Washington Park -- The Himalayan Cloud Forest Garden

 That is a long title, but it started with just two words on a rock:

I was on my way to somewhere else (which was almost certainly The Coming of the White Man statue), but I saw the rock and was intrigued; what is the Cloud Forest?

A little research revealed that is was a roughly three acre large section of the park that had become overrun with English Ivy and holly. Around 2010 as part of the cleanup they turned it into a show place for rhododendrons. 

What the Hoyt Arboretum is for trees, the Cloud Forest is for rhododendrons, though perhaps not on quite as grand a scale.

This was especially exciting to me after the fiasco that trying to get to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden was: https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2021/06/portland-oregon-crystal-springs.html

I admit that the rhododendrons are not as densely packed as at Crystal Springs. There are about 200 species of rhododendrons, mostly from the Sino-Himalayan region, hence the name.

There are also many companion species, including dogwood and magnolia.

At least, I think I saw dogwood in the cloud forest (the magnolia was helpfully labeled). The boundaries are not always clear on the Washington Park trails. 

I started at the shuttle stop for the Holocaust Memorial, then entered by the stone. I worked my way up to behind The Coming of the White Man, now noticing that there were rhododendrons around it. 

There was the long stairway that I wrote about last week. On the first landing, someone had placed an offering of blossoms and sticks: forest litter turned into a collage. 

The first time I found the stairs, I went all the way down. This time I understood that those switchbacks were trails through the rhododendron garden. I wended my way through them, eventually ending up exiting through Stearns Canyon onto Burnside.

You can see more rhododendrons in a more concentrated area at Crystal Springs. Washington Park is more a place of trails, and some of those trails are more themed than other. It is not without its beauty.

It is easier to get to than Crystal Springs is, and there is even a drive through option for part of it, though this is narrow and one-way, so pay attention to the signs.

I saw more bikes, as well as some scooters and lots of pedestrians. It does not seem to get crowded, but it is not deserted either. There is a nice balance with the amount of space and the amount of use.

COVID: There is just no reason to get crowded in, and it is wonderfully ventilated.

Accessibility: It could be much worse. The paths that accommodate bikes and scooters should also accommodate mobility aids pretty well, and they are laid out in a way to keep the grade fairly manageable. You are still on the side of a hill, and consistently going up or down.

https://explorewashingtonpark.org/

"Hidden" Washington Park

Sometimes things work out unexpectedly.

While I was in between caring for my mother and starting my new job, I wanted to get out more, but I was also trying to get some organizing done. I came across a section of newspaper I had saved, from the July 14th, 2006 Arts & Entertainment section of The Oregonian.  

(Here is NOT aligned and justified scan of the map part.)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k2r2vpubewvp2ux/Get%20Started%20with%20Dropbox.pdf?dl=0

Written by Inara Verzemnieks, with graphics by Eric Baker, it focused on places in Washington Park that don't appear on the maps. I wanted to go to them, and it turns out I was doing most of my exploration during the park's 150th anniversary. That worked out well.

There were six features, though "5" -- Estelle's Benches -- were in two locations. I eventually found them all, and some other things, not without difficulty.

For one thing, you quickly learn there are memorial benches everywhere. Maybe a lot of them weren't there in 2006. So I was sure I found the other Estelle's Bench, but that one was dedicated to John Reed.

There is less difficulty in finding Wesley's Bench (3), but getting a shot of it can be a little harder. The more secluded location makes it popular with people who may want a little nap or couples who want some privacy.

I was actually not looking for the Stairway to Heaven (4) when I found it. It was on the list, and I guess I knew I was in the general area, but on my way to something else, there it was.

The serendipity of discovery was part of the delight of being there, and part of why I kept returning. Of course, that also meant sometimes getting lost and missing things, which was also a reason to go back, but in a different way. (More on that in the next two posts.)

The Hidden Bowl (2) is actually on the map now, and they call it the Secret Garden. Does that make it less secret?

There is now not only a path to it, but also one leading out toward the shuttle stop and bike parking nearby. 

That is if you go forward, but if you go right, it takes you pretty directly to "6", the Memorial Garden. This is now well known enough that I saw wedding photos being taken there on one trip.

I think the greater visibility came about with road improvement, and there is nothing wrong with that. Not only is beauty a good thing to share, but also, the park is still full of solitude and quiet spots. They may not all make good landmarks, but there is still that atmosphere.

