Spring Pruning Classes
Pruning Lace Leaf Maples for Character: Saturday, June 22nd, 12:30pm-2:30pm – $45
Many people care for lace leaf maples, often the popular Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen.' In this pruning
course, Lincoln Proud will focus on the fundamentals of pruning lace leaf maples. The class will begin with a short lecture in
the Kyoudou Center on basic botany and growth habits of lace leaf maples. The lecture will continue on Tsuru Island where
you'll learn how pruning fundamentals are applied to various types of lace leaf maples, and how to apply this information to
your own trees.
LINCOLN PROUD, INSTRUCTOR:
Lincoln has a wide background in horticultural and garden experience that spans many styles andclimates. His formal training took place at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania where he completed
the Professional Gardener training program. Since then he has studied in Japan and worked at many
gardens including the Portland Japanese Garden, a private estate in Texas, as well as the Boyce
Thompson Southwest Arboretum and Wallace Desert Garden in Arizona. Lincoln works full time at
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and now is a Gresham Japanese Garden pruning instructor.

June 2024

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Hands-on Pruning Workshop on a Mature Lace Leaf Maple, June 29th, 1:00pm-2:30pm – $50
For the intermediate pruner. You will have the opportunity to prune beside one of the best pruners in Oregon, Francheska
Snyder. On the property of Bateman Carroll in Gresham sits an overgrown, unattended mature Acer palmatum weeping laceleaf maple. Limited to six students for an optimal pruning experience you will prune with Francheska to transform this laceleaf back to a beautiful focal point on Powell Blvd.
GJG RECOMMENDS: Participate in Lincoln Proud’s instructional class on pruning lace leaf maples on June 22nd at Tsuru Island.
FRANCHESKA SNYDER, INSTRUCTOR:
Originally from Pennsylvania, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method, alandscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously
worked in public non-profit gardens such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese Houseand Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She has participated in work-study opportunities
assisting Japanese garden builds across the United States, in Italy, in France, and in various regions ofJapan. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute ofTechnology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, a 3rd
Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana and is a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. She also uses her time
and talent on the board of Leach Botanical Garden, and consulting and teaching for the Gresham Japanese Garden.
Pruning Flowering Shrubs, July 14th, 1:00pm-3:00pm – $45
Find out the perfect time of year to prune the different flowering shrubs. Some flowering shrubs flower on old wood, whileothers flower on new wood. It gets confusing, but Jonathan will explain what shrubs like to be pruned in the spring to
produce flowers, and what shrubs need to be pruned in the winter to produce flowers. Jonathan will also demonstrate how toprune for flower production: roses, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and more. Fertilizing will also be discussed in the class.
NEW INSTRUCTOR: JONATHAN FAITH. Jonathan comes from a deep history of being around a
copious array of plants. When he was very young he helped his grandmother prune her roses. Growing
up he spent time in the wilderness identifying wildflowers and all the other plant life around him. And
then as an adult, he's helped manage his in-laws 55 acres of gardens. Jonathan is the store manager at
Al’s Garden & Home in Gresham.

More class offerings added soon. REGISTER ON WEBSITE

Volunteer Newsletter Editors: Mary Dickson, Mary Taylor, Mary Marrs and Sue Protz. Photos by Bill Peterson.

GJG Hosts Gresham Chambertalk about your business for 10 minutes
and an opportunity to show off yourspace and introduce your "staff". It's agreat way for people to learn about yourbusiness.
Not all Chamber members have thecapacity to host, so it was very gratifying
for Sue Protz and her band of volunteers
The Kyoudou Center decked out for the to spread out the white tablecloths, pull
Chamber meeting.
out the dinnerware and every amenity
they own to showcase the Kyoudou
he Kyoudou Center and Ebetsu
Center. Knowing attendance wasPlaza were decked out to hostgoing to exceed the Kyoudou Center's
the Gresham Area Chamber ofoccupancy level, spreading onto Ebetsu
Commerce Friday, May 19 morning
Plaza was a wonderful bonus.
meet up. Hosting a Friday .am includes
The chill in the morning air did notproviding refreshments, a chance toa rhody
back again
hello— Bill Peterson

discourage 80 Chamber members from
attending, some first timers to the
Garden. Volunteers offered a friendly
smile and answered questions.

T

Volunteers on hand to greet guests.

Volunteer Runs Plant Sale with Proficiency

Time to CandleIf you own a pine tree, you will notice that
this year's growth has emerged and looks
like candles pointing straight up. Thesecandles (shoots) develop from fall throughwinter until spring. "Candling" is a term
used for pruning pines that is done in
May into June.
Start with pruning 101, and cut out deadbranches at the branch collar and remove
dead pine needles.

