[music playing] Lacey: When you hear the word arboretum and you think just trees, think again.

I'm WEIU's Lacey Spence, and today we're at the University of Illinois' Arboretum.

We'll share why you and your family should take a hike, coming up.

Rameen: Take a Hike on WEIU is supported by Rural King, America's farm and home store.

Camping supplies, kayaks, fishing, and pet supplies and more.

Find your store and more information regarding Rural King at ruralking.com.

Lacey: Hi, I'm WEIU's Lacey Spence.

I've lived in central Illinois my whole life, and if there's one thing I've learned, you don't have to go too far to find the beauty of the great outdoors.

Come along with me as I visit a variety of parks and natural areas across Illinois, and share why you should take a hike to each episode's location.

Adventure and fun await in Take a Hike, the miniseries.

Lacey: Thank you for joining us for this episode of Take A Hike.

I'm your host, Lacey Spence, and today we are on the road at the U of I Arboretum.

I've got two fabulous guests here today.

I will go ahead and let you introduce yourselves and your title here.

We'll start with you, Diane.

Diane: I'm Diane Anderson and I'm the horticulturist and I guess grounds manager here at the Arboretum.

Lacey: Perfect.

And you?

Kevin: Yeah.

My name's Kevin McSweeney.

I'm the Director of the Arboretum and I'm also a soil scientist.

Lacey: Wonderful.

So we've got two fabulous people here.

Ready to pick your brains hopefully.

First off, can you talk a little bit about how the arboretum came to be, either one of you?

Kevin: Well, my understanding is that the idea of having an arboretum at the University of Illinois has been in the works for many, many years.

And about, what, 25 years ago, Miles Hartley gave a donation to the university for the purposes of beautifying the campus.

And the president at the time, Malt Weir, decided it would probably be easier to concentrate this effort in one location, and hence we had the start of the arboretum, which is represented by the Sunken Garden, which is known as the Miles C. Hartley Selections Garden.

That really started the first major effort to establish the arboretum.

It has grown since then with the addition of various other gardens.

And then further to the south, we have the Southern Arboretum Woodlands, which is more of what I would call a natural area, where we are now developing it for teaching, outreach and research efforts.

So we've got a huge variety of different landscape elements that compose the arboretum.

Lacey: So it's more than trees.

Kevin: It's more than trees.

Lacey: I feel a lot of people hear arboretum, myself included, guilty, I just think arbor, tree, and that's it.

You were telling me off camera, 60 acres of land here.

Diane: We have 60 acres about in the north part, and then the SAW, Southern Arboretum Woodlands, is- Lacey: What you were just talking about.

Diane: Yeah, is another 22.

It joins a prairie restoration area and a pollinatareum, which is a museum for pollinators.

So we have some very interesting things on the grounds.

Lacey: Wonderful.

You had run through some of the gardens.

Did you want to talk a little bit about the variety of plant life here, either one of you?

Diane: Yeah, the Hartley started out, its selections, it started out it was a huge annuals trial garden.

We've had trials on campus for decades because we had breeding programs here in horticulture.

Now the Hartley is going to be transitioned.

We still have some annual trials, perennial trials, but also some native shrubs and perennials and cultivars of those is what we're concentrating on in the selections garden now.

Lacey: May I interrupt really quick?

Diane: Sure.

Lacey: If you're not someone who's familiar with gardening and things, what is a trial?

Diane: It's really an evaluation, but what we do is we have standards, plants that are available.

The best petunia for example, or two or three will be side by side trialing with a new development.

And then you look at things like the color, the habit, disease resistance, that sort of thing.

And in the case of the nativars that we would like to trial or evaluate or display here, what we'd really be looking at is what kind of pollination we have maybe compared to the straight species and things like that.

So, they're all different depending on what you're looking for in the plant.

Lacey: So as you were going through the gardens, I'm sorry to interrupt.

Diane: No, that's fine.

Lacey: So you have the garden where you're doing a lot of the trial work.

Diane: Right.

That's the Hartley.

