April 2024

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Yozakura FestivalYes, the cherry blossoms arrived
facade of the Kyoudou Center.
early this year. GJG originally
Mitsuki Dazai, artistic director of Oreplanned to start the festival on
gon Koto Kai played two beautiful sets
the 27th, but Mother Nature had her
including Sakura Sakura.
way. We quickly bumped up the schedOregon Koto Kai to perform again onule and on the 23rd we put on an abso- March 30. We're expecting anotherlutely magical event. As the sky got dark- magical night. The April 6th perfomanceer and darker, the cherry trees' blossoms is cancelled due to the early season, butshined more and more. An unexpected don't despair, the cherry trees are in persurprise was seeing the reflection offect condition to show off in the coming
the trees in the windows spanning theyears.

Pruning Workshops for May

Mitsuki Dazai performance on the patio of
the Kyoudou Center.

Open for Business

Instructor bios are on website. REGISTER ON WEBSITE

Spring Pruning Hands-on Workshop, Onsite at Vanport International: Saturday, May 4th, 10am–4pm – $100
FRANCHESKA SNYDER, INSTRUCTOR: Designed for the intermediate pruner looking to advance their knowledge throughexperiential learning. Students will prune a variety of plants and trees appropriately for the time of year. The workshop will belimited to 12 participants for an optimal experience. The location is a Japanese garden at Vanport Manufacturing in Boring,
Oregon originally designed by Hoichi Kurisu.
Spring Maintenance on Pines: Saturday, May 18th, 12:00pm–2:00pm - $45
LAURA DUFALA, INSTRUCTOR: Learn all about the why’s and how’s of pruning and candling pines. Laura will candle,
needle, and prune a few pines on Tsuru Island for show and tell. This workshop is in person. Bring your gloves. Laura may turnthe class into a collaborative session.
Volunteer Newsletter Editors: Mary Dickson, Mary Taylor, and Sue Protz. Photos by Millie Layman and Bill Peterson.

kyoudou centerand cherry blossoms
spring smile— Bill PetersonAll the work in 2023 remodelingour building into a beautiful
Japanese-inspired architectural
dream is proving to be a nice rental
option for our community. It also reallyhelps us fund the maintenance andsupplies needed to operate. Yet, there isso much to think about, from preparing

rental agreements to discussing thelayout of the room, to protecting theproperty from damage. The volunteers
are working through all the ins andouts and we couldn't be more pleased
to offer the Kyoudou Center and Tsuru
Island for rent to the community.

Seating arrangement can be customized tocreate a festive event.

Find all the information at:
Greshamjapanesegarden.org/
reservations/Omotenashi: Japanese Hospitality

Partnership Enhances Student Experience

LA

by Sue Protz

ast month I had the opportunity
to attend the North American
Japanese Garden Association's(NAJGA) International Conference inFort Worth, Texas. The International
Conference attracts the best of thebest speakers from abroad and North
America.
A speaker's presentation that reallyresonated with me was Jennifer GunjiBallsrud, Director of the University of
Illinois Japan House. Her topic was
OMOTENASHI: Japanese Hospitality.
She explained, "Omotenatshi is anoffering to guests without anticipating
anything in return. It is taking care ofothers wholeheartedly and genuinely.
Hospitality without superficiality.""The essence of omotenashi is service
from the heart. And it's without
expectations of getting something
in return. It means just not providing
outstanding service, but by providing
hospitality that goes up and beyond the
expectations of the person receiving theservice.

The essence of omotenashi
is service from the heart.
Omotenashi entails paying very close
attention, thinking carefully about theneeds of the guests, and acting before
even one asks for anything."

