Obon Festival: Paying Respect to AncestorsObon is one of Japan’s mostimportant festivals celebrated
over three days, typically August 13-15. During this time, Japanesepeople pay respect to their ancestors
and loved ones who have passed away.
It is believed that all spirits return backto earth, and most families will leave
offerings for their ancestor’s spirits, hangchochin lanterns, or float lanterns tolead them home.
During Obon, people also clean anddecorate the graves of their ancestors.
While cleaning the graves, some may
talk to their ancestors and update themon events that have occurred over theprevious year.
This festival is often compared to Mexico’s Day of the Dead and China’s Hungry
Ghost Festival. The relationship to deathin all of these holidays is quite similar.
ORIGINS OF THE OBON FESTIVAL
The Obon Festival originates from the
Buddhist story of Maha Maudgalyayana(Mokuren), a disciple of the Buddha.
He used his supernatural powers tolook upon his deceased mother only to
discover she had fallen into the Realmof Hungry Ghosts and was suffering.
He tried using his powers to feed foodinto his mother’s mouth, only to see
the food just fed into her mouth turninto charcoal. Saddened, he went to the help guide them home.
Buddha and asked how he could relieve August 14: Celebrations and Bon Dances
his mother’s suffering. Buddha instructThis day is when the traditional “Boned him to make offerings to the many
Dance” or “Bon Odori” dancing is perBuddhist monks who had just completed formed in parks, gardens, and shrines
their summer retreat on the fifteenth day across the country.
of the seventh month.
August 15: Seeing off the Spirits
Mokuren did this and, thus, saw his
The last day of Obon is for guiding themother’s relief. He was happy andspirits back to their resting places ordanced with joy. From this dance of joy
back to the water, which is where spirits
comes “Bon Odori” or the “Bon Dance”.
are traditionally believed to reside.
HOW OBON IS CELEBRATED
During this day, many regions light
Obon is a time to be with family andanother bonfire and hang more lanterns
celebrate loved ones. Many Japanesepainted with the family crest to guidepeople return to their ancestral homesspirits back to their graves.
during this festival, and because it is nota public holiday, most will take time off
Source: https://www.asiahighlights.com/
japan/obon
work. The most important part of thecelebrations is honoring ancestors byleaving a variety of food offerings forthem at Buddhist altars.
Before Obon begins, it is common toclean the homes and set out offerings to
be prepared for when the spirits arrive.
August 13: Guiding the Spirits Home
On this day, people will light paper lanterns and hang them in their homes andon doorways. It’s also common to see
red and white lanterns decorating thestreets of most towns and cities. Families
may also carry a lantern with them tothe graves of family members in order to Guiding the spirits back to their graves

Gardens for PeaceG

ardens for Peace (G4P) is a project of the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) that brings communities together inJapanese gardens to promote peace.
This year 25 gardens, including GJG,
will “pull the rake” for peace utilizing a
special peace pattern designed by Mrs.
Toshiko Tanaka, a Hiroshima-based
enamel artist and A-bomb survivor andadvocate for world peace. The patternsui), along with an interactive discussion
creatively utilizes the Japanese peacearound our new-to-be-planted Hiroshima
characters for heiwa to inspire discussion Peace Tree in our new Hiroshima Peaceand involvement in peace efforts at the Tree garden.
individual level and communities.
On August 5th through the city’s Summer Kids in the Park program (SKIP), Chris
Young and Jim Buck, Garden volunteers,
will be teaching kids how to rake thepeace symbol in our dry garden (karesan-

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

August 2022

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Taiko Drums Return August 27thG

et ready for an energizing
performance by Takohachi, Inc.
when they return for a second
year in a row, Saturday, August 27th inMain City Park.
For this free, family-oriented show,
performers will be beating taiko drums,
playing a bamboo flute, choreographedwith high-energetic dancing.
Yumi Torimaru, founder of the Portland
based TAKOHACHI, Inc. has conducted hundreds of shows. In 2019, Yumi
received a ‘natori’ certificate from one of
the biggest Tsugaru Shamisen Organizations, ‘Oyama Kai’ in Japan.

