Japanese Garden Plant Selection-WV Hardy Plant Group

Please join the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1685 W 13th Ave, Eugene OR.

Hugo states, “One of the most common questions received in Japanese Garden consulting is about the plant selection. What should we plant here and why? This presentation is a challenge to understanding the basic plant design principle of a Japanese Garden and
to create a basic plant palette to begin with.”
“Sakuteiki” is the oldest landscape gardening text in Japan written by Tachibana Toshitsuna in the late 11th century. This book is still widely known to be laying the foundation of the Japanese garden design principles. And to this day, we study in Japan the articles of this book to learn the basics as to holding the essence of a Japanese garden.”

“Together we will look at the teachings of this book, which has articles written in old Japanese to break down interpretations to reach an understanding with a goal of developing a plant list in creating a garden. It has been said that there are more than 150 varieties of maple in Japan, probably even more. How do we select the ones that are the most appropriate? If there are no maples in your area, what alternatives could be used and how to select them.”

Hugo Torii is the Garden Curator at Portland Japanese Garden, making him the 10th to take on this critical role since the Garden opened in 1967. As Garden Curator, Torii helps to keep Portland Japanese Garden true to its original intent and design, while also allowing it to grow
and evolve. Torii oversees a team of gardeners and is actively involved in the process of all Garden maintenance and projects, keeping in mind the short-term needs as well as longer term implications.

Prior to becoming the Garden Curator, Torii spent more than 2 years as the Director of Grounds Maintenance, overseeing the physical aspects of the Portland Japanese Garden, its maintenance, and development. In this role, he started several projects that he continues in his
current role as the Garden Curator, including building a training structure for the gardening team, starting an exchange program with gardeners from other notable gardens, and continuing to position Portland Japanese Garden as a leader and key resource in preserving the
art of Japanese gardening. With a master’s degree in Landscape Design from the Kyoto University of Art and Design, Torii
brings a background of studies and experience in both Japanese gardens, Japanese aesthetics in horticulture, and floristry. Prior to his roles at Portland Japanese Garden, Torii spent over three years at Peter Berg Landscape Design in Rheinland Pfalz, Germany, and 12 years at the
prominent UEYAKATO LANDSCAPE Co. Ltd., as a gardener and landscape architect in Kyoto, Japan. During this time, Torii managed projects including the Japanese garden and greeneries for the nearly 60-acre Keihanna Commemorative Park, the strolling pond garden at the Yosuien Garden, and annual maintenance of pine trees at Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO.

For more information about the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group or this event, visit our website  or email us at  info@thehardyplantgroup.org

Doors on the east side of the building open at 6:30 PM for botanical sample browsing, refreshments and socializing. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. Membership in the Hardy Plant Group is open to all and is $30 annually. There is ample parking
in the parking lot which can be accessed from both Chambers St. or W 13th Ave, with additional parking in the adjacent Looking Glass Center parking lot to the north, but please do not park under their covered entry way. Overflow parking is also available in the first 20 spaces on the
east and south side of Redeemer Fellowship Church just across Chambers St. to the west.

This in-person meeting will also be broadcast live over Zoom to members who are unable to attend in person. The Zoom broadcast will be recorded, with a viewing link sent to members to watch within two weeks of receiving the link. If you are interested in watching our Zoom
broadcast, and are not a member, please see the “About” page on our website  to download our membership form to join.

The Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization for gardeners of all experience levels. The Group is dedicated to educating the community about perennials, shrubs, and other plants for use in the garden, sharing each other’s gardens, and
fostering a love of gardening