“This is the sweetest time in the garden. Tender green perennials coming up – with fresh tulips & early ones blooming.” Elizabeth Lord, April, 1938

Bleeding Hearts

The Espalier Sansanqua got a pruning this week.

The Cherry blossoms are starting to fall like spring snow.

Tulipa ‘Sunny Prince’ Nestled among the grape hyacinths

Tulipa ‘Purple Pride’ is a large, early Darwin blooming near the Drying room arbor

The late 1930’s was a busy time for Elizabeth and Edith as they had numerous commissions in Lake Oswego, Sandy, Portland and even Walla Walla, Washington. We also know that they were working closer to home, as a project at Salem Senior High School dominates the early spring journal entries from 1938.

“March 23 – 24-25. H School work March 28-30. H. School work, Edith finished. I continued with finishing. April 1-2 and returned for overseeing Monday, a.m. April 4th – by finishing job for Banks. Making 11 days total outside work. Very bad weather for planting.” E. lord 1938

I often admire Elizabeth’s journal entries and her grousing about the weather. Any good gardener knows that the weather is the ultimate boss in the garden. You may think you have everything lined up perfectly when one good hailstorm changes it all.  A warm February can wreak as much havoc as a frosty April.

If I were to grouse about the weather this week it would be to complain about this incessant rain. Oregon’s liquid sunshine has been prolific the past seven days. Here’s to hoping that hail doesn’t arrive and damage Gaiety Hollow’s recreated 1939 Tulip show that is beginning to reveal itself.

Stay healthy,

Mark

It was a busy week at Deepwood as we welcomed the start of spring. A very generous donor made it possible for the Conservancy to contract Elwood’s Tree Service to clean up the tree canopy. This long overdue task is a responsibility that should fall on the City but for some years now they have not had arbor work done in the parks. After seeing the difference that Elwood’s arborists made in three days of deadwood removal, maintenance pruning and shaping the trees in the Lord and Schryver gardens, the contrast is remarkable.

I stayed busy helping Elwood’s crew drag brush to the chipper and, in between, worked on regrading the paths in the teahouse. The brick edging had sunk over the years, and the paths were well below grade. They are now back to where they should be just in time for the spring season.

Elwoods arborists in the Big Leaf maple on the edge of the great room.

the teahouse paths before renovation

teahouse paths after renovation

resetting the brick edges in the teahouse

Elwoods arborists transforming the old crabapple into a shapely tree once again.

The paths in the teahouse were regraded and the brick edging reset

Some of the wood was saved for our volunteers that do woodworking to craft out of.

I have been with the Lord and Schryver Conservancy for just over a year now and I want to say how proud I am to be able to be a part of this organization. The work is very rewarding, even though it may be frustrating at times working in a park like Deepwood with fewer resources than I wish we had, and the sometimes-conflicting priorities of the City Parks Department and other organizations involved.

What a positive transformation has taken place in the Deepwood gardens this past year! It has been amazing to work with our volunteers who give and give tirelessly. The generosity of the donor who funded last year’s renovation work is greatly appreciated. It shows that a community of people who care about a place can truly make a difference.

Thank you for giving your time and attention to the Lord and Schrvyer Conservancy. I feel fortunate to be a part of an organization that is making such a significant contribution to our community.

Stay healthy and happy,

Mark

“May good luck be with you wherever you go. And your blessing outnumber the shamrocks that grow.” (Irish Blessing)

With warm days filled with sunshine, it’s feeling like spring as we hit the middle of March. The flowers are coming on strong now, with the cherry trees in full bloom and the Camellias and Hyacinths well represented too. The Tulips will be along shortly, and the Daffodils are looking lovely.

Our new cedar and stainless steel potting bench at Gaiety Hollow

The reflection of the Cherry tree in the pool, so beautiful on a crisp spring morning

The daffodills are up around the garden now.

The magnolia’s are starting in as well.

We have a beautiful new potting bench at Gaiety Hollow, thanks to the wonderful craftsmanship of volunteer Chet Zenone! Just in time for the warm weather to push the seedlings and transplants along.

Cheers to a warm and healthy spring!

Mark