PURPOSE OF CANDLING
1. Control the length of branches.
2. Stimulate growth.
3. Create density.
4. Direct growth and shape.
The best way to candle is to pinch with yourfinger tips, rather than snipping with trimmers. By pinching you can grab just the bud
and NOT the needles surrounding it. Cutting
the needles causes them to brown and die.
Once the male candle's
pollen has beenreleased, the candle
will wither and createa dead branch.

#1: Control the length of branches
If your desire is to just control the heightof the pine tree, then pinch off each candle
to about 1/3 its size, or remove all candles

completely. Some pines, like a mugo pine,
can produce many candles that cover the
perimeter of the tree. Go ahead and handshear. Yes, we typically frown on shearing,but there are times and plants that do wellwith HAND shearing. Never use an electric
shear. If the blade is dull at all, it tends to rip
the candle, leaving an unsightly cut.

tion. If you don't get it all done in the spring,
you can structurally prune in the winter. And,remember to have fun!

#2: Stimulate growth.
By pinching off even a tiny piece of thecandle, you stimulate growth. Next year, acluster of buds will form, creating a whorl.
For example, say you have a mugo pine andthere's a hole of dead branches. Find a nearby candle and snip off the end so in a couple
years that dead space will fill in.
#3: Create density.
The shorter the candle the shorter the
branch. If it is not candled it creates unusually long stiff branches. Remember oncethe candle flushes out to pine needles it
becomes another branch, and the growing
cycle will start all over again.
#4: Direct growth and shape.
This is where aesthetic pruning and tediouswork create magic. Have a 5-year plan for
the tree before you start pruning. What size,
direction, shape do you want to achieve?
Next you will examine every branch, andmake decisions about which buds to keep,
and which to remove to create your desired
shape and direction; how long or shortshould you cut a candle for height and direc-

Introducing Zenbird

Figure 2: Direction of growththat occurs from your cuts
HOW-TO CANDLE VIDEO

Students Graduate

HAIKU CORNER
springwithout anyone knowing
tree blossoms-Steve Dalachinsky.五月雨や二階住居の草の花
samidare ya ni kai sumai no kusa no hanaJune rain–
the second floor roomhas wildflowers!
- Issa 1803

Zenbird is an online magazine focused onsocial good ideas and practices in Japan.
They introduce sustainable lifestyle tips
rooted in Japanese traditional culture. When
you combine "Zen" and "Bird" you get
goodness flying throughout the world!
Look for Zenbird’s articles on our website
and in our newletters in the coming months!

It's bitter sweet to see our first group of
students graduate from the Exploratory
Program and the Adult Living Program.
We've watched these students blossom intheir plant knowledge throughout the three
years with GJG. They are also the first groupto earn internships with Al's Garden & Home.
The teachers are feeling like mother birds
watching them fly from their nests!

by Mary Marrs

W

hile attending a Portland
conference in 2006, Pat
Dillman found herself sitting
in Tsuru Island among the maple trees,
and thought it was such a peacefulplace. Years later in 2023 while she
and husband Jess Walls were househunting, she found herself drawn
back there. That’s when she saw the
A-frame sign about volunteering at theGresham Japanese Garden. “I liked thegarden so much, I knew I wanted to try
volunteering here.”
The day she attended the volunteer
orientation meeting, it was clear to
Activities Director Sue Protz that
Pat would be a great addition to the
Garden’s “flock of volunteers”.
“Her interest form showed she is a
Master Gardener,” Protz said, and saw
that Pat had checked ‘plant sale’ as oneof her interests. Instantly, she knew
Pat could be the point person for thefundraiser.
With Master Gardener certifications
in California and Oregon, Pat definitely
had the technical background. Having
run her own retail garden store in
Eureka, California for 15 years, she
had great organizational skills. She
volunteered with the OSU Extension
Office in Medford, Oregon where she
mentored some of the training labs. She
volunteered in several Medford firstgrade classes where she taught aboutplants and gardening through inventive
hands-on games.
But when Protz asked Pat to take thelead in the Garden’s May plant sale, itcaught her off guard.
“It’s possible I just didn’t hear her right,”
Pat laughed, “because before I knew it, I
was in charge of everything!” Everything
included identifying numerous donatedplants, creating an extensive plantinventory list, writing up descriptions
for potential buyers, and researchingcurrent prices.
Having just moved to Gresham in
December of 2023, Pat didn’t hesitate
to jump into the challenge withenthusiasm. “Even with my background,it was a crash course in plant
identification!” Pat said it took a lot oftime to research
species oftrees, shrubs,
grasses andflowers. And
to determine
prices, she said
she “haunted”
nurseries tosurvey stock.
While it wasa lot of work,
Pat admits that
it was reallyinteresting andfascinating.
With
preparations
done, thefirst day ofthe plant salewent smoothlywith lots ofvolunteers
helping customers all day. Pat liked theway volunteers assisted and supported
each other. Even husband Jess pitchedin to help volunteer Scott Evans deliver
some of the larger potted plants tobuyers’ homes.
Protz credits a lot of the sale’s successto Pat’s comprehensive plant knowledge
and skills in organizing so muchinformation. “She created spreadsheetsof the plants by botanical names withdetailed descriptions.” Those lists
involved over one hundred different
names and descriptions that covered
about 500 individually-potted plants.
Protz added that no one else could
have done what Pat did with the same
thoroughness.
“Pat went well beyond what I had
originally expected when I asked her totake this on.”Pat’s energy and expertise weren’t the
only things that exceeded expectations.
The plant sale brought in over $5000,
way more than Protz had envisioned.
And working closely with Pat, Protz said
she had a wonderful revelation. “With
our individual plant knowledge andorganizational skills,” Protz had told Pat,
“we complemented each other very