And then we have a new garden, a newish garden in 2017.

I think the ... Why don't you talk about that, Kevin?

Kevin: Yeah.

Just to the north of the Hartley, we have the Sesquicentennial Garden.

Like a number of our gardens, it has relied on the goodwill and support from donors.

And in this case, Jo Ellyn Downey and her family provided the support for that garden.

It's a very distinctive design.

It's shaped as an ellipse and has a set of interior pathways that are not geometric.

So it's a catchy design.

And again, the majority of the plant material is perennial.

So we have a variety of seasonal color that I think is important.

In the old days, the Hartley Garden, it was just annual plants.

So we had three months of bliss and then- Lacey: Nothing.

Kevin: ... nothing.

So we're trying to provide a pallet of plant materials around the arboretum that give us a seasonal variation in color, form, shape, et cetera.

So the Sesquicentennial is a really nice jewel that we've added.

Diane: It's called the Sesquicentennial because we dedicated it 150 years after the university started.

Lacey: Wonderful.

Kevin: So it's a bit of a mouthful.

Lacey: The S garden.

Diane: We call it the 150.

Kevin: The 150.

Lacey: I got you.

Diane: We also have Dwarf Conifer Garden right here.

We have magnolia collections, we have a yellow collection, and we have other magnolias here.

Lacey: And where are we sitting today?

We've got a beautiful canvas underneath our feet.

Kevin: This is the council ring.

As you can see, it's rounded in shape.

But again, this is an ellipse.

We're fixated on ellipses as a geometric form.

And as you'll see maybe in a long shot, we can see from where we're sitting right up to the president's house.

And this is on one of the major north/south axes of the campus broad canvas architectural design.

So if you were to go to the Illini Union and look down north and south, you'd also be on one of these major axes.

So the council ring, again, thanks to a donor, Jane and John Santogrossi and their families, was added to compliment the Allee, which the family had also supported.

And we're in the middle of the Allee right now of linden trees.

It was conceived in discussions as a way to add a little bit more finish to the Allee as a gathering space.

And if we look back in history, it's been fairly common among a variety of different groups to gather in the round.

The idea being there's no one at the head of the table.

So you've got Viking traditions, Native American traditions, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table.

You can go on.

But I love the idea of having a gathering space like this, and it's proved to be very popular among our visitors.

We've had a wedding here.

We're extending this feature with a new pathway, which you'll see later, that winds beautifully towards the parking lot.

And we'll have stonework similar to this embedded within this new addition that links the pathway to the Allee.

Lacey: May I stop you there?

Let's talk visitor opportunities.

You had mentioned a wedding.

As we're sitting here, we see some folks walking by.

What is there for folks to get involved with here?

Is it simply taking in the views?

Kevin: Well, I think first and foremost in my mind, the beauty of this arboretum is open to all, campus, community and beyond.

We have no fences, we have no admission fee.

It's a place that I think is important, where a lot of people can come and really do their own thing, if they want to come and have a picnic, have a gathering, play Frisbee.

So I think the informal aspect is really, really important.

Beyond that, we do have opportunities for people to have weddings, as we've discussed.

We have a very active cross-country program, so the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics holds events here.

High schools hold events here.

Running clubs, charity groups.

Pre pandemic, we had big events on the grounds in association with Japan House.

They have put on a big festival.

And we're expecting, as things now become more hopefully normal in terms of activities that we will be seeing, we've been having some discussions with colleagues in the Department of Music about some music festivals.

Lacey: Oh, they'd be lovely out here.

Kevin: And most recently, we've had some very interesting discussions with colleagues in the School for Information Sciences about outdoor gaming, about which I know relatively little, but apparently it's an emerging field where people design activities, scavenger hunts and various other ways of enjoying nature, but having a curiosity and a purpose and a game associated with it.

So we're very interested and excited to see how that partnership will evolve.

Lacey: Oh, Diane, what do you have to add?

Diane: I just wanted to say that, I can't remember if I told you this, but we had a scavenger hunt here that our interns this summer developed for kids from first to fifth grade.

