I think I'll reply to this old thread, however since it has already been wakened from the dead I am not necroposting!
I left the field of medicine in 1987 and was looking for something to do with myself. I had always enjoyed gardening and come from a family rich in gardens and horitucltural experience. I began volunteering at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Humble, Texas, outside of Houston. There I met another volunteer, Fukumi Smith. She and I assisted a group fo staff gardeners on a shaded pond garden project. Brenda Klimt, was the horticulturist involved and askd if Fukumi-san had any design inspiration form her Japanese heritage. In the end we had created a very sensible pond garden of Japanese design. We were not able to receive authorization for a yukimi-doro so we set the stone base projecting over the ponds edge as if to imply the lantern's presence. It worked!
When this project was over, Fukumi-san recommended that I apply for a position with the City of Houston Parks and Rec Department specifically to assist Ken Nakajima with the design, construction and installation of the Japanese Friendship Garden in Hermann Park. I did just that and remained on staff after the garden opened. In 1993 I was promoted to Director of the Japanese Garden. During the years that followed I had many opportunities to visit Japan, learn from Ken Nakajima, Shunmyo Masuno and many others. I joined the Board of Directors of the International Assiciation of Japanese Gardens following the first symposium held in 1996. My husband at the time had received many awards for his work in Japanese Classical Dance and became known as Takamaharyu Gobo. This led to living in Japan for the better part of 6 years.
I was reunited with several members of the Portland Japanese Garden staff and BoD in 2006. After many months of negotiation I agreed to leave my post with the US Botanic Garden in DC and take the position of Director of Grounds Maintenance in 2007. I am vacating this position today. Should anyone be interested in applying for the position please send your cover letter and resume to Sada Uchiyama, Garden Curator, Portland Japanese Garden at: suchiyama@japanesegarden.com.
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