2021 Su

JUNE 5

Art of Bonsai Demonstration: 11:30am - 1:30pm

m
m
er C

JUNE 5
Art of Bonsai Demonstration - 11:30am to 1:30pm
Sho- Art (Calligraphy) Live Performances - 1:00 & 2:15pm

ulturalSeri

JUNE 19
Music with Japanese Instruments - 1pm & 2:15pm
Ikebana (Floral Arrangement) Demonstration - 10am to noon
JULY 10Koto-Kai (Japanese Harp) Performances - 1pm & 2:15pm
Origami for All Ages and Abilities - Noon to 2pm

JULY 24
Koto-Kai (Japanese Harp) Performances - 1pm & 2:15pm
Ikebana (Floral Arrangement) Demonstration - 3:00 to 5:00pm
AUGUST 7
Takohachi’s Q (Drums) Performances - 11am & 1pm
Art of Bonsai Demonstration - 2:00 to 4:00pm

es

GRESHAM ‘ON-THE-GO VIDEO
Sponsored by Arts and Cultural
Assistance Grant

LOCATION: TSURU ISLAND
Bonsai instructor Mark Vossbrink demonstrates
the ‘art of bonsai’ in the azumaya. Mark grew up
in Japan and comes to the Garden with over 30
years learning and practicing bonsai techniques.
His knowledge of plant material and its tendencies is strengthened by his background as a florist.

May 2021

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Sho- Art Live Performances - 1:00pm & 2:15pm
LOCATION: EBETSU PLAZA
Mesmerize yourself in the art of Shodo, a form ofcalligraphy, a writing technique that uses one’s
body and heart. Performer Sora Shodo combines striking and meaningful visual art withentrancing performance art. Read article below on Sora.

JUNE 19

Ikebana Demonstration - 10am - noon
LOCATION: TSURU ISLAND
Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art
with flowers and natural objects, instructor Nana
Bellerud will show you how ikebana explores artistic concepts
such as balance, contrast, and negative space.

Music with Japanese Instruments - 1pm & 2:15pm
LOCATION: TSURU ISLAND
Listen to the sounds of traditional Japanese folk
and modern music played by musician Yumi Torimaru on her authentic Japanese Shinobue andShamisen instruments.

The Way of Writing

Beautifying Gresham

by Mary Taylor

It’s been a long journey for Sora: growing up in rural Usuki, Oita, high school
exchange student in Indiana, homeland for college, followed by marriage
and a new home in the U.S.
Sora began her study of Shodo (“theway of writing”), at the age of 6. As she’smatured, she has followed an old Japanese style of calligraphy, studying the
Bokutensha method under Master Futo
Suzuki in Japan as well as Sekko Daigo
in Portland. In the process she has received the name of Sora Shodo (宇宙書道).
While calligraphy is an ancient art,
Sora’s live presentation of calligraphy iscompletely new. It’s a personal interpretation inspired by her three children. The
dramatic use of her body, in particular
her hands, distinguishes Sora’s style andinstills in the viewer a sense of unity withthe world.
Sora chooses to work with both blackand gold inks. She finds that the appearance of black sumi ink, on a whitebackground, produces a calming effect.
It allows her to breathe and slow down,
to experience oneness in the present
moment. The gold ink is light and says
“I get it.”
Sora appreciates the opportunity toNonce again publicly become one with
her art and her community.
Sora leaves us with this final thought:“Bring back who you really are and findyourself.”
Volunteer Newsletter Editors: Sue Hughes,
Jim Card, Mary Dickson, and Mary Taylor.
Photos by Bill Peterson.

ext time
you stroll
through
Main City Park, lookup. The Friendsof the Gresham
Japanese Garden
planted 13 hanging flower pots.
They’re big, heavy
AND way up there.
We needed a lift
to install and Orient Electric came to therescue.
They may not look like much now, but

the extra large containers, combinedwith a rigorous watering schedule andgobs of fertilizer, should keep Main City
Park looking beautiful all summer long!

