importance of Kubota's legacy through the stories of novelists, poets, and garden enthusiasts. Kubota Garden Foundation The Kubota Garden Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1989 to "support, enhance, and perpetuate the Kubota Garden within the spirit and vision of Fujitaro Kubota." Kubota's vision included opening the garden to the public and increasing American understanding and appreciation of Japanese Gardens. The foundation provides additional fundraising, volunteer work, and publications to support the garden. Features and programs The garden is open to the public every day during daylight hours all year round. School children, senior groups, tourists, and garden clubs make up a large portion of their audience. The fourth Saturday between April and October, the Kubota Garden holds a public tour. Major features of the Kubota Garden include the Kubota Terrace, the Bamboo Grove, the Necklace of Ponds, the Mountainside, and the Tom Kubota Stroll Garden. Flora Kubota Garden contains a variety of trees and plants including Kuretake (Phyllostachys nigra or Black Bamboo), Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum), Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlanticus Glauca), and Norway Spruce (Picea abies). Kuretake: Native to the Hunan Province of China, this plant (also known as Black Bamboo) grows in an upright position to about 20 to 35 feet. The dark green, yellow, and black colors are the main source of attraction, as they are popularly used for decorative wood working. Japanese Maple: Growing anywhere between 8 and 30 feet tall, the Japanese Maple is known for its radiantly beautiful color changes throughout the seasons—ranging from earthier tones of green and brown to warmer colors of red and orange. Blue Atlas Cedar: The Blue Atlas Cedar gets its name from the blue pigmentation of its leaves; a needled evergreen tree that grows anywhere between 40 and 60 feet and can withstand extreme weather conditions such as droughts and treacherous winters. Norway Spruce: The Norway Spruce (the fastest growing plant in the spruce family) grows to be about 40 to 60 feet high. The major attraction towards this tree is the homing of a variety of wildlife—anywhere from deer to a differentiation of bird species. Amenities and events The Tom Kubota Stroll Garden allows wheel chair accessibility to the Terrace Overlook. However, main pathways are not as accessible, as they are made with hard-packed gravel. Dogs allowed at the garden There are picnic tables and benches placed throughout the garden There are portable toilets