NABF Newsletter #8
Feature #10
San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden’s Bonsai Area
By Fred Miyahara
San Diego, California
Entrance to San Kei En, the San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.
The Japanese Friendship Garden began in 1915 when the first Japanese “tea garden” was constructed in Balboa Park for the International Exposition that was held in San Diego. From 1955 to 1978, key citizens of San Diego and Yokohama, San Diego’s Sister City, restored the Japanese Garden in Balboa Park. In 1985, Takeshi Ken Nakajima was employed to implement the initial construction and design of the two-acre (0.8 hectares) plan. The garden was named “San-Kei-En” which means “three-scene-garden”. In 1989, construction started for the first phase. In 1990, the first phase was completed with the construction of the Exhibit House, Zen Garden, and strolling paths. In 1999, major renovation project was completed and reopened to the public. The latest renovation project, designed by landscape architect Takeo Uesugi, added a Tea Pavilion, Activity Center, Koi Pond, and a Bonsai display area.
A cascading stream and a pond in Japanese Friendship Garden
The garden was re-opened in September 1999 and sits on a new site that covers two acres of it’s 11-acre (4.5 hectares) land. The Bonsai area came about due to the cooperation of the Garden and the San Diego Bonsai Club, which maintains all the trees for the Garden. The main purpose of the display is to show a tree in the Tokonoma area of the Exhibit House every other month. Over half of the trees are owned by the San Diego Bonsai Club and are "On Loan" to the Garden.
Bonsai area maintained by San Diego Bonsai Club and its members
Bonsai displayed outside the Exhibit House
Location: Japanese Friendship Garden, Balboa Park
2125 Park Boulevard, San Diego, California 92101
Website: www.niwa.org
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