PHOTOGRAPHER’S PICK

雨上がり七色深し花あやめ
Ama agari nanairo fukashi
hanaayame

Irisesmore rainbow-colored
after the rain
by Hiruta 2009
— Bill Peterson

Touchstone Paver Campaign

A Lesson On Pinesof Edward Jones. In two years, we have surpassed $30,000. Our goal $100,000!

Jim Card proclaimed,“Protect the Investment.”

In 2011, Tomiko Takeuchi, first cousin
to Shiro Takeuchi, an original Japanese-American Citizen League committee member, contacted Jim Card to “look”
at Tsuru Island with her. The goal was toclean up the neglected and vandalized
Japanese garden by cutting trees, pruning,
removing blackberries, etc. It’s clear to say
today, the project grew legs!
After countless volunteers hours andmany months revitalizing Tsuru Island, theresult, Jim Card proclaimed, “Protect theInvestment.”
Tomiko always wanted pavers in thegarden, and as Ebetsu Plaza’s pathway
started taking shape, Jim turned her vision
into reality with the Touchstone Paver
Campaign.
The money from the Touchstone Paver
Campaign goes into an endowment fund
for the maintenance of the properties. The
endowment is managed by Dino Rocha

7” x 7” custom-engraved paver can be purchased for $125. 100% of the proceeds canbe designated to the Garden or you may
designate 20% of your donation to one of
our community partners. Order your paver
here.

us through our Business Paver campaign.
For $1500 a business can purchase a large
paver.

BUSINESS PAVER PARTNERS!!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

All About Automotive
Chase Me Again
East Hill Church
Edward Jones - Dino Rocha
JACLLes Schwab - Burnside
Mt. Hood Glass

We only have four businesspavers left!
INQUIRE HEREA

s a pine tree ages, interior and low
branches die off from lack of lightand energy. To keep a pine tree
healthy, spring candling, winter needling,
and cutting out branches to retain its shape
are necessary.
Before pruning, you first study the natural
shape of the tree. This may conflict with yourdesired shape. Strive to bring out the best
potential for its natural beauty according to
its natural shape. (See Figure 1)
Start in the winter by removing needles.
Removing needles can reveal the gracefullimbs and trunk of the tree, allow light and
air to penetrate the center of the tree andlower branches, and help reveal its natural
shape. (You can do this now too, but winter isthe best time of year.)
After you’ve determined its shape, (andyour desired shape), the way to achieve thisis by pruning or “candling”. Candles are new
growth on a pine. They develop from fall

through winter until spring. To learn how
to candle refer to Figure 2 and watch the
How-To video. Candling is done in May andearly June.

PURPOSE OF CANDLING
1. Control the length the branches
2. Make a greater number of branches
3. Make branches more dense
Through proper pruning, you can direct
the energy flow and achieve your goal forshape, density, and form. You can directwhere new development is likely to takeplace and create optimum opportunities for
future growth.

Figure 2: Direction of growththat occurs from your cuts
Becauseevery day is a gift

HOW-TO CANDLE VIDEO
We’re really proud to offer a means to
support other non-profits through our community partner offer. We’re also really proud
to brag about the businesses supporting

CASCADING

MULTI
TRUNK

TWO
TRUNKSCURVEDLEANINGSTRAIGHT

Figure 1: Natural shape of pine trees

May Celebrates JapaneseChildren’s Day
GARDENER’S TIP
The soil is now getting warm enough fortomatoes. When planting them, be awareof the hairs on the main stem which arecalled trichomes. Each is able to form aroot. Therefore, plant the tomato a little
deeper than it was in the pot or plant at
an angle so the trichomes can becomeroots and make your tomato moreproductive.
Tomatoes like calcium. Add a half cupof lime, half cup of bone meal and1/4
cup of egg shells to your soil, along withcompost when planting.
— Jim Buck, Garden Volunteer

Name the Turtle

Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi) festival
on May 5th is oneof the most popularnational holidays inJapan. It’s an occasion for children to
thank and respectparents, relatives
and teachers.
The festival flags (Koinobori) are made in
the shape of carp because carp are known
for their ability to swim upstream and they
symbolize courage and determination.
Children’s Day was originally known asBoys’ Day. The number of carp (and size)
flying represents number of the boys intheir family.