Pat prepping the plants for the plant sale.

well!”
Garden volunteer Deb Peters echoesthat sentiment. She worked with Pat in
the shade house, greenhouse, at theplant sale, and was also impressed.
“She is very calm, easy-going, easy
to talk to,” Peters said. She saw Pat
spending time with customers and othervolunteers, patiently explaining about
the plants. “Her knowledge of plants andcompassion for people is wonderful."
Pat also appreciates the othervolunteers, and said that the plant sale
was certainly a group effort. She likes
seeing people doing things that they
are good at and like to do, whether
it’s potting plants, pulling weeds, orgreeting people.

"… volunteers here are valued
for their strengths and personal
interests, and I feel lucky to
be part of it."“This is an amazing group,” Pat said. She
sees that volunteers here are valued fortheir strengths and personal interests,
and she feels lucky to be part of it.

Volunteer Runs Plant Sale with Proficiency

Time to CandleIf you own a pine tree, you will notice that
this year's growth has emerged and looks
like candles pointing straight up. Thesecandles (shoots) develop from fall throughwinter until spring. "Candling" is a term
used for pruning pines that is done in
May into June.
Start with pruning 101, and cut out deadbranches at the branch collar and remove
dead pine needles.

PURPOSE OF CANDLING
1. Control the length of branches.
2. Stimulate growth.
3. Create density.
4. Direct growth and shape.
The best way to candle is to pinch with yourfinger tips, rather than snipping with trimmers. By pinching you can grab just the bud
and NOT the needles surrounding it. Cutting
the needles causes them to brown and die.
Once the male candle's
pollen has beenreleased, the candle
will wither and createa dead branch.

#1: Control the length of branches
If your desire is to just control the heightof the pine tree, then pinch off each candle
to about 1/3 its size, or remove all candles

completely. Some pines, like a mugo pine,
can produce many candles that cover the
perimeter of the tree. Go ahead and handshear. Yes, we typically frown on shearing,but there are times and plants that do wellwith HAND shearing. Never use an electric
shear. If the blade is dull at all, it tends to rip
the candle, leaving an unsightly cut.

tion. If you don't get it all done in the spring,
you can structurally prune in the winter. And,remember to have fun!

#2: Stimulate growth.
By pinching off even a tiny piece of thecandle, you stimulate growth. Next year, acluster of buds will form, creating a whorl.
For example, say you have a mugo pine andthere's a hole of dead branches. Find a nearby candle and snip off the end so in a couple
years that dead space will fill in.
#3: Create density.
The shorter the candle the shorter the
branch. If it is not candled it creates unusually long stiff branches. Remember oncethe candle flushes out to pine needles it
becomes another branch, and the growing
cycle will start all over again.