This presentation resonatedwith me for a few reasons. First,
I'm always searching for ways todescribe our director Jim Card's
hospitality. He goes out of his
way to make you feel good. His
kindness towards people andsituations is genuine. He exudes
and leads with omotenashi, and hedoesn't even know it.
A cleaning crew in Japan bowing to the people
Another reason this presentation
riding the Shinkansen because of omotenashi.
resonated is because GJG is
testing the introduction of an
meticulously cleans the inside of theAmbassador Program at Tsuru Island this trains. After they are finished, they standsummer. Volunteers will be trained theoutside and literally bow until every
omotenashi way as they greet visitors
last guest has entered and sat down
entering the Japanese garden. We willon the train. This is not something they
anticipate the needs of our guests anddo for people to give them gratitude, or
act with genuine intentions.
expect thanks. They do this because of
And last, we are now renting out theomotenashi.
Kyoudou Center, Ebetsu Plaza and Tsuru
What better way for the Gresham
Island. The remodeled Kyoudou Center is Japanese Garden, a Japanesea beautiful venue, and we are receiving
focused organization completely run
many requests for renting. We have aby volunteers who serve with theirfew 85-90th birthdays, graduations,heart, adopt the omotenashi way. You
and bridal showers. The volunteers are
won't see us bowing, but you will see
practicing omotenashi, too; they don't
volunteers happy to assist you.
know it has a Japanese name.
Look for more articles in future
An interesting example in Japan ofnewsletters of examples of omotenashi
omotenashi Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrudin Japan. They're really quite remarkabledescribed is riding the Shinkansen,
examples.
Japan's railway system. The cleaningcrew comes in between train stops andPlant Sale

KATU AM Northwest

In addition
to our own
inventory,
many nurseries are donating trees andshrubs for our only fundraiser this year,
a plant sale May 9-10 at 410 N Main Ave
Gresham. In partnership with Gresham
Historical Society's flower sale, we'll havesomething for everyone.

Thank you Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce for directing tourism dollars towards'local escapes' in Gresham. They chose three
Gresham destinations; Rockwood Marketplace, the Gresham Japanese Garden, and in
July, Gresham's Art Fair.

HAIKU CORNER
a line borrowed
from another poetspring rain
- Paul M.
.春雨や相に相生の松の声
harusame ya ai ni aioi no matsu no koe
spring rain-growing side by side
whispering pines- IssaYou can watch the clip here.

l’s Garden
ally happy to contribute to the students'& Home inwork experience, and the bonus is theGresham isseeing the students’ joy and confidence
helping our stunurtured by Al’s employees.
dents explore theOn one day, Faith led the interns in anext stage in their
pot-in-a-pot project to enhance curb aplives. Through apeal. Together, they dug empty pots inpartnership with the Gresham Japanese the ground then inserted a second pot
Garden’s Exploratory Program, Al's isof the same pot size of annual flowers.
interning our Exploratory students that He explained that this method makes
are in their final semester in the school
it easy to swap out flowers when thesystem. The internship offers students
time comes. “It was something different
the opportunity to take the horticulture to do, and it was fun sharing it with theskills and knowledge they acquired
students,” he said, and hopes that they’llover the past three years into a real job get to switch out the pansies with new
setting.
flowers before the end of their intern“The whole staff at Al’s has been so
ship.
enthusiastic and excited,” said AssistantWorking on
Store Manager Lyla Hunt. “ They know
new tasks andthey are contributing to these students’with some difwork experience and making a differferent equipence in our community.”
ment, theSince 2019, the Garden’s Exploratory
students also
Program has provided special needs
learned about
students from Gresham-Barlow School
drip irrigation
District’s Adult Living Program withsystems andhands-on gardening skills and practical
helped trouFlorencio checking thework experience. Focusing on horticulirrigation tubing. bleshoot for
ture, the students learn about seed gerleaks, idenmination, transplanting, pruning, plant tified plants as they cleaned pots andidentification, and plant health. Working moved stock, navigated push cars, andin the greenhouse and around all theorganized and restocked plants by theirgarden spaces, the students learn how
tags. One day, they learned about Mason
to do routine maintenance too.
bees, including implanting live cocoons
Now as interns they can put everything into bee trays for the store’s bee house.
they learned in a retail environment.
It is a big adjustment going from a
In late February, six of the ten students
controlled space into a work environbegan interning at Al’s twice a week for ment. The two Garden volunteers that
two-hour shifts. GJG sends a Garden
act as job coaches also help with making
volunteer to Al's to act as their job coach. the transistion easier on them, assisting“We are really impressed with the level when necessary. The coaches are proudof independence and knowledge thatof the students for taking on the inthe students bring in with them,” comternship, knowing that interacting withmented Store Manager Jonathan Faith. people and learning unfamiliar tasks can“All of them already have knowledge of be scary.
plants and plant care.”"It’s fulfilling to see them use theThis had always been the goal of theknowledge and skills they’ve acquired in
Exploratory Program: to help students
our greenhouse and gardens,” job coachthat need a little extra boost develop
Deb said. She added that the students
job skills that meet potential employers’ are beginning to see that their skills andexpectations and work needs.
knowledge are valuable and fit into real
“It was absolutely the right decision to world jobs. While cueing them to listen
partner with the Gresham Japanese Gar- and learn from their supervisors, theden,” said Faith. He added that they’re re- coaches also remind them to have funStore manager Lyla showing intern Alana
seed packets.

