Botanical Briefing: A Celebration of Japanese Maples

Japanese maples have become a staple of gardens across North America. From the original species to the many varied cultivars. Come and explore this tree and its variations with Steven Pitsenbarger, garden supervisor at San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden - the oldest operating public Japanese Garden in North America.

About the Speaker:
Steven Pitsenbarger is a respected voice in Japanese garden horticulture in North America, currently serving as Garden Supervisor at the iconic Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park — a role he has passionately embraced since 2007.

A dedicated student of Japanese garden philosophy, Steven has visited gardens across the United States and Japan, lectured at conferences nationwide, and served on the board of the North American Japanese Garden Association. He believes Japanese gardens are contemplative spaces where nature and human intention work in harmony — a philosophy that shapes the work he does.