PHOTOGRAPHER’S VIEW

.橋見へて暮かかる也秋の空hashi miete kure kakaru nari aki
no sorawatching the bridge, as evening
falls…autumn sky

Saturday, August 27thin Main City Park.
30-minute performances at
11:30am and 1pm

Feeding the Monarchs

Burning Questions About Johnson Creek

by Mary DicksonDo you remember the magic ofwatching monarch butterflies
flit across blossoms in a garden
when you were a child? Your children or
grandchildren may not have that opportunity, since the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature, a leading
authority on the status of biological diversity, recently put monarch butterflieson the endangered species list. There’s
hope in our local area, though, thanks to

by Mary Marrs

Deb Peters, who is creating a pollinator
garden at the Ambleside Annex, southof Tsuru Island.
WHY ARE POLLINATORS SO
IMPORTANT?
According to the Pollinator Partnership,“Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles,
and other small mammals that pollinate
plants are responsible for bringing us oneout of every three bites of food.”“Pollinating animals travel from plant toplant carrying pollen on their bodies in avital interaction that allows the transfer ofgenetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants – thevery plants that bring us countless fruits,
vegetables, and nuts; half of the world’s
oils, fibers and raw materials; prevent soil
erosion; and increase carbon sequestration.”
Deb says the reason for the decline in
the monarch population is that supportive plants, like milkweed, have been
eradicated. Milkweed was considereda “weed,” and removed from gardens,
along parkways, and in wild areas. Additional factors, according to the Pollinator
Partnership, are “pollution, the misuseof chemicals like pesticides, disease, andchanges in climatic patterns.”
Deb has planted milkweed (host plant
for monarchs), along with checker
mallow (host plant for painted ladybutterfly). In addition, we must supply
all pollinators with nectar by providing
plants like zinnias and asters to attract all
butterfly species from May to October.
Deb has planted pollinator plants at theTroutdale Sunrise park Monarch Way
Station because there is enough groundfor multiple plants.
The Gresham Japanese Garden, throughDeb Peters, is doing its part to encourage
pollinators. You can, too, in your yard andgarden, by planting host plants and byhaving all season blooming flowers so
the cycle of the butterfly can be fulfilled.
For more information, Deb suggests
the Facebook group: Portland Monarchs.
Ida Galash, head of Monarch Corridor,
provides excellent information.
With patience and by planting appropriate plants, you and those who follow will
once again marvel at the magic of themonarch. Stop by the GJG’s pollinator
garden to see if you can spot one.

The Mural is FinishedHanging Baskets in MCP

North Central Painting LLC brings a sigh ofrelief to the Garden. Within a week of themural’s completion, North Central Painting
LLC sprayed an anti-graffiti coating to protect the mural.
Yet again, the goodwill of our Greshambusinesses energizes and ignites us to serve.
Thank you!

We’re pretty proud of our hanging flower
baskets. It began with our Exploratory Program students planting the containers andbabying them in our greenhouse for weeks,
to now our volunteers feeding them one-byone monthly with fertilizer.
Ask our newest volunteer Bryan how high he
has to climb up ladder!

GARDENER’S TIP• As vegetables and flowers die back,be sure to compost into the soil orcompost pile.
• You still have time to plant fall crops ofbroccoli, lettuce, kale, etc.
• Cut raspberry canes that have diedback, and tidy the strawberry bed andfertilize them for next year’s crop.
• Be sure to deep water trees, like cedars,
if weather remains dry and hot.
— Jim Buck, Garden Volunteer
and Organic GardenerW

