Judy – Page 86 – Dear Liza

The Oregon Garden Part 2

Dear Liza,

We sat on that bench for a while, cooling off and enjoying the views. We checked the map and saw that we were at the edge of the Rediscovery Forest. We headed in.

This is a person-planted forest, and is used to study different types of forest management. But it looks and smells just like the forests I grew up camping in. We walked between wide-spaced pine trees, watching jays zoom through the dappled sunlight, and inhaling the sweet pine smells.

We walked through the forest and out the other side, heading towards The Wetlands. This is a series of ponds that step down the hill, and is the largest construction in the Garden, but is well disguised. These natural -looking ponds take treated water from the Silverton City Water Treatment plant and use it to a create a wildlife sanctuary which is home to thousands of birds, frogs, and other animals. As the water flows downhill between the ponds, it becomes cleaner and cleaner, until it is ready to be used for watering the rest of the Garden.

About this time, we all realized we needed some time off our feet. Fortunately, Grandpa Nelson always knows where the snack bar is! We got some cold drinks and sat at a shady picnic table, listening to the birds and the breeze, feeling our energy return.

We pulled out the map to see what was next and noticed something called The Signature Oak on the other side of the Garden! “Can we go clear over there?” I asked. We figured out how to go through gardens we already knew to make a shortcut, and headed off. We passed back through the Conifer and Children’s Garden, and by the Market Garden.

We walked under a curving arbor covered with grapevines, and came out on the opposite side of the Garden! There in front of us was The Signature Oak, 99 feet tall, 22 feet in diameter at the base, and an estimated 400 years old. We could see that it had suffered some damage in the spring storms, but it was still magnificent.

We headed back down the hill, getting to the end of our second wind. There were other wonderful parts of the garden we passed, but just didn’t have the energy to explore. We decided we would leave the Northwest Garden and the Sensory Garden for our next visit; maybe when you come up!

By this time we had gone below the entrance, and had to climb a bunch of steps back up. Oh, man!

We took a few pictures of a small waterfall, got back in the car, and Auntie Bridgett drove us home. What a wonderful adventure!

Love,

Grandma Judy

The Oregon Garden Part 1

Dear Liza,

The Oregon Garden, where we visited last Wednesday, is 80 acres on a gently sloping hillside just outside Silverton. It was started in 1997 as a project by the Oregon Association of Nurseries as a sort of outdoor showroom. But it is so much more!

Entering the garden from the gift shop, we were met with a collection of natural-looking water features interlaced with pathways. This area is called The A-amazing Water Garden and is filled to bursting with water lilies, frogs, ducks, and even one lovely green snake. Watching OPK’s ( Other People’s Kids) giggling, running, and enjoying everything was half the fun!

Our journey through the garden alternated between small gardens overhung with trees and wide-open sunny spaces, offering a comfortable rhythm. There was so much to see, I couldn’t stop for all the pictures I wanted, or I’d never move. I decided to enjoy my time and only take pictures when I really wanted to save an image. There are still a lot.

Just past the Water Garden we found the Bosque, a very formal set of lily ponds, created to reflect the surrounding trees and elicit a sense of calm. It was lovely and tranquil.

We turned left and up the hill, heading through the Axis Garden. This is mostly open space, and is used for weddings and events.

To either side were the Conifer garden, with a delightful collection of evergreens, and the Children’s garden, with Hobbit holes and even a dinosaur skeleton in the sandbox.

Just above the Children’s Garden, the trees opened up again in the full-sun Silverton Market Garden. This garden features grapes, berries and other major Oregon crops, and is a major open air event space which would easily hold a few hundred people.

It features a large Pavilion, pathways, and about a thousand Peonies and Irises all in bloom. It was stunning.

About this time, we realized that our eyes were full and our feet were tired. We found a bench in the shade and just sat for a while, letting all the beauty soak in. Then we continued our journey up the hill, which I will tell you about tomorrow.

Love,

Grandma Judy

South to Silverton

Dear Liza,

Wednesday was the one day this week predicted to be sunny, so we took that day off and headed south to Silverton. Silverton is a small city about an hour south of us. We have gone there to visit the Silver Falls State Park and hike the trails. We also went there for the Homer Davenport Cartoon Festival a few years ago.

One of the reasons I love going to Silverton is that the drive there is so pretty. We go past Christmas tree farms with lovely rows just waiting for the holiday. Cows and horses, goats and even alpacas look peacefully out at us as we drive by. Rows of lavender, grapes, and filbert trees cover the hills. Barns and chicken coops in different stages of collapse stand at odd angles.