Figure 2: Direction of growththat occurs from your cuts

#4: Direct growth and shape.
This is where aesthetic pruning and tediouswork create magic. Have a 5-year plan for
the tree before you start pruning. What size,
direction, shape do you want to achieve?
Next you will examine every branch, andmake decisions about which buds to keep,
and which to remove to create your desired
shape and direction; how long or shortshould you cut a candle for height and direc-

HOW-TO CANDLE VIDEO IS ON WEBSITE

Introducing Zenbird

Students Graduate

HAIKU CORNER
springwithout anyone knowing
tree blossoms-Steve Dalachinsky.五月雨や二階住居の草の花
samidare ya ni kai sumai no kusa no hanaJune rain–
the second floor roomhas wildflowers!
- Issa 1803

Zenbird is an online magazine focused onsocial good ideas and practices in Japan.
They introduce sustainable lifestyle tips
rooted in Japanese traditional culture. When
you combine "Zen" and "Bird" you get
goodness flying throughout the world!
Look for Zenbird’s articles on our website
and in our newletters in the coming months!

It's bitter sweet to see our first group of
students graduate from the Exploratory
Program and the Adult Living Program.
We've watched these students blossom intheir plant knowledge throughout the three
years with GJG. They are also the first groupto earn internships with Al's Garden & Home.
The teachers are feeling like mother birds
watching them fly from their nests!

by Mary Marrs

W

hile attending a Portland
conference in 2006, Pat
Dillman found herself sitting
in Tsuru Island among the maple trees,
and thought it was such a peacefulplace. Years later in 2023 while she
and husband Jess Walls were househunting, she found herself drawn
back there. That’s when she saw the
A-frame sign about volunteering at theGresham Japanese Garden. “I liked thegarden so much, I knew I wanted to try
volunteering here.”
The day she attended the volunteer
orientation meeting, it was clear to
Activities Director Sue Protz that
Pat would be a great addition to the
Garden’s “flock of volunteers”.
“Her interest form showed she is a
Master Gardener,” Protz said, and saw
that Pat had checked ‘plant sale’ as oneof her interests. Instantly, she knew
Pat could be the point person for thefundraiser.
With Master Gardener certifications
in California and Oregon, Pat definitely
had the technical background. Having
run her own retail garden store in
Eureka, California for 15 years, she
had great organizational skills. She
volunteered with the OSU Extension
Office in Medford, Oregon where she
mentored some of the training labs. She
volunteered in several Medford firstgrade classes where she taught aboutplants and gardening through inventive
hands-on games.
But when Protz asked Pat to take thelead in the Garden’s May plant sale, itcaught her off guard.
“It’s possible I just didn’t hear her right,”
Pat laughed, “because before I knew it, I
was in charge of everything!” Everything
included identifying numerous donatedplants, creating an extensive plantinventory list, writing up descriptions
for potential buyers, and researchingcurrent prices.
Having just moved to Gresham in
December of 2023, Pat didn’t hesitate
to jump into the challenge withenthusiasm. “Even with my background,it was a crash course in plant
identification!” Pat said it took a lot oftime to research
species oftrees, shrubs,
grasses andflowers. And
to determine
prices, she said
she “haunted”
nurseries tosurvey stock.
While it wasa lot of work,
Pat admits that
it was reallyinteresting andfascinating.
With
preparations
done, thefirst day ofthe plant salewent smoothlywith lots ofvolunteers
helping customers all day. Pat liked theway volunteers assisted and supported
each other. Even husband Jess pitchedin to help volunteer Scott Evans deliver
some of the larger potted plants tobuyers’ homes.
Protz credits a lot of the sale’s successto Pat’s comprehensive plant knowledge
and skills in organizing so muchinformation. “She created spreadsheetsof the plants by botanical names withdetailed descriptions.” Those lists
involved over one hundred different
names and descriptions that covered
about 500 individually-potted plants.
Protz added that no one else could
have done what Pat did with the same
thoroughness.
“Pat went well beyond what I had
originally expected when I asked her totake this on.”Pat’s energy and expertise weren’t the
only things that exceeded expectations.
The plant sale brought in over $5000,
way more than Protz had envisioned.
And working closely with Pat, Protz said
she had a wonderful revelation. “With
our individual plant knowledge andorganizational skills,” Protz had told Pat,
“we complemented each other very

Pat prepping the plants for the plant sale.

well!”
Garden volunteer Deb Peters echoesthat sentiment. She worked with Pat in
the shade house, greenhouse, at theplant sale, and was also impressed.
“She is very calm, easy-going, easy
to talk to,” Peters said. She saw Pat
spending time with customers and othervolunteers, patiently explaining about
the plants. “Her knowledge of plants andcompassion for people is wonderful."
Pat also appreciates the othervolunteers, and said that the plant sale
was certainly a group effort. She likes
seeing people doing things that they
are good at and like to do, whether
it’s potting plants, pulling weeds, orgreeting people.

