Japanese Garden Design Workshop
The Southern Colorado Rocky Mountains serve as a defining inspiration for the Japanese Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens, Shofu-en, or “Garden of Pine and Wind.” This immersive program represents one of only two opportunities worldwide where Japanese garden design principles are taught in English, offering a truly rare and distinguished learning experience for Colorado and Denver-area participants.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history, aesthetics and guiding philosophies of Japanese garden design, with a focus on their application within the unique ecological conditions of the Front Range.
Participants engage in a highly personalized, three-day curriculum building on the Japanese Design Fundamentals in the Front Range course. The workshop integrates lecture, guided observation and experiential learning—including time in both the Gardens and the mountain landscape. Each participant receives individualized guidance and one-on-one consultation to develop a site-specific garden plan.
Rooted in a deep respect for place, Japanese garden design emphasizes harmony with native species and regional ecosystems. This program invites you to translate these principles into your own landscape—whether large or small—under the mentorship of an experienced Japanese landscape design professional.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m each day
Dates:
Thursday, September 24, York Street Freyer - Newman Center Classroom and tour of Shofu-en and Tea House Gardens.
Friday, September 25, OFFSITE Hike (details provided after registration) moderate to easy hiking. Bring water, sunscreen, hat, sketchpad and comfortable shoes.
Saturday, September 26, York Street Freyer - Newman Center Classroom
18 APLD CEUs – 6 CEUs per day are available for this course. Must be fully attended.
Special Instructions: Course includes outdoor and off-site tours and field trips. Please dress appropriately and come ready to have fun sketching by hand!
Price: $350, $320 member, $250 adult student*
*Please call our Resource Center at 720-865-3500 to book student pricing.
Instructor: Desirae Wood
Desirae is an award winning and internationally published landscape architect who is inspired by Japanese gardens and is trained in both Japanese garden and ecology based principles and practices. With over two decades of experience, she currently serves as the founding principal of Dobro Design and was the former garden asset manager for the Portland Japanese Garden. In these roles, Desirae has led garden renovation, design, construction, maintenance, asset management, research and education, all while guided by a strong purpose—to connect people to nature through the beauty of awe inspiring gardens.