On October 3rd, a group of Japanese delegates from Roseburg Sister City, Kuki (formerly Shobu) visited the Discovery Garden, guided by MG’s Geoff Puryear, Julie Stanbery, and Ernie Amabisca – continuing a decades long tradition. 

Since 1987, Roseburg has had an ongoing Sister City program with Kuki, Japan. Through this cooperative friendship program, delegates from each country rotate visits every two years. Chiaki Koyama, an early member of the Japanese delegation and Master Horticulturist, began working with the Douglas County Master Gardener program to design a Japanese Garden at the newly developed Discovery Garden at River Forks Park in Roseburg in 1999.

As the first fully-fledged space to be designed, the Japanese Garden sits at the main entrance of the Discovery Garden and stands as a tribute to our long standing connection with the people of Kuki.  

Over the years, Chiaki would return and give Master Gardener volunteers guidance on pruning and maintenance during delegation visits.  A monument of Japanese characters signifying “Harmony, peace, and contemplation” was unveiled at the 2012 delegation visit, Mr. Koyama’s last visit before his passing in 2013. A memorial plaque was placed in honor of Mr. Koyama’s work with the MG’s. 

The day’s tour started in the Japanese Garden where Chiaki’s Daughter, a member of this year’s delegation, was able to see the legacy her father has left here in Roseburg. The group toured through the Discovery Garden as well as taking a fun walk through the demonstration area of the Victory Garden. Many of the delegates picked tomatoes, peppers, and squash – even eating the tomatoes whole, right off the vine!

We were happy to see them have a great visit and hope they left with fond memories of our little gem of a garden.