and enjoy themselves.
Since starting the internship, Lyla said
that the students have opened up more,engaged more, are asking questions andbeing curious about the plants. The firsttime she heard one of the more quieter students laughing because she was
happy, made her day. “I’m very excitedseeing the students grow, and I liketeaching them something we love…
gardening!”
Jonathan and Lyla both agree that
staff can see that the students enjoy
coming here and being surrounded byplants. They especially relish showing
the students what it’s like working in thegarden and nursery industry.
Activities Director Sue Protz says, "Al’shas provided the final transitional phasein breaking down barriers to sucess. It'sdifficult exiting school into the workforce with no prior work experience,
especially students with challenges. It's
been our dream to get to this stage ofthe program.” She added, "Al's staff is agreat role model. They treat the students
with such respect and care, and are
giving them the opportunity to explore
their strengths and interests."
Jonathan concurred saying that partnering with the Garden is a great opportunity for the students and theiremployees. ”We’d love to continue theinternships next school year!”Omotenashi: Japanese Hospitality

Partnership Enhances Student Experience

LA

by Sue Protz

ast month I had the opportunity
to attend the North American
Japanese Garden Association's(NAJGA) International Conference inFort Worth, Texas. The International
Conference attracts the best of thebest speakers from abroad and North
America.
A speaker's presentation that reallyresonated with me was Jennifer GunjiBallsrud, Director of the University of
Illinois Japan House. Her topic was
OMOTENASHI: Japanese Hospitality.
She explained, "Omotenatshi is anoffering to guests without anticipating
anything in return. It is taking care ofothers wholeheartedly and genuinely.
Hospitality without superficiality.""The essence of omotenashi is service
from the heart. And it's without
expectations of getting something
in return. It means just not providing
outstanding service, but by providing
hospitality that goes up and beyond the
expectations of the person receiving theservice.

The essence of omotenashi
is service from the heart.
Omotenashi entails paying very close
attention, thinking carefully about theneeds of the guests, and acting before
even one asks for anything."

This presentation resonatedwith me for a few reasons. First,
I'm always searching for ways todescribe our director Jim Card's
hospitality. He goes out of his
way to make you feel good. His
kindness towards people andsituations is genuine. He exudes
and leads with omotenashi, and hedoesn't even know it.
A cleaning crew in Japan bowing to the people
Another reason this presentation
riding the Shinkansen because of omotenashi.
resonated is because GJG is
testing the introduction of an
meticulously cleans the inside of theAmbassador Program at Tsuru Island this trains. After they are finished, they standsummer. Volunteers will be trained theoutside and literally bow until every
omotenashi way as they greet visitors
last guest has entered and sat down
entering the Japanese garden. We willon the train. This is not something they
anticipate the needs of our guests anddo for people to give them gratitude, or
act with genuine intentions.
expect thanks. They do this because of
And last, we are now renting out theomotenashi.
Kyoudou Center, Ebetsu Plaza and Tsuru
What better way for the Gresham
Island. The remodeled Kyoudou Center is Japanese Garden, a Japanesea beautiful venue, and we are receiving
focused organization completely run
many requests for renting. We have aby volunteers who serve with theirfew 85-90th birthdays, graduations,heart, adopt the omotenashi way. You
and bridal showers. The volunteers are
won't see us bowing, but you will see
practicing omotenashi, too; they don't
volunteers happy to assist you.
know it has a Japanese name.
Look for more articles in future
An interesting example in Japan ofnewsletters of examples of omotenashi
omotenashi Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrudin Japan. They're really quite remarkabledescribed is riding the Shinkansen,
examples.
Japan's railway system. The cleaningcrew comes in between train stops andPlant Sale