"… volunteers here are valued
for their strengths and personal
interests, and I feel lucky to
be part of it."“This is an amazing group,” Pat said. She
sees that volunteers here are valued fortheir strengths and personal interests,
and she feels lucky to be part of it.

Spring Pruning Classes
Pruning Lace Leaf Maples for Character: Saturday, June 22nd, 12:30pm-2:30pm – $45
Many people care for lace leaf maples, often the popular Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen.' In this pruning
course, Lincoln Proud will focus on the fundamentals of pruning lace leaf maples. The class will begin with a short lecture in
the Kyoudou Center on basic botany and growth habits of lace leaf maples. The lecture will continue on Tsuru Island where
you'll learn how pruning fundamentals are applied to various types of lace leaf maples, and how to apply this information to
your own trees.
LINCOLN PROUD, INSTRUCTOR:
Lincoln has a wide background in horticultural and garden experience that spans many styles andclimates. His formal training took place at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania where he completed
the Professional Gardener training program. Since then he has studied in Japan and worked at many
gardens including the Portland Japanese Garden, a private estate in Texas, as well as the Boyce
Thompson Southwest Arboretum and Wallace Desert Garden in Arizona. Lincoln works full time at
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and now is a Gresham Japanese Garden pruning instructor.

June 2024

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Hands-on Pruning Workshop on a Mature Lace Leaf Maple, June 29th, 1:00pm-2:30pm – $50
For the intermediate pruner. You will have the opportunity to prune beside one of the best pruners in Oregon, Francheska
Snyder. On the property of Bateman Carroll in Gresham sits an overgrown, unattended mature Acer palmatum weeping laceleaf maple. Limited to six students for an optimal pruning experience you will prune with Francheska to transform this laceleaf back to a beautiful focal point on Powell Blvd.
GJG RECOMMENDS: Participate in Lincoln Proud’s instructional class on pruning lace leaf maples on June 22nd at Tsuru Island.
FRANCHESKA SNYDER, INSTRUCTOR:
Originally from Pennsylvania, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method, alandscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously
worked in public non-profit gardens such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese Houseand Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She has participated in work-study opportunities
assisting Japanese garden builds across the United States, in Italy, in France, and in various regions ofJapan. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute ofTechnology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, a 3rd
Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana and is a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. She also uses her time
and talent on the board of Leach Botanical Garden, and consulting and teaching for the Gresham Japanese Garden.
Pruning Flowering Shrubs, July 14th, 1:00pm-3:00pm – $45
Find out the perfect time of year to prune the different flowering shrubs. Some flowering shrubs flower on old wood, whileothers flower on new wood. It gets confusing, but Jonathan will explain what shrubs like to be pruned in the spring to
produce flowers, and what shrubs need to be pruned in the winter to produce flowers. Jonathan will also demonstrate how toprune for flower production: roses, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and more. Fertilizing will also be discussed in the class.
NEW INSTRUCTOR: JONATHAN FAITH. Jonathan comes from a deep history of being around a
copious array of plants. When he was very young he helped his grandmother prune her roses. Growing
up he spent time in the wilderness identifying wildflowers and all the other plant life around him. And
then as an adult, he's helped manage his in-laws 55 acres of gardens. Jonathan is the store manager at
Al’s Garden & Home in Gresham.

More class offerings added soon. REGISTER ON WEBSITE

Volunteer Newsletter Editors: Mary Dickson, Mary Taylor, Mary Marrs and Sue Protz. Photos by Bill Peterson.

GJG Hosts Gresham Chambertalk about your business for 10 minutes
and an opportunity to show off yourspace and introduce your "staff". It's agreat way for people to learn about yourbusiness.
Not all Chamber members have thecapacity to host, so it was very gratifying
for Sue Protz and her band of volunteers
The Kyoudou Center decked out for the to spread out the white tablecloths, pull
Chamber meeting.
out the dinnerware and every amenity
they own to showcase the Kyoudou
he Kyoudou Center and Ebetsu
Center. Knowing attendance wasPlaza were decked out to hostgoing to exceed the Kyoudou Center's
the Gresham Area Chamber ofoccupancy level, spreading onto Ebetsu
Commerce Friday, May 19 morning
Plaza was a wonderful bonus.
meet up. Hosting a Friday .am includes
The chill in the morning air did notproviding refreshments, a chance toa rhody
back again
hello— Bill Peterson

discourage 80 Chamber members from
attending, some first timers to the
Garden. Volunteers offered a friendly
smile and answered questions.

T

Volunteers on hand to greet guests.