By Sue Hughes

One form of revenue for the Gresham Japanese Garden is renting out Tsuru Island. Most of our rentals are for graduation photos, weddings, or a celebration of life. Well, this one had me. A gentleman, Andrew, rented Tsuru Island for four hours for a movie video.

With every rental, the recipient gets a volunteer to stay onsite to monitor the entrance, and for any other incidentals. For this rental, we broke it up into two shifts. I had the first shift, and decided to prune a rhododendron with a good view of the Island. When you watch the video, you can only imagine what I was thinking, or maybe not because I really didn’t know what to think.

Enjoy and thanks Andrew for the experience.

Pines

In the case of your pine shrubs, as you can see by this one that faces the southwest, it’s extremely scorched. This top layer of burnt needles is still protecting the branches underneath and they are not dead branches.

You can check for dead branches by scraping the stem. If brown, then it’s dead and go ahead and cut off. If it’s green, then wait until the fall to trim back.

Watering Your Plants During a Heatwave

Watering is tricky during a heat wave – or more specifically, getting the water into the plant. This largely depends on the ability of your soil to hold water. Clay, loamy, or sandy soils will all perform differently.

Soil must hold water to attract more water, as water molecules bind to each other. So if your soil is completely or almost dry, a large amount of water will run off before it accumulates in the roots.

You also have high evaporation rate during a heat wave, so the less that’s in the air (no sprinklers), the better. Water in the early morning, before the sun and heat ramp up. Watering in the early morning instead of the evening also allows time for foliage to dry, reduces loss to evaporation, and reduces the chance of fungal infections (but if heat stress is apparent midday, water again at night.

The best way to water plants is with a watering can

Controlling irrigation is essential during a heat wave, as large amounts of water can be lost to evaporation and runoff. The most controlled way to water, outside of drip irrigation, is with a watering can.

Pour a small amount of water around the root zone. Most of it will run off if the surface soil is dry. Wait about 10 minutes and pour a small amount of water again. Less should run off this time. Wait another 15 minutes, and then water sufficiently to make the soil wet to a depth the length of your index finger. This actually isn’t as hard as it sounds, because by the time you get to the last plant, it will be time to start again with the 1st plant.

If you have a large garden, this, of course, would be an all-day task. You can adapt this method to watering with a hose, but concentrate on the root zones, not overhead watering.

With container plants, heat shrinks the potting soil and leaves a gap between the hot container wall and the roots. The most efficient way to water plants in containers during a heat wave is from the bottom-up. Sit the container in something like a big plastic bin. Pour water into the bin and watch as the plant roots make the water slowly disappear. Also put your container plants in the shade.

And never ever, ever fertilize plants during a heat wave. First, a lack of nutrients isn’t the problem. Second, the plants can’t take it up, so the fertilizer either runs off or collects in the soil, which may burn the plant when it resumes its normal functions.

A Lesson on Pines

As a pine tree ages, interior and low branches die off from lack of light and energy. To keep a pine tree healthy, spring candling, winter needling, and cutting out branches to retain its shape are necessary.

Before pruning, you first study the natural shape of the tree. This may conflict with your desired shape. Strive to bring out the best potential for its natural beauty according to its natural shape. (See Figure 1)

Start in the winter by removing needles. Removing needles can reveal the graceful limbs and trunk of the tree, allow light and air to penetrate the center of the tree and lower branches, and help reveal its natural shape. (You can do this now too, but winter is the best time of year.)

After you’ve determined its shape, (and your desired shape), the way to achieve this is by pruning or “candling”. Candles are new growth on a pine. They develop from fall through winter until spring. To learn how to candle refer to Figure 2 and watch the How-To video. Candling is done in May and early June.

PURPOSE OF CANDLING
1. Control the length the branches
2. Make a greater number of branches
3. Make branches more dense

Through proper pruning, you can direct the energy flow and achieve your goal for shape, density, and form. You can direct where new development is likely to take place and create optimum opportunities for future growth.

Figure 2: Direction of growth
that occurs from your cuts

Sakura in Japanese Culture

By Mary Dickson

They blossom, and then
We gaze, and then the blooms
Scatter, and then…
(Onitsura, poet)

Beyond the beauty of sakura, the national flower of Japan, lies deep symbolism for the nation and its people.
One of my Japanese friends said, about the importance of the annual blooming of cherry trees, “the shortness of life means a lot in Japan. Everything is constantly changing is a major tenet of Buddhism. If you walk under the cherry trees with blossoms, you see the petals falling down one after another. I can’t explain the feeling very well, but every time I walk under the cherry trees, I feel strongly that I need to memorize the beautiful scenery into my eyes…it only comes once a year, and I may be a little different next year because I hope I grow as a human every year.”

For many centuries in Japanese culture, sakura has symbolized beauty and mortality. Samurai warriors personified this metaphor. Bushido, (the way of the warrior), is the strict moral code of respect, honor and discipline by which samurai lived and died.

While the short life of the sakura may represent death, the blooms of spring also bring renewal, and sakura also symbolizes rebirth, the cycle of life. For over 1,000 years, the ritual of hanami has been celebrated with picnics under the gorgeous pink blossoms. Nighttime viewing, called yozakura, is popular, especially among couples looking for a romantic atmosphere.

Since sakura blooms signal beginnings, school terms start in April in Japan. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, takes place around the Tidal Basin. Thousands of cherry trees, sent from Japan at the beginning of the twentieth century, enthrall visitors.

Enjoy the cherry trees in the Gresham Japanese Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden, and along the Willamette River in Portland to find hope and renewal this spring.

