November Planting cont’d
STEP 5: PLANTING
system, which is essential to the longIf you end up with a root-bound tree
term survival and health of the plant.
or shrub, you can remedy the problem.
In preparing a B&B plant, remove as
Score with a sharp knife around the out- much of the burlap and rope, as possible,
side of the root ball, an inch or two deep, but avoid breaking up the soil ball. At a
cutting through all the outer, horizontal minimum, you should expose at least thegrowing roots. Cut any visible circling
entire top half of the soil ball. It’s okay toroots over 1/4” diameter with handleave some burlap on the bottom half,
pruners. Loosen the roots and untangle because almost all the new roots will
as you’re slicing. If there is a root mat at grow outwards from the top half of thethe bottom, cut it off.
original soil ball, not downwards from
Place in the planting hole positioning
the bottom half. Make sure the material
the trunk just above the dirt forming
left on the ball is natural and therefore
a sloping mound. Position the roots inbiodegradable.
a radial pattern to encourage them toFabric containers must be completely
grow in an outward direction. Firmly
removed before planting. Cut from top
pack the soil in between.
to bottom and peel the container away
While root pruning may seem harshfrom the sides and bottom. If small roots
and is stressful to the plant, research has have grown through the sides, just cut
shown that leaving circling and/or mat- them off before removing from the conted roots may prevent plants from estab- tainer. Once the container is removed,lishing a normal, outward growing root check for circling roots and cut them too.

Be sure to leave the nodules intact.
Place the plant in the center of the holeand check again that it is at the proper
depth. The top of the stem should just sit
above the dirt. Fill in around the root ballwith the soil you saved from digging thehole. Tamp soil firmly down. You can add
water when the hole is half full to help
settle the soil, then again when you’ve
finished planting.
Don’t do any major pruning at planting.
Only remove dead or injured branches.
Identify what will become the dominantleader, or central trunk, on a deciduoustree and prune off competing leaders.
This month’s Ask Jim! Facebook videoseries discusses location, plant selection
and planting of a tree.

November 2021

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Ask Jim!

The Garden Receives a Wedding Kimono
in memory of Shizue Peterson

In Japan, traditional wedding ceremo- kimono in the 80s. She had an eye andnies are performed in a rather formal love for good art, and was an accomwedding hall. Ceremonies take place plished artist herself. She studied fine art
at the University of Delaware.
simultaneously, with only a few family
Over the years Shizue recognized thatmembers and friends in attendance.
necklaces were objects of great art and culThe bridal couple wears special silkture, and subsequently owned gift shops,
wedding kimonos. For the bride, theelegant shiromuku (white kimono) or the one in Troutdale, selling beads andluxurious iro-uchikake (colored kimono). teaching workshops in necklace making.
For the groom, formal black montsuki(family-crested kimono) with hakama(wide-legged pants). You’ll be surprised
to learn, a bride typically rents her wedding kimono.
The Gresham Japanese Garden is fortunate to be gifted a iro-uchikake wedding
kimono by Bill Peterson in memory of his
late wife Shizue.
As Bill tells it, Shizue purchased thisShizue’s art

Shizue’s love for art lives on in thisbeautiful kimono now displayed in the
Garden’s Resource Center. It will makeits way to join the traveling display atRiverview Community Bank. See coverarticle.

Community Ties

S

ince February 2021, Riverview
plants, ikebana arrangements, a geisha
Community Bank, Gresham branch, doll, and kabuki doll, complemented byhas showcased the Garden’sa custom-made shoji screen, a looped
Japanese traveling display in their lobby.
video of garden photos, and katori music
Each month we rotate display items.
playing in the background by Takohachi, Inc.
We’ve had an assortment of bonsai“The display offersbank members theopportunity to learn alittle bit more about
Japanese culture.”
Iro-uchikake wedding kimono

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

PHOTOGRAPHER’S VIEW
うらやまし美しうなりて散る紅葉
urayamashi utsukushu natte chiru momiji
How enviable,
Turning beautiful then falling, maple leaves— Shiko Kagami

