Japanese experts will demonstrate how to trim black pine trees — the art of ueki — on Sunday, June 12, and again on Sunday, June 26, at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at CSULB. Both sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon.

"If people need advice with their own black pine trees, there will be knowledgeable professionals available to answer questions," said Jeanette Schelin, director of the Japanese Garden. “Many pines have special needs due to the abundance of rainfall we experienced this winter in Southern California. Some trees are quite overgrown while others have diseases.”

A narrated one-hour demonstration begins at 10:30 a.m. on both Sundays. The annual event combines cultural and horticultural elements.

"The black pines provide the skeleton for the design of our Japanese Garden,” Schelin explained. “The beautiful condition and form of these trees is due to the tending and trimming by experts who are trained and practiced in the craft of tree trimming. Many visitors attend both Sundays to have questions answered that come up after they work on pines in their own yards."

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for Friends of the Japanese Garden members and free for children 12 and under and CSULB students.

The garden is located on Earl Warren Drive near the Bellflower Boulevard entrance to the campus. Free parking is available in lot 16 in non-metered spaces directly across the street from the garden.

For more information, call 562/985-8420.