A Summer Update on the Collection

Posted by clematis on Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Here are some of the “goings-on” with the Collection and FRCC.

Booth at Lake Oswego Farmers Market

As part of our fund raising and education activities, we will have a booth at the Lake Oswego Farmers Market to spread the word on each of the following Saturday’s, July 1st, 8th and 22nd. We need your help. If you are interested in a shift to volunteer and answer questions about the collection, our mission and vision, please contact Phyllis McCanna at mccanna-smith@comcast.net or 503.975.4495.

Challenge Grant

Next, we have a Challenge Grant. If our members can raise $2,500 before July 31st, the Pacific Northwest Clematis Society (PNCS) will match this amount with an equal donation of $2,500 for a total for FRCC of $5,000. There are a few stipulations: The $2,500 raised by FRCC must come from new donations and fund-raising events, not those already planned prior to March 12 of this year. (This means that money raised at the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s spring plant sale will not apply towards this challenge, nor will the proceeds from the past weekend’s Garden Conservancy’s tour of Washington County Gardens.) And the the money from the grant shall be used to purchase soil amendments and plants (both clematis and non-clematis) for phase one of the display garden surrounding the farmhouse at Luscher Farm.

To date, we have raised nearly $1,000 to meet the challenge. We are asking all our members to help in any number of ways. First, be generous and give directly to the FRCC by sending a contribution prior to July 31st to our treasurer Howard Geist at FRCC 1425 S.W. Upland Drive, Portland OR 97221. We need your help by July 31, 2006.

Next, ask any friend or interested business for a financial donation of any size and forward to Howard. If you feel uncomfortable asking and would like one of the board members to do so, please contact our fund raising chair Phyllis McCanna at mccanna-smith@comcast.net or 503.975.4495.

Another idea is that if you are hosting any events prior to July 3rd, consider it a fund-raiser for the FRCC and place an envelope for donations in a prominent location and forward it to Howard Geist at the address above. For example, we have members who are hosting garden parties and have a place for donations from guests; and they are offering plants for sale with all proceeds going to the FRCC. Another example includes a member that is hosting an anniversary party and asking that guests give a donation to FRCC instead of gifts to the anniversary couple. Any gathering will do and I am sure you have lots of ideas.

Volunteer Activities

If you would like to volunteer at the greenhouse, there are many opportunities to do so, and many capacities. After an ‘orientation,’ you may volunteer any Wednesday morning 9:30-noon, Thursday afternoon, or Friday morning 9:30-noon and on scheduled Saturday work crew dates.

The greenhouse is on public property owned by the City of Lake Oswego, there are a number of items of information you will need to know, as well as info on caring for the collection and the surrounding area, so please contact Sharon Kaito, FRCC Volunteer Coordinator, for a more specific schedule of orientation dates. Next volunteer orientations at FRCC at Luscher Farm are on:

  • July 7 Friday
  • July 19 Wednesday
  • Aug 5 Saturday
  • Aug 16 Weds
  • Sept 15 Friday

Summary

Come out to the collection and see what progress we’ve made so far and lend a hand when you have an extra hour or two. The surroundings are bucolic, the people are friendly and you can learn a lot.

Garden Begins to Take Form

Posted by clematis on Friday, June 9, 2006

Path construction for phase one of the garden around the historic farmhouse was completed this week. A tangible botanic garden is beginning to take form.

Here are some photos of the completed work.

Planting Begins at Luscher Farm

Posted by LindaB on Saturday, June 3, 2006

On a perfect day for transplanting clematis, the first vines were planted along the new split-rail fence bordering the public walking path at Luscher Farm. The stretch of fence from the Pecan Creek wetland ending at the embankment in front of the farm house were planted with Clematis montana forms, starting with Clematis montana var. rubens ‘Brewster’. Assigned to planting were Larry and Linda Beutler, and Rick Meigs. Other FRCC volunteers were on hand to continue preparing the beds adjoining the house for path building, which begins Monday, June 5th. Lead by Nancy Gronowski of the design team, were Howie Geist, Sharon Kaito, John Long, Phyllis McCanna, Doris Starrett, and Susan Toler. All stopped to watch the planting of ‘Brewster’, and we were shocked to realize that on this auspicious occasion we had forgotten to bring any Champagne!

Also planted were two Clematis crispa (in the wet spots), two ‘Jenny Keay’, ‘Warwickshire Rose’, C. spooneri, C. montana ‘Grandiflora’, C. montana glabrescens ‘Natalie Cottrell’, two ‘Brewster’, ‘Picton’s Variety’ and ‘Vera’.

Planting C. montana ‘Brewster’.