanic Gardens is home to the beautiful Shofu-en, or the Garden of Pine and Wind, a traditional Japanese stroll garden. Shofu-en draws inspiration from the climate and plants of Colorado's Rocky Mountains and features 130 character pines transplanted from the foothill region. It was designed by Koichi Kawana and built in 1979. This class explores the symbolism and culture that shapes Shofu-en's design. Participants also explore the Ella Mullen Weckbaugh Tea House and the Roji, or tea ceremony garden, that surrounds it. Learn about the development of the tea ceremony, how its principles support and inform traditional Japanese arts and shape Japanese aesthetic and cultural values in the modern world. Tea and sweets are served as part of the gathering.

Price: $44, $37 member

Instructor: Desirae D. Wood

Desirae Wood is a landscape architect inspired by Japanese gardens and trained in both Japanese garden and ecology-based principles and practices, as well as ecology-based principles and practices. Desirae believes you can never build a garden better than yourself. With over 17 years of experience, she currently serves as the founding principal of Dobro Design and was the former garden asset manager for the Portland Japanese Garden. She leads garden renovation, design, construction, maintenance, asset management, research and education while guided by a strong purpose: to connect people to nature through the beauty of awe-inspiring gardens.