And it was informal.

They did all the places and developed the handouts for kids, and they were able to come out here on their own and find stuff.

Lacey: So those are opportunities if folks are looking to connect.

And as we're taping this late 2022, our folks will see it in 2023, if they're trying to find information, is there a Facebook, website?

What's the best way to find you all?

Diane: I think our website.

Kevin: Yeah, the website.

Lacey: Perfect.

Well thank you both for taking the time today.

We're going to take a quick break here on Take a Hike, and when we come back we will talk with Professor Sato about Japan House.

So don't go anywhere.

[drone sounds, music playing] Lacey: And we are back.

We have a different guest with us here.

We've got Professor Shozo Sato.

Welcome to Take a Hike.

Shozo: Thank you so much for inviting me.

Lacey: Of course.

It's our pleasure.

Now today, we are pivoting to talk about the Japan House here at the U of I Arboretum.

So if you could, you were instrumental in getting this started, correct?

Shozo: Yes.

Lacey: So for the love of sharing your culture, you started this out of your home, and the students would come to you, to the point you were sleeping in your basement.

Shozo: Yes.

Lacey: That's dedication.

So you were able to then move into this beautiful location and fully pay homage to your culture by being able to have this lovely garden and outdoor space.

Is that- Shozo: Exactly, exactly.

Lacey: That's it.

Okay.

That is quite the story.

Now I know your family as well, they have been instrumental in, is it an expansion of this property?

Shozo: Yes.

Lacey: Can you talk about that a little bit?

Shozo: Oh, yes.

Japan House was originally created by the people's support donation, and then that was a limited amount, but it was function enough for what we needed at that time.

But there is no classroom traditional Japanese rooms and a little hallway and another traditional tearoom so that all traditional tearooms, but no classroom.

So we start saying, "We need a classroom," but the university not going to give us funds for creating classroom.

So we have to donate some fund.

So myself, the one million, and my wife donated one million and her elder brother donated one million.

So with $3 million, we hope to build that addition called Ogura-Sato Annex.

Lacey: That's incredible to have such a family connection.

Can you talk a little bit about some of the garden space and some of the significance around them at Japan House?

Shozo: Yes.

When you are in Japan House, on west side is more of the naturalistic garden called roji, which is on the way to tearoom.

We are supposed to go through beautifully manicure, but natural looks of the nature.

And then you purified your soul, and then go into tearoom.

So that is in west side.

And the east side is dry garden.

This is a very traditional zen philosophy based garden, which is white pebbles to be ocean or crowd, and then occasionally standing rocks to be the summit of the mountain or island.

So depend on how you see it, the meaning become different.

So that then philosophical, open-minded garden.

So that is very interesting for American people.

And then we have this beautiful pond, and this was made while Japan House was in, before construction.

So how we would like to have this land set up, so Jim Byer, he drew lines, this is the shape of the lake we want.

And with the soil, we want to have a mound.

So creating more Japanese concept landscaping rather than plain cornfield extensions.

Lacey: Sure.

Well, and we were talking prior to the interview that you also had a hand in the intricate details of the walkway.

Can you tell us how you created some of the design?

Shozo: Oh, yes.

With our rhythm department, we work the extension of Japan House garden and then we have all the paths were cemented.

And in Japan, in a garden, walkway are beautifully designed with very choice stone, different shape, different color, and different sizes.

So we often call frozen music on the ground.

So when you walk on, you pay attention to where you each step take place.

And in that, your mind also purified through art of the landscape.

So when we have this cemented path, it's just white uninteresting cement walkway.

So I want to add that feeling of Japanese traditional garden of walking and you can see the steps and the designs that give them another pleasure of walking.

Lacey: You thought through every single detail.

Shozo: Yes.

Lacey: So within Japan House, you had mentioned the ceremonial teas.

From my understanding, there's also the teaching of calligraphy.

Shozo: Yes.

Lacey: Can you talk about that at all?

Shozo: Yes.