Under cherry-flowers,
None are utter strangers.
Koyayashi Issa, poet 1763-1828

As children, we’ve been fascinated by birds, bees, and flowers, knowing little about their interrelation in nature. But as we mature, our fascination evolves into deep admiration and respect for the complex yet beautiful part they take in pollination. Whether it’s the honest surprise of seeing a lone butterfly in the garden or intentionally attracting birds, pollinators are nature’s intuitive gardeners, and we are bystanders as they work wonders among other plant life.

Who Are The Pollinators

Nature has its own intuitive way of maintaining the ecological process of pollination through its agents. And although animals, humans, and even wind can be pollinators, insects and birds perform a bulk of pollination.

Hummingbirds And Their Wings

Hummingbirds seek sweet nectar while rapidly beating their wings. This pollen ends up on their feathers, which they inadvertently take with them to another plant. With their wings still beating rapidly, they shake the pollen loose, which floats to other plants nearby, aiding the pollination process.

Bees

• Solitary bees – This species of bees is well known, stingless, and are not aggressive. They possess the anatomical structures essential to pollination, like hairs that collect and transfer pollen.
• Bumblebees – These bees use buzz pollination, which involves grasping a flower and vibrating wing muscles to loosen pollen. Wildflowers and crops like peppers and tomatoes benefit from this type of pollination. They are essential pollinators that need to be protected.

Butterflies And Moths

Butterflies and moths are useful and valuable pollinators. As they flit from one flower to another to drink nectar, they take pollen with them and bring it to other plants.

Wasps

Although wasps are known for their aggressive behavior, they offer valuable service in balancing insect populations. They do not have the anatomical structure of bees to trap pollen with their hairs since they’re smooth-bodied, but they provide incidental pollination as they carry and drop pollen from flower to flower.

Beetles and Flies

Beetles and flies are said to be the insect pollinators of the late Jurassic era. Like wasps, they have smoother bodies making them minor but still important pollinators. There are some species of flies that are beneficial to pollination.

How To Attract Pollinators To Your Garden

Understanding the role of insects and birds in the ecological process makes us think twice about swatting a wasp. In the grander scheme of things, we need pollinators, and they need us. Here are some tips to attract nature’s gardeners to your space and encourage pollination.

• Grow a wide selection of flowers that bloom all year long.

Different insects are attracted to different flower types. It’s fascinating how in the natural world, even compatibility is required.

• Attract pollinators by growing a variety of colors.

Bees are attracted to yellow, blue, and purple, while butterflies are drawn to flat flowers that grow in clusters. Hummingbirds favor funnel-shaped flowers in orange, red, or pink.

• Grow fragrant and aromatic flowers.

Pollinators love aromatic flowers, making herbs like sage, basil, and lavender attractive options.

• Create a space where they can rest and nest.

Whether it’s providing a birdbath or large screening shrubs, attracting pollinators also means you have to create a safe ecological space for them. It’s like being landlords to your working tenants. 

Conclusion

Pollinators are essential to our ecosystem. 75 to 95 percent of flowering plants need help with pollination, and the intuitive nature of pollinators makes this possible. They are integral to our survival and help maintain balance in the world. This significant impact comes from small creatures. It’s fascinating, but most of all, it’s humbling.

Want more gardening tips and hacks? Our friends from Garden Simply would be happy to help. Go to  www.gardensimply.com.

Locally, please check out our Pollinators class January 12, 2021.

Dancing Cranes Sculpture

This story is narrated by Jim Card.

Jim had come across a picture on Pinterest showing a picture of dancing cranes in a flock. One day he was talking to Bill Peterson, our resident photographer, and showed him the photo and a video and they were both entralled with the beauty of the cranes.

A little time had past, and they were both standing in the Resource Center. Bill with his keen eye looking out the window towards Ebetsu Plaza pulls Jim over to the window, points to where the cranes sit today and says “wouldn’t that be the perfect spot to put the cranes.”

This leads to Alyson Huntting. Jim mentions to Alyson about the Bill and his conversation. A little while later, Alyson approaches Jim and tell hims she would like to commission Rip Caswell to create the cranes. From that point on, Alyson and Jim met with Rip and Alison Caswell nine times over nine months in 2019.

The Caswell’s had a similar version of herons that gave them the inspiration to create dancing cranes. The first process was a sketch. This transformed into a table-top version. Then a mold. At one of the visit, Rip formed some of the rocks at the bottom. Eventually the piece went to the foundry and Rip took Jim and Alyson to the Foundry too. During this time, the Caswell’s also had a major fire in the foundry setting the project back a few months.

During one of their visits, Alyson took notice of the fish in the Foundry and asked Rip to create two as well.

There were discussion about anchoring the fish. In the discussion of mounting the cranes Jim and Alyson went to Smith Rock quarry and picked the flat rock that the crane is now mounted on.

Before the crane was installed at Ebetsu Plaza, Alyson and Jim met with the City and City Manager to ensure that the cranes will never leave Ebetsu Plaza.

This sculpture was delayed for over nine months and was a secret until we could give the cranes a proper unveiling. Due to COVID, we ended up unveiling October 31, 2020 with Friends of Gresham Japanese Garden in attendance.

10 Trees in 10 Parks for 10 Years!

The Garden celebrated Arbor Month April 5th as we begin our 10th years as a Tree City USA. The 10 Akebono cherry trees graciously donated by our friends at J. Frank Schmidt Nursery, were planted in the newly broken ground of Ebestu Plaza.

Other tree plantings in Gresham will be April 7th at Gradin Arboretum and April 14 at Nadaka Nature Park.

Help us plant ten trees in ten parks at these fun, free events.