hy doesn’t Johnson Creek
Wallace emphasizes that biodiversity
flow all the way around Tsuru is important in restoration and a range
Island? What’s happening toof plants can help make the watershed
the blackberries just upstream from thehealthier. Willows can branch out overgarden? What’s that orange gunk in thestreams and create shade. Beavers likewater under the Moon Bridge?
willow, so it provides food while keepI took a walk with City of Gresham’s
ing them away from more fragile andMike Wallace, and he answered thosesusceptible plants. Red twig dogwood,questions and many more. Wallace,which beavers don’t care for, is also
Gresham’s Natural Resources Ecologist,
planted, adding to the mixture of plants
has been focusing on the stretch of John- along streambanks. The city also plants
son Creek that flows through Greshama species of rushes and sedges that canand past Tsuru Island.
compete with the canary grass. Native
He said that Johnson Creek used to
species of ninebark, Oregon grape,
flow completely around Tsuru Island,
snowberry and elderberry add to thebut things happened. Years ago willows natural aesthetic beauty of the creek.
were removed from the banks on the
And what about those Himalayan blackthe Crystal Springs area around Reednorth side of the island. When the stream berries? The city has been cutting themCollege, their historic habitat in Johnson
lost shade from the willows, reed canary down, treating with herbicides, and leavCreek is still under federal protection.
grass took over. A highly invasive plant, ing canes on the ground to decompose
Also, Main City Park and Tsuru Island arecanary grass outcompetes other plants naturally. Later, localized native plants
within the 100-year floodplain of Johnfor sun, water, nutrients, and space. As
will be established along the banks. As
son Creek. That means state and federal
it grows and dies back, it builds up thick one can imagine, it’s a multi-year process
governments regulate material that is relayers of thatch which raise the groundthat takes funding, time, and a lot of
moved or brought in, activities that affectlevel. On the north side of the island,
hard work.
local wildlife and other aquatic species,
canary grass actually raised the elevation…the island is located in a critical and anything that might change waterof the streambed and restructured thehabitat for federally-protected quality, including siltation. The city iscreek’s path.
responsible for those activities that could
anadromous fish.
Thompson Creek also used to conaffect structures such as bridges andSo why don’t we just bulldoze the canarytribute to the flow around the island.
roads, and impact utilities such as water
grass and excavate the streambed around
It drains into Johnson Creek from theand sewer lines. The 100-year floodplain
Tsuru Island? Because the island is locatnortheast corner of the island. It’s now
restricts the Garden’s options, such as,
ed in a critical habitat for federally-propaved, diverted into culverts, but has abuilding a viewing platform over thelow, seasonal output. Canary grass also tected anadromous fish. Anadromous
creek, shoring up the creek banks, andfish, which includes the endangered speblocks its flow around the island.
creating a welcoming and safe walking
cies of chinook, coho, and steelhead, are
Eradicating canary grass and other
path around the island.
invasive plants such as Himalayan black- born in freshwater streams and rivers,
Okay, so what’s with the orange slime?
berries is part of the city’s long-range ri- then migrate to the ocean as juveniles
Blame it on the iron-rich volcanic
parian restoration program. The city used where they grow into adults and migratesoils. Rain and ground water percolateback into freshwater to spawn.
herbicides on the canary grass aroundthrough the soil and leach out iron.
Anadromous fish had been in Johnson
Tsuru Island, then planted local species
When the dissolved iron reacts with
Creek as far back as the old Amblesideof rushes, sedges, and willow. Taking
oxygen in the air, it forms rust-coloredcuttings from healthy native plants along neighborhood. Their journey was downiron oxides. These deposits often occur
Johnson Creek, to the Willamette thenJohnson Creek and replanting themin slow-moving water on hot, dry days
Columbia River, and all the way to theis cost efficient and contributes to thewhen the water is sluggish. You may noPacific Ocean. Even though anadromous
plants’ acclimation.
tice an unpleasant odor too. Sorry!
fish have only been seen as far east as

Feeding the Monarchs

Burning Questions About Johnson Creek

by Mary DicksonDo you remember the magic ofwatching monarch butterflies
flit across blossoms in a garden
when you were a child? Your children or
grandchildren may not have that opportunity, since the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature, a leading
authority on the status of biological diversity, recently put monarch butterflieson the endangered species list. There’s
hope in our local area, though, thanks to

by Mary Marrs

Deb Peters, who is creating a pollinator
garden at the Ambleside Annex, southof Tsuru Island.
WHY ARE POLLINATORS SO
IMPORTANT?
According to the Pollinator Partnership,“Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles,
and other small mammals that pollinate
plants are responsible for bringing us oneout of every three bites of food.”“Pollinating animals travel from plant toplant carrying pollen on their bodies in avital interaction that allows the transfer ofgenetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants – thevery plants that bring us countless fruits,
vegetables, and nuts; half of the world’s
oils, fibers and raw materials; prevent soil
erosion; and increase carbon sequestration.”
Deb says the reason for the decline in
the monarch population is that supportive plants, like milkweed, have been
eradicated. Milkweed was considereda “weed,” and removed from gardens,
along parkways, and in wild areas. Additional factors, according to the Pollinator
Partnership, are “pollution, the misuseof chemicals like pesticides, disease, andchanges in climatic patterns.”
Deb has planted milkweed (host plant
for monarchs), along with checker
mallow (host plant for painted ladybutterfly). In addition, we must supply
all pollinators with nectar by providing
plants like zinnias and asters to attract all
butterfly species from May to October.
Deb has planted pollinator plants at theTroutdale Sunrise park Monarch Way
Station because there is enough groundfor multiple plants.
The Gresham Japanese Garden, throughDeb Peters, is doing its part to encourage
pollinators. You can, too, in your yard andgarden, by planting host plants and byhaving all season blooming flowers so
the cycle of the butterfly can be fulfilled.
For more information, Deb suggests
the Facebook group: Portland Monarchs.
Ida Galash, head of Monarch Corridor,
provides excellent information.
With patience and by planting appropriate plants, you and those who follow will
once again marvel at the magic of themonarch. Stop by the GJG’s pollinator
garden to see if you can spot one.