KATU AM Northwest

In addition
to our own
inventory,
many nurseries are donating trees andshrubs for our only fundraiser this year,
a plant sale May 9-10 at 410 N Main Ave
Gresham. In partnership with Gresham
Historical Society's flower sale, we'll havesomething for everyone.

Thank you Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce for directing tourism dollars towards'local escapes' in Gresham. They chose three
Gresham destinations; Rockwood Marketplace, the Gresham Japanese Garden, and in
July, Gresham's Art Fair.

HAIKU CORNER
a line borrowed
from another poetspring rain
- Paul M.
.春雨や相に相生の松の声
harusame ya ai ni aioi no matsu no koe
spring rain-growing side by side
whispering pines- IssaYou can watch the clip here.

l’s Garden
ally happy to contribute to the students'& Home inwork experience, and the bonus is theGresham isseeing the students’ joy and confidence
helping our stunurtured by Al’s employees.
dents explore theOn one day, Faith led the interns in anext stage in their
pot-in-a-pot project to enhance curb aplives. Through apeal. Together, they dug empty pots inpartnership with the Gresham Japanese the ground then inserted a second pot
Garden’s Exploratory Program, Al's isof the same pot size of annual flowers.
interning our Exploratory students that He explained that this method makes
are in their final semester in the school
it easy to swap out flowers when thesystem. The internship offers students
time comes. “It was something different
the opportunity to take the horticulture to do, and it was fun sharing it with theskills and knowledge they acquired
students,” he said, and hopes that they’llover the past three years into a real job get to switch out the pansies with new
setting.
flowers before the end of their intern“The whole staff at Al’s has been so
ship.
enthusiastic and excited,” said AssistantWorking on
Store Manager Lyla Hunt. “ They know
new tasks andthey are contributing to these students’with some difwork experience and making a differferent equipence in our community.”
ment, theSince 2019, the Garden’s Exploratory
students also
Program has provided special needs
learned about
students from Gresham-Barlow School
drip irrigation
District’s Adult Living Program withsystems andhands-on gardening skills and practical
helped trouFlorencio checking thework experience. Focusing on horticulirrigation tubing. bleshoot for
ture, the students learn about seed gerleaks, idenmination, transplanting, pruning, plant tified plants as they cleaned pots andidentification, and plant health. Working moved stock, navigated push cars, andin the greenhouse and around all theorganized and restocked plants by theirgarden spaces, the students learn how
tags. One day, they learned about Mason
to do routine maintenance too.
bees, including implanting live cocoons
Now as interns they can put everything into bee trays for the store’s bee house.
they learned in a retail environment.
It is a big adjustment going from a
In late February, six of the ten students
controlled space into a work environbegan interning at Al’s twice a week for ment. The two Garden volunteers that
two-hour shifts. GJG sends a Garden
act as job coaches also help with making
volunteer to Al's to act as their job coach. the transistion easier on them, assisting“We are really impressed with the level when necessary. The coaches are proudof independence and knowledge thatof the students for taking on the inthe students bring in with them,” comternship, knowing that interacting withmented Store Manager Jonathan Faith. people and learning unfamiliar tasks can“All of them already have knowledge of be scary.
plants and plant care.”"It’s fulfilling to see them use theThis had always been the goal of theknowledge and skills they’ve acquired in
Exploratory Program: to help students
our greenhouse and gardens,” job coachthat need a little extra boost develop
Deb said. She added that the students
job skills that meet potential employers’ are beginning to see that their skills andexpectations and work needs.
knowledge are valuable and fit into real
“It was absolutely the right decision to world jobs. While cueing them to listen
partner with the Gresham Japanese Gar- and learn from their supervisors, theden,” said Faith. He added that they’re re- coaches also remind them to have funStore manager Lyla showing intern Alana
seed packets.

