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Garden-goers find new Koi

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach has seen no loss in visitors and finances since replacing its entire koi collection that was killed in January.

The garden’s 300 koi fish, killed by the koi herpesvirus between October and January, were replaced last month with more than 300 baby and juvenile fish purchased for about $8,000, according to Jeanette Schelin, the garden director.

The young fish “are not used to being in a pond where they are fed by hand,” Shelin said. They also are not used to being above water to accept food from visitors, but it keeps the fish safer from predatory birds until they get older, according to Schelin.

Schelin said it is “one of the busiest times of the year” for the garden and even with the koi incident there have been no signs of fewer visitors. The garden sees about 70,000 visitors a year.

First-time garden visitors, she said, probably would not believe it is lacking in koi.

“On a beautiful day … we could have several hundred [peoplle] visit the garden,” Schelin said. She also mentioned an increase in visitors on days when there are special events in Long Beach.

There have been several elementary, junior high and high schools touring the garden since January. They also had more than 300 elementary school students attend an Arts Day at the garden to improve “visual literacy,” Schelin said.

“Right in the beginning, in February before we had baby koi … a few [community] groups did choose to reschedule their tours,” Schelin said. “But many people have decided to come regardless.”

The garden profits mostly from its private events, which include weddings.

“We were able to get the babies in before the first wedding,” Schelin said.

The garden has raised about $1,000 in donations since the end of January, with certain donations — some made anonymously — specifically for the koi, according to Schelin. She also said there has been an increase in the number of donations.

“People have been very generous,” Schelin said.

The garden plans on holding a fundraiser over the summer so the garden can purchase adult koi though details of the event have not yet been determined.

The lost koi fish, whose ages varied from seven months to some adults that lived in the garden for years, were valued at approximately $30,000. Adult koi typically cost a minimum of about $500 each.

Eventually the garden hopes to accept donated koi, Schelin said. They are currently working with UC Davis to find “a more cost-effective way” to test koi for diseases, which they plan on doing for all future koi donations. According to Schelin, the last koi tests cost about $275 per fish.

The garden is also hosting the International Conference on Japanese Gardens Outside of Japan from March 26 to 29. People from around the U.S., Canada and Japan will discuss the history, design, management and maintenance of Japanese gardens, according to Schelin.

Schelin said about 50 CSULB students have received scholarships to attend the conference and, among the activities, a landscape designer will hold a lecture in the design gallery on March 26.

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