Such as this writing.

Lacey: Which are lovely.

Shozo: Chinese ideogram, and then this is a Chinese ideogram, but Chinese, Korea and Japan, we all share the same ideogram.

And then these have a wonderful writing useful brushes.

It's very different from ballpoint pen.

Lacey: Yes, just a little.

Shozo: So they have to learn how to use brushes and that's the new challenge.

And then we have a chairperson of graphic design department in College of Fine and Applied Art, and she taking these classes seriously because she feel that line and active spaces inside is the foundation of a graphic design.

So she promote to her classes how important this can be.

Also we always write not only house and the garden, but then philosophy, one letter to six, seven letters.

But at the beginning, letter one and then two letters and such.

And then while they're writing, they try to understand the meaning of that statement, which is zen statement.

So while they're writing, trying to learn how to use a brush, but at the same time, they have to learn about zen way of mind.

So this is very popular for visually and mentally.

Lacey: Well I tell you what, I have felt very calmed just speaking with you.

Shozo: Well, thank you.

Lacey: Slowed me down from my rushing regular.

A final question I have for you.

What is it like for you to have this impact, to be able to share your culture with so many and for generations to come?

Shozo: Yes.

I'm very happy that the university accepted us because when I came to this campus, 1967, when I walk campus, there was no Asian person at that time.

I was the only one.

Lacey: Wow.

Shozo: I said to myself, how I can introduce Asian culture?

And then using, since I'm Japanese, Japanese culture as an example of Asian culture.

And then that's how we started Japanese traditional culture workshop in the School of Art and Design.

And that's the beginning.

And then we taught blocking, painting and flower arrangement, three-dimensional and two-dimensional and the philosophy through tea ceremony.

So the foundation of University of Illinois Japan House cultural activities.

And if I might add, Japan House in a university system is the only one in this University of Illinois.

No other university in the United States.

So this is the only one.

So I'm very proud of having Japan House.

Lacey: Most definitely.

Can you share an instance of feedback you have gotten from students who didn't realize this was here, but then took advantage of it and loved it?

Shozo: Yes.

So they keep coming back.

Homecoming, and they enjoy being back to Japan House.

And then they learn not only Japanese culture but the manner and how to be kind to other people and graciousness in all that they learn.

So it's a wonderful education system for all the way around.

Lacey: Now I need to ask Professor Shozo about one more special feature of this location.

Can you talk about this building behind us?

Shozo: Yes.

The most Japanese garden have azumaya.

That mean where you can have a shade under the roof and then you can sit and enjoy the beautiful garden.

So we like to have a garden all heart like, and then this azumaya, we call azumaya in Japanese.

And my former student in a kabuki class, Nick Offerman, and he become very, very popular, famous.

He is a very kind and talented person.

So he say, "I'll make you azumaya."

And he built all this in Los Angeles in his studio.

And then he shipped everything with us with his staff.

And then he flew in and he actually climbed up on the roof and put all the shingle by his own hand.

It's a wonderful gift.

So we have a statement in inside.

Can you see this?

Lacey: Let's take a step inside.

Pardon me?

Go ahead.

Shozo: Can you ... That's called teacher and the student walk the same passage.

Lacey: Is that something that you had imparted within, like to Nick?

Shozo: Yes, to Nick.

And then this is the azumaya with teacher and student walking the same path, so he loved it.

And then there is another statement, I think gift all that.

Lacey: Wonderful.

Well, thank you for sharing such a personal story and getting to see some of your teaching go out into the world and then come back.

Shozo: It's wonderful to have this brilliant students, so many of them at U of I. Lacey: All right.

Well thank you again Professor Shozo, for taking the time.

And we appreciate our viewers for watching Take a Hike.

We hope you'll join us for our next episode.

Shozo: Thank you.

[music playing] Rameen: Take A Hike on WEIU is supported by Rural King, America's farm and home store, camping supplies, kayaks, fishing, and pet supplies and more.

Find your store and more information regarding Rural King at ruralking.com.