Brenda Felix, Bank Manager says, “thedisplay offers bank members the opportunity to learn a little bit more about Japanese culture.” She continues, “we have
- Brenda Felix, Riverview
Community Bank Manager many compliments about bringing theoutdoors inside for all to see.”A Quick Lesson in the Japanese Language

November is a Prime Month for PlantingM

he best time to plant a tree or
shrub is in the fall, so roots have
6-8 weeks to establish before
the ground may freeze. Also, fall brings
the combination of warm soil and cool
air stimulating root growth and further
helping the plant get established. It’s also
when our soil is the most workable.

by Bill Peterson

y first trip to Japan was in December of 1953 and my last inJune of 2005. Within that timeframe I spent about ten years living inJapan and developed a modest fluency
in the language.
Through my volunteering at the Garden, I’ve listened to visitors (and volunteers) struggle with Japanese pronunciations. Here is a quick lesson that may
help in understanding the language.
Most Japanese language teachers will
start with the phonetic alphabet called“Hiragana” and the corresponding
sounds written in English characters. The
Japanese call this English version “Romaji”. The following are the first five letters(vowels) written in Hiragana and Romaji:(the vowel sounds are similar to Latin
vowels) あ(a), い(i), う(u), え(e), お(o).
The other letters with a few exceptions
can be written in Romaji by just adding
a consonant to the vowels. Here are thenext five letters in the alphabet made byadding “k” to the English vowels: か(ka),き(ki), く(ku), け(ke), こ(ko).
English speakers can view the Japaneseletters in Romaji as syllables. Then, if
you pronounce each syllable the samelength with little accent you will be
understood. As an example, yo-ko-hama. Our island name Tsuru is an irregularcase. A Romaji of “tu” does not work so
it is written “tsu” and pronounced “sue”
and the “r” sound is like a soft “d” soTsuru comes out “sue-due.”There are scads of YouTube’s on the
Hiragana alphabet. It took me a bit ofreview, but I found this simple one thatprovides a good overview: https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=Dc7f_jSzVvA.
The Japanese do have another phonetic alphabet called “Katakana”, which
is used mostly for words from foreign
languages or loanwords. Katakana has
the same basic 46 letters as Hiragana.
Remembering the first five letters written in hiragana あいうえお, in Katakana
they are ア(a), イ(i), ウ(u),エ (e), オ (o).
Notice there is not much similarity. The
Katakana letters seem stiff, like we might
think of the usage of capital letters in an
English ad. In Japan this may be the first
Katakana word you learn コーヒー(koohii).
The Japanese also use symbols called“Kanji” representing words or ideas. As
an example, the pronoun “I” in Hiragana
is わたし(watashi) and in kanji 私. All

Japanese can be written in Hiragana. For
example, here is the word “kanji” written
in Kanji with the Hiragana in parentheses 漢 字 (かんじ). The Japanesesprinkle Kanji in their writing, I suspect
to speed up reading and to clarify meaning. The Japanese have discussed theidea of modifying or eliminating Kanji,
but without much effect.

The City Looses a Tree

Workshops and Classes

This bigleaf maple located on the southbank of Johnson Creek was just showing its
fall color, and then in the space of one night,
destroyed by our island beaver.
Look how meticulously the beaver chewed
the tree, landing it in the water, making iteasier and safer for him to get to the wood.
Read the beaver article in September’s Tsuru
Soars for more beavers.

Don’t miss our last free, educational classfor the year, Winter Lawn Maintenance, Nov.
13th from 1-3pm. We also have these great
workshops for the holidays:• Ikebana Arrangement: Nov. 9, 1-3pm• Origami Ornament Making: Nov. 17,
6-7:15pm• Art of Bonsai: Nov. 20, 1-3pm• Wreath Making: Dec. 8, 2-4pm