The Mural is FinishedHanging Baskets in MCP

North Central Painting LLC brings a sigh ofrelief to the Garden. Within a week of themural’s completion, North Central Painting
LLC sprayed an anti-graffiti coating to protect the mural.
Yet again, the goodwill of our Greshambusinesses energizes and ignites us to serve.
Thank you!

We’re pretty proud of our hanging flower
baskets. It began with our Exploratory Program students planting the containers andbabying them in our greenhouse for weeks,
to now our volunteers feeding them one-byone monthly with fertilizer.
Ask our newest volunteer Bryan how high he
has to climb up ladder!

GARDENER’S TIP• As vegetables and flowers die back,be sure to compost into the soil orcompost pile.
• You still have time to plant fall crops ofbroccoli, lettuce, kale, etc.
• Cut raspberry canes that have diedback, and tidy the strawberry bed andfertilize them for next year’s crop.
• Be sure to deep water trees, like cedars,
if weather remains dry and hot.
— Jim Buck, Garden Volunteer
and Organic GardenerW

hy doesn’t Johnson Creek
Wallace emphasizes that biodiversity
flow all the way around Tsuru is important in restoration and a range
Island? What’s happening toof plants can help make the watershed
the blackberries just upstream from thehealthier. Willows can branch out overgarden? What’s that orange gunk in thestreams and create shade. Beavers likewater under the Moon Bridge?
willow, so it provides food while keepI took a walk with City of Gresham’s
ing them away from more fragile andMike Wallace, and he answered thosesusceptible plants. Red twig dogwood,questions and many more. Wallace,which beavers don’t care for, is also
Gresham’s Natural Resources Ecologist,
planted, adding to the mixture of plants
has been focusing on the stretch of John- along streambanks. The city also plants
son Creek that flows through Greshama species of rushes and sedges that canand past Tsuru Island.
compete with the canary grass. Native
He said that Johnson Creek used to
species of ninebark, Oregon grape,
flow completely around Tsuru Island,
snowberry and elderberry add to thebut things happened. Years ago willows natural aesthetic beauty of the creek.
were removed from the banks on the
And what about those Himalayan blackthe Crystal Springs area around Reednorth side of the island. When the stream berries? The city has been cutting themCollege, their historic habitat in Johnson
lost shade from the willows, reed canary down, treating with herbicides, and leavCreek is still under federal protection.
grass took over. A highly invasive plant, ing canes on the ground to decompose
Also, Main City Park and Tsuru Island arecanary grass outcompetes other plants naturally. Later, localized native plants
within the 100-year floodplain of Johnfor sun, water, nutrients, and space. As
will be established along the banks. As
son Creek. That means state and federal
it grows and dies back, it builds up thick one can imagine, it’s a multi-year process
governments regulate material that is relayers of thatch which raise the groundthat takes funding, time, and a lot of
moved or brought in, activities that affectlevel. On the north side of the island,
hard work.
local wildlife and other aquatic species,
canary grass actually raised the elevation…the island is located in a critical and anything that might change waterof the streambed and restructured thehabitat for federally-protected quality, including siltation. The city iscreek’s path.
responsible for those activities that could
anadromous fish.
Thompson Creek also used to conaffect structures such as bridges andSo why don’t we just bulldoze the canarytribute to the flow around the island.
roads, and impact utilities such as water
grass and excavate the streambed around
It drains into Johnson Creek from theand sewer lines. The 100-year floodplain
Tsuru Island? Because the island is locatnortheast corner of the island. It’s now
restricts the Garden’s options, such as,
ed in a critical habitat for federally-propaved, diverted into culverts, but has abuilding a viewing platform over thelow, seasonal output. Canary grass also tected anadromous fish. Anadromous
creek, shoring up the creek banks, andfish, which includes the endangered speblocks its flow around the island.
creating a welcoming and safe walking
cies of chinook, coho, and steelhead, are
Eradicating canary grass and other
path around the island.
invasive plants such as Himalayan black- born in freshwater streams and rivers,
Okay, so what’s with the orange slime?
berries is part of the city’s long-range ri- then migrate to the ocean as juveniles
Blame it on the iron-rich volcanic
parian restoration program. The city used where they grow into adults and migratesoils. Rain and ground water percolateback into freshwater to spawn.
herbicides on the canary grass aroundthrough the soil and leach out iron.
Anadromous fish had been in Johnson
Tsuru Island, then planted local species
When the dissolved iron reacts with
Creek as far back as the old Amblesideof rushes, sedges, and willow. Taking
oxygen in the air, it forms rust-coloredcuttings from healthy native plants along neighborhood. Their journey was downiron oxides. These deposits often occur
Johnson Creek, to the Willamette thenJohnson Creek and replanting themin slow-moving water on hot, dry days
Columbia River, and all the way to theis cost efficient and contributes to thewhen the water is sluggish. You may noPacific Ocean. Even though anadromous
plants’ acclimation.
tice an unpleasant odor too. Sorry!
fish have only been seen as far east as