Roots Travel Far
by Terry Nishikawa

Our turtle on Tsuru Island needs a name!
Can you help us? We’re seeking a namerelated to Gresham or to Japaneseculture. Email your name by July 1st to
info@GreshamJapaneseGarden.com.
The winner will receive an engraved paver
to be placed in Ebetsu Plaza.

As I walkthrough
Tsuru
Island, I light up
when I find inbloom a very
special peony
plant I donatedto Tsuru Island
two years ago.
I am a descendant of one of the foundersof Tsuru Island and wanted to make sure thispeony plant had a place of meaning.
In the early 1900’s my grandmother, Fusae,

a mail-order bride, came to Boring from
Wakayama, Japan, to marry my grandfather,
Shotaro. She traveled with this peony plant
as her gift to her future husband. The peony
was planted on their family farm in Boring,
Oregon.
As the story is told, my grandparents gave
a cutting to their good friends, the Sosaki’s
who lived in the Sherwood area.
In 1979, after my grandparents and father
passed away, my mother sold the farm.
The peony didn’t go with her. After she got
re-established in Gresham, Art Sosaki Sr.
gave her a cutting from the original plant

as a housewarming gift, which is how I wasable to donate a cutting to the Gresham
Japanese Garden.
The story lives on with Art Sosaki Jr. He
recently sold his land and donated theoriginal plant to the Tualatin Heritage. It will
be renamed to honor Shotaro and Fusae
Nishikawa.
Last year I am told the plant almost didn’t
survive because of an infestation of moles.
It was replanted in October with a molebarrier that’s working!
A 120-year-old peony plant carried fromJapan lives on Tsuru Island!

Touchstone Paver Campaign

A Lesson On Pinesof Edward Jones. In two years, we have surpassed $30,000. Our goal $100,000!

Jim Card proclaimed,“Protect the Investment.”

In 2011, Tomiko Takeuchi, first cousin
to Shiro Takeuchi, an original Japanese-American Citizen League committee member, contacted Jim Card to “look”
at Tsuru Island with her. The goal was toclean up the neglected and vandalized
Japanese garden by cutting trees, pruning,
removing blackberries, etc. It’s clear to say
today, the project grew legs!
After countless volunteers hours andmany months revitalizing Tsuru Island, theresult, Jim Card proclaimed, “Protect theInvestment.”
Tomiko always wanted pavers in thegarden, and as Ebetsu Plaza’s pathway
started taking shape, Jim turned her vision
into reality with the Touchstone Paver
Campaign.
The money from the Touchstone Paver
Campaign goes into an endowment fund
for the maintenance of the properties. The
endowment is managed by Dino Rocha

7” x 7” custom-engraved paver can be purchased for $125. 100% of the proceeds canbe designated to the Garden or you may
designate 20% of your donation to one of
our community partners. Order your paver
here.

us through our Business Paver campaign.
For $1500 a business can purchase a large
paver.

BUSINESS PAVER PARTNERS!!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

All About Automotive
Chase Me Again
East Hill Church
Edward Jones - Dino Rocha
JACLLes Schwab - Burnside
Mt. Hood Glass

We only have four businesspavers left!
INQUIRE HEREA

s a pine tree ages, interior and low
branches die off from lack of lightand energy. To keep a pine tree
healthy, spring candling, winter needling,
and cutting out branches to retain its shape
are necessary.
Before pruning, you first study the natural
shape of the tree. This may conflict with yourdesired shape. Strive to bring out the best
potential for its natural beauty according to
its natural shape. (See Figure 1)
Start in the winter by removing needles.
Removing needles can reveal the gracefullimbs and trunk of the tree, allow light and
air to penetrate the center of the tree andlower branches, and help reveal its natural
shape. (You can do this now too, but winter isthe best time of year.)
After you’ve determined its shape, (andyour desired shape), the way to achieve thisis by pruning or “candling”. Candles are new
growth on a pine. They develop from fall

through winter until spring. To learn how
to candle refer to Figure 2 and watch the
How-To video. Candling is done in May andearly June.

