Note: This letter first appeared in the spring 2025 issue of The Garden Path, the quarterly member magazine of Portland Japanese Garden. Members of the Garden are mailed copies. Click here to join.
Dear Members,
Spring is always a wonderful time at the Garden—the chill of winter begins to fade, leaves return to sight, and, of course, we get to witness once again the fleeting beauty of our sakura, or cherry blossoms. The energy of the landscape is matched by the energy of our organization—we’re going to have an incredible array of programming in the coming weeks: culinary events, shows of ikebana and bonsai, workshops, musical performances, and of course our current art exhibition, Earthen Elegance: The Ceramic Art of Bizen.
It is also a meaningful milestone for me—this spring marks one year in the role of President of Portland Japanese Garden’s Board of Trustees. To say it has been an honor would be an understatement. My appreciation for this amazing organization has only deepened during this time as I’ve gotten to meet many of you and hear the personal impact it has made on your lives. The beauty of the landscape is obvious and immediately recognized, but if you spend some time here, you’ll recognize its awesome power for cross-cultural understanding, a gift our earliest leaders left for us to maintain and strengthen. The Garden brings home the point time and time again through nature, art, and culture: for whatever differences we may have, there is so much more that bonds us.
You’ll notice that our spring issue of The Garden Path has a theme of celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which occurs annually in May. We’re honored to highlight voices from this community, including Garden Board Member and Oregon Legislator, Representative Mari Watanabe, Garden volunteer Mona Ozaki, and Kerry Marumoto, whose mother donated the remarkable weeping cherry tree you saw on the front cover. Every story is told from an individual’s perspective but they all highlight universal messages: how representation matters, the joy of community, and how an act of care can ripple well into the future.
AANHPI Heritage Month holds personal significance for me as someone who is Asian American. More than the responsibility I feel to teach my sons about the cultural background they’re inheriting, it is a pleasure. And that is something I’ve grown to increasingly appreciate about Portland Japanese Garden. Whether it’s by taking part in the programming in the Cultural Village or walking its grounds, the Garden is continually engaging with you. Inevitably, it asks you to think more about your stories and your experiences and invites you to share them with others. I am deeply proud to be part of an organization that fosters this kind of community building.
I look forward to seeing you on May 6 for our Member’s Day followed by our Annual Meeting of the Membership. It’s going to be a great day where we will have family-friendly activities that highlight the many things to love about the Garden. We will also be looking back at the remarkable year we had in 2024 and providing updates on the state of the organization. We’ll also be hearing from our leadership team that has helped provide deft guidance and rock-solid stability during this year of transition.
With gratitude,
Paul Schommer
President, Board of Trustees