JAPANESE GARDEN IN DENVER TURNS 40
The Botanic Gardens’ Sho-Fu-En offers a place to stroll and relax
Sho-Fu-En, the Japanese Garden of the Pine and Wind at the Denver Botanic Gardens, has been inviting the public to stroll its paths, gaze at bonsai trees and enjoy its green spaces and pond for the past 40 years as it put down deep roots in the community.
Denver Botanic Gardens marked this week 40 years since the dedication of Sho-Fu-En, the Japanese Garden of the Pine and Wind.
“Many Japanese gardens were built as friendship gardens in the ’60s and ’70s. It was a very popular thing at that time, but many struggled and some disappeared,” said Ebi Kondo, a native of Sapporo, Japan, and the curator of Sho-FuEn since 2012.
“Sho-Fu-En could have suffered that same fate. People love to spend money to build something, but not to fix it,” Kondo said. “But this garden not only survived, it thrived because it has been loved by people and has created its own identity. For 40 years as part of the community here, this garden is really rooted.”
Construction of the garden began in August 1978, under the direction of professor Koichi Kawna.
The garden’s basic style is known as Chisen-kaiyushiki, which translates as “stroll around the pond.”
“It’s a stroll garden,” Kondo said. “It’s meant for people to meander around, stop here, stop there. Capture a moment, a season. Sit on a bench and watch the view change. Listen to the birds. Bring your book or bring your child’s favorite storybook. Bring somebody nice and have a talk, or come by yourself and find the seasons here. And try to look for the movement of wind in pines. You find it in pine needles. Ponderosa pines have long needles that are gray-green and reflect sunlight well.”
Kondo, who has helped at the garden since 2002, described its four-decade history in terms of chapters, opening with the establishing of Sho-Fu-En on June 23, 1979. The second chapter focused on restoration and renovation, preserving the original design yet making improvements to today’s standards.
“The tea garden was expanded and the bonsai pavilion was added. We added accessibility and more structures to accommodate people. The power of Sho-Fu-En is that it never feels claustrophobic,” Kondo said.
“The third chapter is the most remarkable. Sho-Fu-En is no longer a copy of a Japanese garden. It has created its own identity, and it serves the community in many ways.”
For Kondo, curating the garden involves curating a community.
“About 20 volunteers maintain the garden along with me, and I’m grateful all these people are very earnest and welcoming. People love seeing us carefully snipping shrubbery,” Kondo said.
“And last year, Denver Botanic Gardens added new grounds keeper positions. We have some people with autism who help two days a week, and they’re excellent workers — so focused. I’m happy this garden has room for everybody, and the beauty of inclusiveness is an inspiration empowering and humbling us. We really connect this garden to the community this way,” Kondo said. “It’s not ‘don’t touch this, don’t touch that.’ People come and enjoy. Many people tell me ‘my grandparents took me, now I’m bringing my kids.’ ”
Visitors find their way to the tranquility of Sho-Fu-En for a various reasons. Kondo said one family comes regularly to watch the koi swim in the pond.
“Kids like finding fish. People enjoy changing seasons. They