PURPOSE OF CANDLING
1. Control the length the branches
2. Make a greater number of branches
3. Make branches more dense
Through proper pruning, you can direct
the energy flow and achieve your goal forshape, density, and form. You can directwhere new development is likely to takeplace and create optimum opportunities for
future growth.

Figure 2: Direction of growththat occurs from your cuts
Becauseevery day is a gift

HOW-TO CANDLE VIDEO
We’re really proud to offer a means to
support other non-profits through our community partner offer. We’re also really proud
to brag about the businesses supporting

CASCADING

MULTI
TRUNK

TWO
TRUNKSCURVEDLEANINGSTRAIGHT

Figure 1: Natural shape of pine trees

May Celebrates JapaneseChildren’s Day
GARDENER’S TIP
The soil is now getting warm enough fortomatoes. When planting them, be awareof the hairs on the main stem which arecalled trichomes. Each is able to form aroot. Therefore, plant the tomato a little
deeper than it was in the pot or plant at
an angle so the trichomes can becomeroots and make your tomato moreproductive.
Tomatoes like calcium. Add a half cupof lime, half cup of bone meal and1/4
cup of egg shells to your soil, along withcompost when planting.
— Jim Buck, Garden Volunteer

Name the Turtle

Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi) festival
on May 5th is oneof the most popularnational holidays inJapan. It’s an occasion for children to
thank and respectparents, relatives
and teachers.
The festival flags (Koinobori) are made in
the shape of carp because carp are known
for their ability to swim upstream and they
symbolize courage and determination.
Children’s Day was originally known asBoys’ Day. The number of carp (and size)
flying represents number of the boys intheir family.

Roots Travel Far
by Terry Nishikawa

Our turtle on Tsuru Island needs a name!
Can you help us? We’re seeking a namerelated to Gresham or to Japaneseculture. Email your name by July 1st to
info@GreshamJapaneseGarden.com.
The winner will receive an engraved paver
to be placed in Ebetsu Plaza.

As I walkthrough
Tsuru
Island, I light up
when I find inbloom a very
special peony
plant I donatedto Tsuru Island
two years ago.
I am a descendant of one of the foundersof Tsuru Island and wanted to make sure thispeony plant had a place of meaning.
In the early 1900’s my grandmother, Fusae,

a mail-order bride, came to Boring from
Wakayama, Japan, to marry my grandfather,
Shotaro. She traveled with this peony plant
as her gift to her future husband. The peony
was planted on their family farm in Boring,
Oregon.
As the story is told, my grandparents gave
a cutting to their good friends, the Sosaki’s
who lived in the Sherwood area.
In 1979, after my grandparents and father
passed away, my mother sold the farm.
The peony didn’t go with her. After she got
re-established in Gresham, Art Sosaki Sr.
gave her a cutting from the original plant

as a housewarming gift, which is how I wasable to donate a cutting to the Gresham
Japanese Garden.
The story lives on with Art Sosaki Jr. He
recently sold his land and donated theoriginal plant to the Tualatin Heritage. It will
be renamed to honor Shotaro and Fusae
Nishikawa.
Last year I am told the plant almost didn’t
survive because of an infestation of moles.
It was replanted in October with a molebarrier that’s working!
A 120-year-old peony plant carried fromJapan lives on Tsuru Island!