The Japanese use symbols
called “Kanji” representing
words or ideas.
If you visit Japan with only this knowledge, the Japanese will be appreciative,and you will already have more knowledge of the language than about 9 out
of 10 visitors.
Also, take some relief from the knowledge that most public signs in train
stations, on highways, etc. are written inboth Romaji and Japanese. In addition
there is one word that can be most helpful to a visitor. That word is “sumimasen”
which means “excuse me”, “I’m sorry”, andmany other meanings as shown in thisYouTube video: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=EyYyieWzVK0&t=94s

GARDENER’S TIP
November is the time to dig your dahlia,
canna, and begonia bulbs that need
protection over the winter from too muchmoisture and cold. Place them in woodshavings or coconut fiber in a cool dry
place for storage.
Also, collect and compost leaves to createrich soil for next spring. You can add grassclippings or manure to the leaves to help
with the composting process. Leaves canalso be put on garden beds as mulch over
the winter while they break down.
— Jim Buck, Garden Volunteer
and Organic Gardener

T

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION
When accessing the space, take noteof the size, shape, and color of existing
plants, surrounding hardscapes, irrigation options, and the direction of thesun. All are extremely important.
Healthy trees and shrubs will last for
decades, so consider your long-term
landscaping goals and how this plantis going to mature into the location
you’ve chosen. We see all too often,
poor location choices—like too close
to the house.

Figure 1 - Root-bound tree
from a plastic container

Figure 2- B&B container

Figure 3- Fabric container

rapid root growth­—once transplanted.
may have multiple trunks. In general,
you should avoid purchasing trees with Trees grown in fabric containers arelighter weight and easier to handle thandouble trunks, dead branches, trunk
B&B plants, so they require staking andcracks or wounds, or leaves that show
frequent watering after transplanting.
signs of insect damage, or disease.
There are three types of planting stock; Research shows that these root systems
plastic containers, B&B (balled and bur- have structural advantages and enhance
growth and longevity.
lapped ), and fabric containers. In all ofthese situations, it’s important to choose
STEP 4: DIGGING YOUR HOLE
a plant with a healthy root system.
Measure the height and diameter of the
Healthy root tips are light in color; older
root ball. The most common mistakeor diseased roots are dark in color.
people make when planting is making
If the plant is container grown, gently
the planting hole too deep and narrow.
STEP 2: SELECT YOUR PLANT
pull it out from the pot and take a look
Dig a hole only as deep as the height ofConsider trees and shrubs that willat the roots. A good root ball will stayprovide different features year-round,intact. Try to avoid pot-bound plants, orsuch as fruit in summer and changing
plants with a thick root mat at the botleaf colors in the fall. For blossoms, con- tom. See figure 1.
sider a rhododendron or azalea. They
It’s harder to check for a good root
both do well in our climate and offer asystem with B&B plants, but you can.
wide range of varieties.
The trunk should taper outward where it
In considering the type of the plant
enters the soil and you should see major
to pick, think about your yard’s color
roots connecting to the base of the trunk
palette. Do you need a splash of red,at the soil surface. See figure 2. If not,or yellow. What about texture? Maybe
probe into the soil ball about three incha simple wispy Leatherleaf Sedge grasses away from the trunk with a blunt nailwould be the perfect addition. Makeor wire to locate a few large roots. If you
sure your plant selection will not out- don’t find any, avoid that plant because
grow your location.
it is buried too deep.
Figure 4 - Guidelines for digging a hole.
The third type of planting stock is trees
STEP 3: PURCHASING YOUR PLANT
the root ball. Make the hole two to threegrown in fabric containers, sometimes
When purchasing, examine the plant’s
times as wide as the diameter of the root
called grow-bags. See figure 3. Roots inoverall structure. Shrubs should haveball. See figure 4. Digging a wide holethese fabric containers are generally
several stems coming from the base ofloosens the soil and provides a good
dense, but fibrous, and the large roots
the plant. Most trees, on the other hand,environment for new roots to begin
form swollen nodules at the container’s
should have only one upright trunk andgrowth.
edge, rather than circling like in a plastic
branches should be evenly spaced along
container. See figure. 3. The nodules
the trunk. A few species such as birch
Continued on back, “November Planting”
store carbohydrates that are used forare sometimes grown as clumps and soA Quick Lesson in the Japanese Language