Obon Festival: Paying Respect to AncestorsObon is one of Japan’s mostimportant festivals celebrated
over three days, typically August 13-15. During this time, Japanesepeople pay respect to their ancestors
and loved ones who have passed away.
It is believed that all spirits return backto earth, and most families will leave
offerings for their ancestor’s spirits, hangchochin lanterns, or float lanterns tolead them home.
During Obon, people also clean anddecorate the graves of their ancestors.
While cleaning the graves, some may
talk to their ancestors and update themon events that have occurred over theprevious year.
This festival is often compared to Mexico’s Day of the Dead and China’s Hungry
Ghost Festival. The relationship to deathin all of these holidays is quite similar.
ORIGINS OF THE OBON FESTIVAL
The Obon Festival originates from the
Buddhist story of Maha Maudgalyayana(Mokuren), a disciple of the Buddha.
He used his supernatural powers tolook upon his deceased mother only to
discover she had fallen into the Realmof Hungry Ghosts and was suffering.
He tried using his powers to feed foodinto his mother’s mouth, only to see
the food just fed into her mouth turninto charcoal. Saddened, he went to the help guide them home.
Buddha and asked how he could relieve August 14: Celebrations and Bon Dances
his mother’s suffering. Buddha instructThis day is when the traditional “Boned him to make offerings to the many
Dance” or “Bon Odori” dancing is perBuddhist monks who had just completed formed in parks, gardens, and shrines
their summer retreat on the fifteenth day across the country.
of the seventh month.
August 15: Seeing off the Spirits
Mokuren did this and, thus, saw his
The last day of Obon is for guiding themother’s relief. He was happy andspirits back to their resting places ordanced with joy. From this dance of joy
back to the water, which is where spirits
comes “Bon Odori” or the “Bon Dance”.
are traditionally believed to reside.
HOW OBON IS CELEBRATED
During this day, many regions light
Obon is a time to be with family andanother bonfire and hang more lanterns
celebrate loved ones. Many Japanesepainted with the family crest to guidepeople return to their ancestral homesspirits back to their graves.
during this festival, and because it is nota public holiday, most will take time off
Source: https://www.asiahighlights.com/
japan/obon
work. The most important part of thecelebrations is honoring ancestors byleaving a variety of food offerings forthem at Buddhist altars.
Before Obon begins, it is common toclean the homes and set out offerings to
be prepared for when the spirits arrive.
August 13: Guiding the Spirits Home
On this day, people will light paper lanterns and hang them in their homes andon doorways. It’s also common to see
red and white lanterns decorating thestreets of most towns and cities. Families
may also carry a lantern with them tothe graves of family members in order to Guiding the spirits back to their graves

Gardens for PeaceG

ardens for Peace (G4P) is a project of the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) that brings communities together inJapanese gardens to promote peace.
This year 25 gardens, including GJG,
will “pull the rake” for peace utilizing a
special peace pattern designed by Mrs.
Toshiko Tanaka, a Hiroshima-based
enamel artist and A-bomb survivor andadvocate for world peace. The patternsui), along with an interactive discussion
creatively utilizes the Japanese peacearound our new-to-be-planted Hiroshima
characters for heiwa to inspire discussion Peace Tree in our new Hiroshima Peaceand involvement in peace efforts at the Tree garden.
individual level and communities.
On August 5th through the city’s Summer Kids in the Park program (SKIP), Chris
Young and Jim Buck, Garden volunteers,
will be teaching kids how to rake thepeace symbol in our dry garden (karesan-

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

August 2022

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Taiko Drums Return August 27thG

et ready for an energizing
performance by Takohachi, Inc.
when they return for a second
year in a row, Saturday, August 27th inMain City Park.
For this free, family-oriented show,
performers will be beating taiko drums,
playing a bamboo flute, choreographedwith high-energetic dancing.
Yumi Torimaru, founder of the Portland
based TAKOHACHI, Inc. has conducted hundreds of shows. In 2019, Yumi
received a ‘natori’ certificate from one of
the biggest Tsugaru Shamisen Organizations, ‘Oyama Kai’ in Japan.

PHOTOGRAPHER’S VIEW

.橋見へて暮かかる也秋の空hashi miete kure kakaru nari aki
no sorawatching the bridge, as evening
falls…autumn sky

Saturday, August 27thin Main City Park.
30-minute performances at
11:30am and 1pm