2021 SuJUNE 5

Art of Bonsai Demonstration: 11:30am - 1:30pm

m
m
er C

JUNE 5
Art of Bonsai Demonstration - 11:30am to 1:30pm
Sho- Art (Calligraphy) Live Performances - 1:00 & 2:15pm

ulturalSeri

JUNE 19
Music with Japanese Instruments - 1pm & 2:15pm
Ikebana (Floral Arrangement) Demonstration - 10am to noon
JULY 10Koto-Kai (Japanese Harp) Performances - 1pm & 2:15pm
Origami for All Ages and Abilities - Noon to 2pm

JULY 24
Koto-Kai (Japanese Harp) Performances - 1pm & 2:15pm
Ikebana (Floral Arrangement) Demonstration - 3:00 to 5:00pm
AUGUST 7
Takohachi’s Q (Drums) Performances - 11am & 1pm
Art of Bonsai Demonstration - 2:00 to 4:00pm

es

GRESHAM ‘ON-THE-GO VIDEO
Sponsored by Arts and Cultural
Assistance Grant

LOCATION: TSURU ISLAND
Bonsai instructor Mark Vossbrink demonstrates
the ‘art of bonsai’ in the azumaya. Mark grew up
in Japan and comes to the Garden with over 30
years learning and practicing bonsai techniques.
His knowledge of plant material and its tendencies is strengthened by his background as a florist.

May 2021

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Sho- Art Live Performances - 1:00pm & 2:15pm
LOCATION: EBETSU PLAZA
Mesmerize yourself in the art of Shodo, a form ofcalligraphy, a writing technique that uses one’s
body and heart. Performer Sora Shodo combines striking and meaningful visual art withentrancing performance art. Read article below on Sora.

JUNE 19

Ikebana Demonstration - 10am - noon
LOCATION: TSURU ISLAND
Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art
with flowers and natural objects, instructor Nana
Bellerud will show you how ikebana explores artistic concepts
such as balance, contrast, and negative space.

Music with Japanese Instruments - 1pm & 2:15pm
LOCATION: TSURU ISLAND
Listen to the sounds of traditional Japanese folk
and modern music played by musician Yumi Torimaru on her authentic Japanese Shinobue andShamisen instruments.

The Way of Writing

Beautifying Gresham

by Mary Taylor

It’s been a long journey for Sora: growing up in rural Usuki, Oita, high school
exchange student in Indiana, homeland for college, followed by marriage
and a new home in the U.S.
Sora began her study of Shodo (“theway of writing”), at the age of 6. As she’smatured, she has followed an old Japanese style of calligraphy, studying the
Bokutensha method under Master Futo
Suzuki in Japan as well as Sekko Daigo
in Portland. In the process she has received the name of Sora Shodo (宇宙書道).
While calligraphy is an ancient art,
Sora’s live presentation of calligraphy iscompletely new. It’s a personal interpretation inspired by her three children. The
dramatic use of her body, in particular
her hands, distinguishes Sora’s style andinstills in the viewer a sense of unity withthe world.
Sora chooses to work with both blackand gold inks. She finds that the appearance of black sumi ink, on a whitebackground, produces a calming effect.
It allows her to breathe and slow down,
to experience oneness in the present
moment. The gold ink is light and says
“I get it.”
Sora appreciates the opportunity toNonce again publicly become one with
her art and her community.
Sora leaves us with this final thought:“Bring back who you really are and findyourself.”
Volunteer Newsletter Editors: Sue Hughes,
Jim Card, Mary Dickson, and Mary Taylor.
Photos by Bill Peterson.

ext time
you stroll
through
Main City Park, lookup. The Friendsof the Gresham
Japanese Garden
planted 13 hanging flower pots.
They’re big, heavy
AND way up there.
We needed a lift
to install and Orient Electric came to therescue.
They may not look like much now, but

the extra large containers, combinedwith a rigorous watering schedule andgobs of fertilizer, should keep Main City
Park looking beautiful all summer long!

PHOTOGRAPHER’S PICK

雨上がり七色深し花あやめ
Ama agari nanairo fukashi
hanaayame

Irisesmore rainbow-colored
after the rain
by Hiruta 2009
— Bill Peterson