and enjoy themselves.
Since starting the internship, Lyla said
that the students have opened up more,engaged more, are asking questions andbeing curious about the plants. The firsttime she heard one of the more quieter students laughing because she was
happy, made her day. “I’m very excitedseeing the students grow, and I liketeaching them something we love…
gardening!”
Jonathan and Lyla both agree that
staff can see that the students enjoy
coming here and being surrounded byplants. They especially relish showing
the students what it’s like working in thegarden and nursery industry.
Activities Director Sue Protz says, "Al’shas provided the final transitional phasein breaking down barriers to sucess. It'sdifficult exiting school into the workforce with no prior work experience,
especially students with challenges. It's
been our dream to get to this stage ofthe program.” She added, "Al's staff is agreat role model. They treat the students
with such respect and care, and are
giving them the opportunity to explore
their strengths and interests."
Jonathan concurred saying that partnering with the Garden is a great opportunity for the students and theiremployees. ”We’d love to continue theinternships next school year!”April 2024

Tsuru Soars
Friends of the Gresham Japanese Garden Newsletter

Yozakura FestivalYes, the cherry blossoms arrived
facade of the Kyoudou Center.
early this year. GJG originally
Mitsuki Dazai, artistic director of Oreplanned to start the festival on
gon Koto Kai played two beautiful sets
the 27th, but Mother Nature had her
including Sakura Sakura.
way. We quickly bumped up the schedOregon Koto Kai to perform again onule and on the 23rd we put on an abso- March 30. We're expecting anotherlutely magical event. As the sky got dark- magical night. The April 6th perfomanceer and darker, the cherry trees' blossoms is cancelled due to the early season, butshined more and more. An unexpected don't despair, the cherry trees are in persurprise was seeing the reflection offect condition to show off in the coming
the trees in the windows spanning theyears.

Pruning Workshops for May

Mitsuki Dazai performance on the patio of
the Kyoudou Center.

Open for Business

Instructor bios are on website. REGISTER ON WEBSITE

Spring Pruning Hands-on Workshop, Onsite at Vanport International: Saturday, May 4th, 10am–4pm – $100
FRANCHESKA SNYDER, INSTRUCTOR: Designed for the intermediate pruner looking to advance their knowledge throughexperiential learning. Students will prune a variety of plants and trees appropriately for the time of year. The workshop will belimited to 12 participants for an optimal experience. The location is a Japanese garden at Vanport Manufacturing in Boring,
Oregon originally designed by Hoichi Kurisu.
Spring Maintenance on Pines: Saturday, May 18th, 12:00pm–2:00pm - $45
LAURA DUFALA, INSTRUCTOR: Learn all about the why’s and how’s of pruning and candling pines. Laura will candle,
needle, and prune a few pines on Tsuru Island for show and tell. This workshop is in person. Bring your gloves. Laura may turnthe class into a collaborative session.
Volunteer Newsletter Editors: Mary Dickson, Mary Taylor, and Sue Protz. Photos by Millie Layman and Bill Peterson.

kyoudou centerand cherry blossoms
spring smile— Bill PetersonAll the work in 2023 remodelingour building into a beautiful
Japanese-inspired architectural
dream is proving to be a nice rental
option for our community. It also reallyhelps us fund the maintenance andsupplies needed to operate. Yet, there isso much to think about, from preparing

rental agreements to discussing thelayout of the room, to protecting theproperty from damage. The volunteers
are working through all the ins andouts and we couldn't be more pleased
to offer the Kyoudou Center and Tsuru
Island for rent to the community.

Seating arrangement can be customized tocreate a festive event.

Find all the information at:
Greshamjapanesegarden.org/
reservations/