This time, we were heading to a different adventure. But first, lunch! Grandpa Nelson, as our Idea Guy, found just the right spot; The Milltown Pub, listed as a ‘historic’ building just on the edge of town. I must admit, it didn’t look very promising from the road, just a one story brown-ish building set in a small parking lot.

But as soon as we walked through the side gate, we were glad we had come! We heard a small waterfall and saw flowers. There were tables with large umbrellas and chirping birds.

Peonies and Lilies in the Garden at the Milltown Pub

Grandpa Nelson went inside to check in while we chose a table in the garden.

We ordered our salads, sandwiches and fries from the friendly waiter and sat, listening to the birds and one noisy frog, over by the pond. The sun was warm and the breeze just barely moved the leaves. It was like Heaven.

When our lunch arrived, it was delicious. We ate and chatted and rested up for the adventure yet to come, our main destination for the day, The Oregon Garden.

And next week, I will tell you all about it!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Hungry for Public Art

When I was growing up, there was no public art in my little city of Manhattan Beach. We had the beach and the pier, which were very nice. But no art.

After moving around a bit, I landed in Salinas. There were just two public statues there. One, my favorite by far, is the larger-than-life Panther at Hartnell College. Made by Robert Puccinelli in 1930s, it has been sat on by many generations, including your Daddy David and you.

You and the Panther having a quiet moment

There is also a a smaller-than-life statue of John Steinbeck standing in front of the main library. He looks appropriately grumpy and thoughtful, maybe because the city removed his signature cigarette because they didn’t want Mr. Steinbeck to be ‘a bad influence’.

When Claus Oldenburg’s installation “Hat in Three Stages of Landing” was installed in 1982, it was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn’t installed as it was supposed to be, and it just looked silly.

So when I first visited London in 2006, my art-hungry eyes had a treat. There were (and still are) statues everywhere! Every patch of lawn, every public area, had some sort of sculpture. What a feast for the eyes!

From the mighty master of all he surveys….

And Paris! The Tuileries Garden is home to 21 statues, from Saints and Queens to mythical figures wrestling minotaurs. And the rest of the city is just full of them!

I understand that France and England had Kings and Queens who had statues built to show how powerful they were. They spent a lot of money, basically showing off.

Also, Paris and London are much older cities than Salinas. Salinas was only founded in 1874. By that time, Paris had been the capital for 57 kings. London had been in business for over 1,500 years.

Maybe public art grows out of a long history. We will give Salinas another thousand years or so to catch up.

Love,
Grandma Judy

Seeing Friends

Dear Liza,

Let me tell you about an afternoon with a dear friend.

I first met Misha Moon a few years ago, helping your Auntie Katie set up her bookshop, Books with Pictures. Auntie Katie liked her very much, and it turned out, Misha and I liked each other, too. We have shared stories and pictures and marveled at our own progress through life.

Last March, just before the Corona virus shut everything down, we talked all afternoon at The Rocking Frog, a wonderful place that has since closed up shop. It turned out to be the last ‘friend date’ either of us had for over a year.

And this week, Misha and I had coffee together again. This time we met on a very rainy afternoon under the street-side covered patio of Albina Press Coffee shop on Hawthorne.

I got caught up on her news, and she on mine. We listened, shared, celebrated and sympathized. But mostly, we got to be a part of each other’s lives for a few hours. We got to see each other smile and watch the other person’s eyes sparkle as they laughed. We got to be people together.

And it was a real treat.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Trees Helping Roses

Dear Liza,

I love seeing how trees and roses grow together!
In your great grandma Billie’s yard, there was a giant lemon tree that grew right above a pink rose bush. When Billie didn’t trim the rose one summer, we got this:

Yes, that is a rose that climbed up into the tree and used its branches as a trellis! I had never seen such a thing, so I took a picture. The rose wasn’t hurting the tree, just climbing. So we let it be.

Since then, I have been on the lookout for clever roses that borrow space in nearby trees to get up into the sunlight. There is one, just down the street by Sunnyside School. It is a Cecile Bruner Rose, which may be my favorite kind of rose, (although I hate to have favorites.)

This rose has grown up into a large tree, and its tiny pink blossoms are almost completely covering it! It is beautiful. Still, if I were that tree I might feel a bit crowded.

A third rose bush has taken up residence in what I call “The Best Maple Tree” , just down the block. This is Heritage Tree #241, a Japanese Maple about a hundred years old. It is so big it is impossible to get a clear picture of!

But here is what I saw the other day, walking under it. The nearby roses have grown up, looking for sun, and climbed right into the tree. It is amazing and lovely.

Maybe you could be on the lookout for climbing roses in your neighborhood.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Prezzies from Ruthie!

Dear Liza,

I have told you about my old friend Ruth Inman. She is an artist in Illinois and we went to high school together. The art and friendship I re-discovered with her during the Covid lockdown really made my life better.