November is a Prime Month for PlantingM

he best time to plant a tree or
shrub is in the fall, so roots have
6-8 weeks to establish before
the ground may freeze. Also, fall brings
the combination of warm soil and cool
air stimulating root growth and further
helping the plant get established. It’s also
when our soil is the most workable.

by Bill Peterson

y first trip to Japan was in December of 1953 and my last inJune of 2005. Within that timeframe I spent about ten years living inJapan and developed a modest fluency
in the language.
Through my volunteering at the Garden, I’ve listened to visitors (and volunteers) struggle with Japanese pronunciations. Here is a quick lesson that may
help in understanding the language.
Most Japanese language teachers will
start with the phonetic alphabet called“Hiragana” and the corresponding
sounds written in English characters. The
Japanese call this English version “Romaji”. The following are the first five letters(vowels) written in Hiragana and Romaji:(the vowel sounds are similar to Latin
vowels) あ(a), い(i), う(u), え(e), お(o).
The other letters with a few exceptions
can be written in Romaji by just adding
a consonant to the vowels. Here are thenext five letters in the alphabet made byadding “k” to the English vowels: か(ka),き(ki), く(ku), け(ke), こ(ko).
English speakers can view the Japaneseletters in Romaji as syllables. Then, if
you pronounce each syllable the samelength with little accent you will be
understood. As an example, yo-ko-hama. Our island name Tsuru is an irregularcase. A Romaji of “tu” does not work so
it is written “tsu” and pronounced “sue”
and the “r” sound is like a soft “d” soTsuru comes out “sue-due.”There are scads of YouTube’s on the
Hiragana alphabet. It took me a bit ofreview, but I found this simple one thatprovides a good overview: https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=Dc7f_jSzVvA.
The Japanese do have another phonetic alphabet called “Katakana”, which
is used mostly for words from foreign
languages or loanwords. Katakana has
the same basic 46 letters as Hiragana.
Remembering the first five letters written in hiragana あいうえお, in Katakana
they are ア(a), イ(i), ウ(u),エ (e), オ (o).
Notice there is not much similarity. The
Katakana letters seem stiff, like we might
think of the usage of capital letters in an
English ad. In Japan this may be the first
Katakana word you learn コーヒー(koohii).
The Japanese also use symbols called“Kanji” representing words or ideas. As
an example, the pronoun “I” in Hiragana
is わたし(watashi) and in kanji 私. All

Japanese can be written in Hiragana. For
example, here is the word “kanji” written
in Kanji with the Hiragana in parentheses 漢 字 (かんじ). The Japanesesprinkle Kanji in their writing, I suspect
to speed up reading and to clarify meaning. The Japanese have discussed theidea of modifying or eliminating Kanji,
but without much effect.

The City Looses a Tree

Workshops and Classes

This bigleaf maple located on the southbank of Johnson Creek was just showing its
fall color, and then in the space of one night,
destroyed by our island beaver.
Look how meticulously the beaver chewed
the tree, landing it in the water, making iteasier and safer for him to get to the wood.
Read the beaver article in September’s Tsuru
Soars for more beavers.

Don’t miss our last free, educational classfor the year, Winter Lawn Maintenance, Nov.
13th from 1-3pm. We also have these great
workshops for the holidays:• Ikebana Arrangement: Nov. 9, 1-3pm• Origami Ornament Making: Nov. 17,
6-7:15pm• Art of Bonsai: Nov. 20, 1-3pm• Wreath Making: Dec. 8, 2-4pm

The Japanese use symbols
called “Kanji” representing
words or ideas.
If you visit Japan with only this knowledge, the Japanese will be appreciative,and you will already have more knowledge of the language than about 9 out
of 10 visitors.
Also, take some relief from the knowledge that most public signs in train
stations, on highways, etc. are written inboth Romaji and Japanese. In addition
there is one word that can be most helpful to a visitor. That word is “sumimasen”
which means “excuse me”, “I’m sorry”, andmany other meanings as shown in thisYouTube video: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=EyYyieWzVK0&t=94s

