The Nature and Spirit of Japanese Gardens: How to Apply Those Principles to your own Landscape

Take a trip to gardens around the world without even leaving Austin. Please join Dr. Molly Ogorzaly as she contrasts Western and Eastern gardening traditions and explains how religious beliefs influenced the conception and construction of Japanese gardens.

Dr. Ogorzaly, will share design principles and identify adapted plants that can be used in Central Texas. These designs and plants are featured in Austin’s Taniguchi Japanese Garden, which opened in 1969 and was built by Isamu Taniguchi. His motivation in building the garden was that “through the construction of this visible garden, I might provide a symbol of universal peace.”

After the presentation, we will walk down to enjoy the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, a tranquil, meditative spot in the middle of Zilker Botanical Garden.

Enjoy snacks and matcha green tea at 9:30 before the presentation at 10:00.

This is the monthly Austin Herb Society club meeting. No registration is required. Attendance at the seminar is free and open to the public and those showing club interest.

About the Presenter

Molly is the co-author/illustrator of the top-selling book Economic Botany. During her 7 years as Director of Education at Zilker Botanical Garden (1995-2002), Molly created lectures and workshops for adults and children. After being invited to Japan on a Gardening Internship she served on the board of the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee. MolIy has a B.S. in Agriculture from Cornell University, an M.S. in
Botany and a PhD. in Science Education from the University of Texas. Her Doctoral dissertation was on the social and academic benefits of teaching gardens at schools and community centers. Molly and her husband Bob have continued traveling and exploring the ways that we use and celebrate plants worldwide, bringing fresh material and inspiration to her “edutainment” presentations.