I have shown you these pieces as I have made them; simple watercolor flowers, silly candy wrapper collages, and layered mixed media pieces. They have all been part of my journey from “I can’t draw” to “Sure, I’ll give that a go!”

And now, Ruthie has sent me another gift! It is a big fat envelope of artsy goodies! There are pure Ruthie artist cards…

A delightful postcard of tiny houses…

Some cut outs of cool old photos…

And even a Ruthie Original, this tiny handmade, colorful wallet thingee. Ruthie showed us how to make these last week, and now I am inspired even more!

Of course, I want to use these delightful bits. But I want to use them in a way that does them justice. I will be monkeying around with them for a while, and let you know what comes up.

So I say for the zillionth time, Thanks, Ruthie! Thanks, Art!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Hot Dogs and Rain

Dear Liza,

When Auntie Bridgett and I started jogging this past weekend, I decided to start eating better. More veggies, less junk food. We bought frozen edamame and lots of vegetables to cut up for afternoon snacks. And I have been enjoying it!

But, by golly, when Grandpa Nelson says, “I’m going to Zach’s, want to come?”, I say “Yes!” It has been odd, spring-y weather the last day or so, with clouds blowing by between sunshine, so, obviously, we knew we might get wet.

We headed off in chilly sunshine in just tee shirts and jeans. Grandpa Nelson at least wore a hat! But not me. Nope. Caution to the wind Judy, that’s what they call me. We walked past wonderful flowers and the Morrison Street chickens, enjoying lovely rhododendrons. But I couldn’t help noticing…..the clouds….

At Zach’s Hot Dog Shack, we took up our usual table on the patio, and Hunter brought our French fries and Chicago dog. It was cool but out of the wind. Then, within minutes, it got dark and the temperature dropped. The rain hit like buckets!

We watched for a few minutes until the cold chased us inside. Thoughtful Hunter even turned on the heater at my back, and we continued our lunch amid the friendly, dive-y decor. We watched the rain come down through the open front door as we talked about whatever came to mind, waiting for a chance to get home without being washed away. “This will be over in fifteen minutes,” Grandpa assured me.

And it was, mostly. When we saw some sunshine, we waved goodbye to Hunter and headed out, opting for the shortest route home. There were still drops, but the storm had passed. The flowers were lovely again. We got home, warmed up, and had a good rest.

Never pass up a chance for fun food, an adventure, and good company. That’s my advice.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Fifty Nutty Years!

Dear Liza,

Believe it or not, your Grandpa Nelson and I started ‘going steady’ fifty years ago!

We met in 1971 at Mira Costa High School. He was in band and I was in choir, and his locker was just across from mine in the music hall. His best friend, Kevin, had a crush on my best friend, Debbie, and they walked around making googly eyes at each other. Nelson and I walked behind them, rolling our eyes. We discovered that we liked each other, too.

I met his family and he met mine, and we started going out. Our regular date spot was the Taco Bell on Sepulveda Boulevard, because it was halfway between our two houses, and it was cheap. We did a certain amount of making googly eyes.

Going out somewhere fancy with my family, 1972

When school was out, we spent most days at the beach. One day when we were laying on the sand, he rolled over and said, “Hey, you want to get married?”

”Sure,” I said. “But let’s finish high school first, okay?” So we did.

And the rest is history! Two kids, three grandkids, nine houses and many cats later, here we are still together. We added dear Auntie Bridgett to our household, and we make a mighty fine trouple.

Life is good. Life is silly. Life can also be dark, sad, and confusing. But the people we love help us hold on to the light.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Thinking About Growth and Change

Dear Liza,

It’s spring, which means things are growing and changing. We expect it. We look forward to it. We depend on it! Without new growth in veggies and fruits, we would starve. Without new growth on trees, we would all shrivel up in the hot sun.

But growth can be scary. For something new to grow, something old must die. Leaves fall off trees and are swept away. Old fruit is eaten, or rots, and returns to the soil.

Growth affects people, too. I can’t believe the growth that has happened just this year! Cousin Kestrel has gone from little girl to pre-teen. Cousin Jasper has gone from a precocious boy to a thoughtful young man.

Cities grow and change, too. Delightful but decrepit old houses are torn down to be replaced with newer, more efficient ones.

Businesses close due to financial disaster, or just a desire for something new. New businesses, maybe smarter or more interesting, replace them.

These cycles of growth and destruction happen on the bigger stage, too. Our country has been run by isolationists and wall builders for a while, people who thought America should be some sort of private club. Now we seem to have realized it must be a more inclusive party. Hopefully, things will get better.

Growth is good. Change is good.

Love,

Grandma Judy