GARDENER’S TIP
November is the time to dig your dahlia,
canna, and begonia bulbs that need
protection over the winter from too muchmoisture and cold. Place them in woodshavings or coconut fiber in a cool dry
place for storage.
Also, collect and compost leaves to createrich soil for next spring. You can add grassclippings or manure to the leaves to help
with the composting process. Leaves canalso be put on garden beds as mulch over
the winter while they break down.
— Jim Buck, Garden Volunteer
and Organic Gardener

T

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION
When accessing the space, take noteof the size, shape, and color of existing
plants, surrounding hardscapes, irrigation options, and the direction of thesun. All are extremely important.
Healthy trees and shrubs will last for
decades, so consider your long-term
landscaping goals and how this plantis going to mature into the location
you’ve chosen. We see all too often,
poor location choices—like too close
to the house.

Figure 1 - Root-bound tree
from a plastic container

Figure 2- B&B container

Figure 3- Fabric container

rapid root growth­—once transplanted.
may have multiple trunks. In general,
you should avoid purchasing trees with Trees grown in fabric containers arelighter weight and easier to handle thandouble trunks, dead branches, trunk
B&B plants, so they require staking andcracks or wounds, or leaves that show
frequent watering after transplanting.
signs of insect damage, or disease.
There are three types of planting stock; Research shows that these root systems
plastic containers, B&B (balled and bur- have structural advantages and enhance
growth and longevity.
lapped ), and fabric containers. In all ofthese situations, it’s important to choose
STEP 4: DIGGING YOUR HOLE
a plant with a healthy root system.
Measure the height and diameter of the
Healthy root tips are light in color; older
root ball. The most common mistakeor diseased roots are dark in color.
people make when planting is making
If the plant is container grown, gently
the planting hole too deep and narrow.
STEP 2: SELECT YOUR PLANT
pull it out from the pot and take a look
Dig a hole only as deep as the height ofConsider trees and shrubs that willat the roots. A good root ball will stayprovide different features year-round,intact. Try to avoid pot-bound plants, orsuch as fruit in summer and changing
plants with a thick root mat at the botleaf colors in the fall. For blossoms, con- tom. See figure 1.
sider a rhododendron or azalea. They
It’s harder to check for a good root
both do well in our climate and offer asystem with B&B plants, but you can.
wide range of varieties.
The trunk should taper outward where it
In considering the type of the plant
enters the soil and you should see major
to pick, think about your yard’s color
roots connecting to the base of the trunk
palette. Do you need a splash of red,at the soil surface. See figure 2. If not,or yellow. What about texture? Maybe
probe into the soil ball about three incha simple wispy Leatherleaf Sedge grasses away from the trunk with a blunt nailwould be the perfect addition. Makeor wire to locate a few large roots. If you
sure your plant selection will not out- don’t find any, avoid that plant because
grow your location.
it is buried too deep.
Figure 4 - Guidelines for digging a hole.
The third type of planting stock is trees
STEP 3: PURCHASING YOUR PLANT
the root ball. Make the hole two to threegrown in fabric containers, sometimes
When purchasing, examine the plant’s
times as wide as the diameter of the root
called grow-bags. See figure 3. Roots inoverall structure. Shrubs should haveball. See figure 4. Digging a wide holethese fabric containers are generally
several stems coming from the base ofloosens the soil and provides a good
dense, but fibrous, and the large roots
the plant. Most trees, on the other hand,environment for new roots to begin
form swollen nodules at the container’s
should have only one upright trunk andgrowth.
edge, rather than circling like in a plastic
branches should be evenly spaced along
container. See figure. 3. The nodules
the trunk. A few species such as birch
Continued on back, “November Planting”
store carbohydrates that are used forare sometimes grown as clumps and so

