Featuring Joseph Voth, author of “Living with Noise”, Michelle Patton, who won the Ernesto Trejo Award for poetry and was a nominee for a Pushcart Prize and Kirk Stone. Seasons of Verse is a curated poetry reading series held inside the peaceful landscape of Shinzen Garden, featuring four unique events that align with the rhythm of […]
The Garden as a Story: Writing with Nature’s Wisdom This workshop will explore storytelling techniques by drawing parallels between the elements of a Japanese garden—stones, water, trees, and pathways—and narrative […]
Join us for a free docent-led tour on select weekends, providing visitors with an in-depth exploration of its serene landscapes and cultural significance. During the tour, our knowledgeable docents guide guests through the garden’s features, including the Clark Bonsai Collection, stroll gardens, traditional architecture, and tea houses, offering insights into Japanese culture and garden […]
Seasons of Stories is a new book club at Shinzen Garden that invites readers to gather in the natural setting of the garden to explore literature inspired by Japanese culture and explore books from Japanese American authors. We will be diving into a thoughtfully selected book each month and enjoy meaningful conversations surrounded by […]
Seasons of Verse is a curated poetry reading series held inside the peaceful landscape of Shinzen Garden, featuring four unique events that align with the rhythm of the seasons. The series will showcase the vibrant voices of Fresno-area poets and offer one open mic event to welcome emerging and community writers. Included with paid Garden […]
Experience the beauty of art and nature intertwined at Art in the Garden, a unique strolling art show set in the serene surroundings of Shinzen Garden. Local artists will showcase their work throughout the garden, creating a peaceful and inspiring outdoor gallery for the community to explore. As you stroll through the pathways, enjoy a […]
JULY BOOK SELECTION Facing the Mountain: An inspiring Story of Japanese American Patriots in World War II By Daniel James Brown In the days and months after Pearl Harbor, the lives of Japanese Americans across the continent and Hawaii were changed forever. In this unforgettable chronicle of war-time America and the battlefields of Europe, Daniel […]
Join us at Shinzen Garden for the 80th Commemoration Ceremony of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings—a solemn tribute to peace, remembrance, and resilience. Through reflection, music, and community, we honor the lives lost and renew our commitment to a more compassionate world. All are welcome to share in this moment of unity and hope.
Garden Tour on Saturday, August 16 at 10:30 am. The tour is included with paid garden admission ($5 per adult | $1 per child/senior)
Garden Tour on Saturday, August 16 at 5:30 pm. The tour is included with paid garden admission ($5 per adult | $1 per child/senior)
In the spirit of the Japanese ceremony Tōrō Nagashi, please join Shinzen Garden for our 40th annual floating lantern celebration on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Traditionally, this Japanese ceremony honors the memory of loved ones. During the festival of Obon, it is believed that ancestors come back to spend time with the living. On the […]
AUGUST 2025 BOOK SELECTION Before the Coffee Gets Cold by: Tashikazu Kawaguchi In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee--the chance to travel back in time. Over the […]
SEPTEMBER 2025 BOOK SELECTION The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by: Keigo Higashino From exactly midnight until daybreak, the Namiya General Store advice box will be reopening for one night only. When three delinquents hole up in an abandoned general store after their most recent robbery, to their great surprise, a letter drops through […]
Dive into the graceful beauty of koi fish with Flowering Fins: Painting Koi in Watercolor, an inspiring watercolor workshop as we explore the graceful beauty of koi fish! In this two-hour class, you’ll explore the fluid nature of watercolor as you bring these graceful fish to life. Led by talented local artist Noelle Correia, this […]
Open to writers of all levels, this workshop will encourage creative expression through short stories, personal essays, and poetic musings. Using Shinzen Garden’s natural beauty as inspiration, participants will develop their voices and craft compelling narratives.
Capture the beauty of autumn in our “Falling for Watercolor” class at Shinzen Garden on Saturday, October 18th. Surrounded by vibrant seasonal colors, you’ll learn techniques for blending warm tones and painting the vibrant landscapes of fall. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced painter, this class offers a relaxing and inspiring way to embrace the […]
OCTOBER 2025 BOOK SELECTION Epitaph for a Peach by: David Mas Masumoto A lyrical, sensuous and thoroughly engrossing memoir of one critical year in the life of an organic peach farmer, Epitaph for a Peach is "a delightful narrative...with poetic flair and a sense of humor" (Library Journal). David Mas Masumoto is a third-generation farmer, […]
RESCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER 15, 2025 Seasons of Verse is a curated poetry reading series held inside the peaceful landscape of Shinzen Garden, featuring four unique events that align with the rhythm of the seasons. The series will showcase the vibrant voices of Fresno-area poets and offer one open mic event to welcome emerging and community writers. […]
Immerse yourself in the golden hues of autumn during “Golden Fields and Falling Leaves”, a watercolor class at Shinzen Garden. This workshop will guide you in capturing the warm tones, soft textures, and graceful movement of fall foliage through brush and watercolor techniques. Surrounded by the garden’s natural beauty, participants will find inspiration in the […]
Let’s Create with Canon! We’re so excited — Canon is bringing 80 camera and lens combos for people to use during the workshop! It’s the perfect chance to explore new gear, learn, and have fun shooting together. New to photography and content creation? Join Canon Creator Nathan Lee Allen as he shares his journey of content […]
Celebrate the colors of the season with “Autumn Hues”, a watercolor class at Shinzen Garden on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Surrounded by the rich reds, golds, and oranges of fall, you’ll explore techniques for blending seasonal shades and capturing the beauty of the garden’s autumn landscape. This workshop is perfect for both beginners and experienced […]
Let’s Create with Canon! FREE EVENT WITH PAID GARDEN ADMISSION We’re so excited — Canon is bringing 80 camera and lens combos for people to use during the workshop! It’s the perfect chance to explore new gear, learn, and have fun shooting together. New to photography and content creation? Join Canon Creator Nathan Lee Allen as […]
Cozy up with creativity at “Sweater Weather”, a watercolor class at Shinzen Garden on Saturday, November 8, 2025. This workshop embraces the crisp air and warm tones of autumn, guiding […]
NOVEMBER 2025 BOOK SELECTION The Traveling Cat Chronicles by: Hiro Arikawa We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends. But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts… An instant international […]
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER. NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON Seasons of Verse is a curated poetry reading series held inside the peaceful landscape of Shinzen Garden, featuring four unique events that align with the rhythm of the seasons. The series will showcase the vibrant voices of Fresno-area poets and offer one […]