Japanese Spring Festival for Easter Sunday

The folks at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (2000 Convention Center Drive) are eating their Easter ham with chopsticks, as they get ready for today's Japanese Spring Festival tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm. After church, why not head over to the Garden to listen to a free taiko drum performance, release a fish into our pond, or try your hand at a little origami?

Taiko means "fat drum" in Japanese, and taiko drums have been used in one form or another for over 2000 years in this crescent country. Fushu Daiko is a South Florida drumming group that combines the traditional drums and rhythms of Japan with musical styles from around the world, to create an exciting, powerful listening experience. They are known for their intense showmanship as well as their thundering rhythms.  Performance times are noon, 1:30 and 3:00 pm.

How many gardeners does it take to plant a water lily? They have been finding out the hard way how finicky these plants can be. Meet in the Japanese Garden at 2 pm to see a planting demo and to take home a cheat sheet so you can make your own water garden.

In Japan, koi fish symbolize good luck and overcoming obstacles and adversity. Legend has it that when the koi fish swims to the end of the Yellow River, it will transform into a dragon. Purchase your own "koi" fish for $1 and release it into one of our ponds to help your friend on his way to becoming a dragon.

They also have art activities planned for the kids, but adults are welcome to join too. Origami, calligraphy, haiku writing, fan and kite decorating are all on the table.

The Garden will be selling limited amounts of seaweed snacks, sushi, soda and water, as well as green tea refreshments.

Bring everyone to this unique family photo opportunity by  Sara Sheffman Photo Art. For a $10 donation, Sara will snap pro pics of the family against a Spring-themed backdrop and print them out onsite, ready to be framed.