November Planting cont’d
STEP 5: PLANTING
system, which is essential to the longIf you end up with a root-bound tree
term survival and health of the plant.
or shrub, you can remedy the problem.
In preparing a B&B plant, remove as
Score with a sharp knife around the out- much of the burlap and rope, as possible,
side of the root ball, an inch or two deep, but avoid breaking up the soil ball. At a
cutting through all the outer, horizontal minimum, you should expose at least thegrowing roots. Cut any visible circling
entire top half of the soil ball. It’s okay toroots over 1/4” diameter with handleave some burlap on the bottom half,
pruners. Loosen the roots and untangle because almost all the new roots will
as you’re slicing. If there is a root mat at grow outwards from the top half of thethe bottom, cut it off.
original soil ball, not downwards from
Place in the planting hole positioning
the bottom half. Make sure the material
the trunk just above the dirt forming
left on the ball is natural and therefore
a sloping mound. Position the roots inbiodegradable.
a radial pattern to encourage them toFabric containers must be completely
grow in an outward direction. Firmly
removed before planting. Cut from top
pack the soil in between.
to bottom and peel the container away
While root pruning may seem harshfrom the sides and bottom. If small roots
and is stressful to the plant, research has have grown through the sides, just cut
shown that leaving circling and/or mat- them off before removing from the conted roots may prevent plants from estab- tainer. Once the container is removed,lishing a normal, outward growing root check for circling roots and cut them too.

Be sure to leave the nodules intact.
Place the plant in the center of the holeand check again that it is at the proper
depth. The top of the stem should just sit
above the dirt. Fill in around the root ballwith the soil you saved from digging thehole. Tamp soil firmly down. You can add
water when the hole is half full to help
settle the soil, then again when you’ve
finished planting.
Don’t do any major pruning at planting.
Only remove dead or injured branches.
Identify what will become the dominantleader, or central trunk, on a deciduoustree and prune off competing leaders.
This month’s Ask Jim! Facebook videoseries discusses location, plant selection
and planting of a tree.

November 2021

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Ask Jim!

The Garden Receives a Wedding Kimono
in memory of Shizue Peterson

In Japan, traditional wedding ceremo- kimono in the 80s. She had an eye andnies are performed in a rather formal love for good art, and was an accomwedding hall. Ceremonies take place plished artist herself. She studied fine art
at the University of Delaware.
simultaneously, with only a few family
Over the years Shizue recognized thatmembers and friends in attendance.
necklaces were objects of great art and culThe bridal couple wears special silkture, and subsequently owned gift shops,
wedding kimonos. For the bride, theelegant shiromuku (white kimono) or the one in Troutdale, selling beads andluxurious iro-uchikake (colored kimono). teaching workshops in necklace making.
For the groom, formal black montsuki(family-crested kimono) with hakama(wide-legged pants). You’ll be surprised
to learn, a bride typically rents her wedding kimono.
The Gresham Japanese Garden is fortunate to be gifted a iro-uchikake wedding
kimono by Bill Peterson in memory of his
late wife Shizue.
As Bill tells it, Shizue purchased thisShizue’s art

Shizue’s love for art lives on in thisbeautiful kimono now displayed in the
Garden’s Resource Center. It will makeits way to join the traveling display atRiverview Community Bank. See coverarticle.

Community Ties

S

ince February 2021, Riverview
plants, ikebana arrangements, a geisha
Community Bank, Gresham branch, doll, and kabuki doll, complemented byhas showcased the Garden’sa custom-made shoji screen, a looped
Japanese traveling display in their lobby.
video of garden photos, and katori music
Each month we rotate display items.
playing in the background by Takohachi, Inc.
We’ve had an assortment of bonsai“The display offersbank members theopportunity to learn alittle bit more about
Japanese culture.”
Iro-uchikake wedding kimono

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

PHOTOGRAPHER’S VIEW
うらやまし美しうなりて散る紅葉
urayamashi utsukushu natte chiru momiji
How enviable,
Turning beautiful then falling, maple leaves— Shiko Kagami

Brenda Felix, Bank Manager says, “thedisplay offers bank members the opportunity to learn a little bit more about Japanese culture.” She continues, “we have
- Brenda Felix, Riverview
Community Bank Manager many compliments about bringing theoutdoors inside for all to see.”