It was good to be able to see everything was still there. I was most worried about Chipmunk Manhattan (1). At first, I was afraid this stump might be all that remained. I kept going, however, and then I saw what was clearly it.

Of course,  what I really wanted to see was a bunch of chipmunks, and this was the closest I came:

I suspect visiting closer to dawn or dusk would work better; this was on a pretty warm day, and right in the middle.

Chipmunk Manhattan is located on the MAC trail, and while it does get frequently used, it is not crowded. The chipmunks should have a fair amount of privacy, but they probably still have their own "rush" or "happy" hours, and I did not get to see that.

Accessibility: That part is not great. One could get easily to the Estelle's Bench in the Rose Garden, and there are zig zag trails (mainly used for biking) that could intersect the Stairway to Heaven, but otherwise there is a lot of going over grass, sometimes with trails, sometimes steep. The MAC trail is narrow, uneven, and frequently walked with poles just for some extra help.

COVID: Conversely, Estelle's Bench in the Rose Garden is where you are most likely to be in close proximity to other people. Otherwise, everything is outdoors and and in areas where social distancing is quite easy.

https://explorewashingtonpark.org/

Washington Park: The Children's Playground

One of the rules of the Washington Park Children's Playground is that "All adults must be accompanied by a child."

I was not, so I just kind of circled the perimeter, which I do think affected the shot quality. (Realistically, I did not know about the "rule", but I am reluctant to move in close and take pictures that may contain other people's children. This is mere decency.)

I did love this grand entryway, suitable for mobility devices. This playground is designed to be accessible, a goal close to my heart.

It is easier to get into that sandbox than any other I have ever seen.

There are unexpected touches, like this relief map that allows the visually impaired to feel the lay of the playground.

There are things that I have grown to expect, like musical instruments that allow sound experiences, and the saucer shaped swings. However, it was only recently that I appreciated that the designs are supposed to also reflect the Portland skyline, and realized that clock was referencing the KOIN Tower.

The least accessible part is that the park shuttle does not stop here, nor the shuttle. The closest option if you are not driving yourself is to get off at the Rose Garden and then take the sloping sidewalk down, then back up for your return.

I suspect that there is the idea that parents toting children will be able to do so more conveniently in a car, and that is true if they have one. It may be even more true for children using mobility devices, where there may be fewer options for parks.

 

 

However, a playground that welcomes children with all levels of ability and disability should not disregard access to the destination. There is room for improvement there, though I do not wish to detract from the importance of what is there, and especially its timeliness. The playground was completed in 1995, which seems fairly early in the fight for accessible play.

The thing I love most about the Children's Playground, though, is just off to the side. Sometimes before 1995, I was hanging out with some friends and we stopped at the old Elephant House, which had long been out of use. I was charmed by the tile animal decorations.

Now a picnic shelter, it frequently has people nearby because of the playground, and can be regularly appreciated.

More art (that is a little more sophisticated) ties in the history of the structure,

I don't know that I have anything to add about Accessibility, which has been a main them of this review. However, there is still...

COVID: As this is very much outside, that is not a great concern. However, children will sometimes play in very close quarters, and while the picnic shelter is open, it would be easy to ignore distancing there, where it is not large. Just be aware of your surroundings, and other people.

https://washingtonpark.org/childrens-playground/

Washington Park: Hoyt Arboretum

Hoyt Arboretum is a museum of trees, with "exhibits" containing more than 2300 species of trees and shrubs, many of which are helpfully labeled.

 Many of the trails are named for the species they highlight.

In addition to Beech and Oak, you can find trails for Spruce, Fir, Redwood, Maple, Hawthorn, Walnut, Magnolia, Bristlecone Pine, White Pine, and Hemlock as well as a Holly Loop.

Other plantings are marked on the map, like the this bamboo grove, also the site of one of the park's art installations, Basket of Air by Ivan McLean.

Technically, the arboretum is not part of the park. That appears to be mainly a matter of history. That land that "is" Washington Park was designated as a park from the time of its purchase in 1871. The Arboretum land served as the Multnomah County Poor Farm, Hillside Farm, from 1889 to 1922, and did not become the arboretum until 1930, with the WPA contributing to its development.

There should never be any doubt about the derivation of the "hillside" name: slopes are steep and you can go down a long way with still farther to go.

There are spots where you can see the forest for the trees.

As much as the preservation of endangered species does play a role, and as much as you can certainly learn about trees, the area is largely used for hiking, with twelve miles of trails.

There is the occasional stopping place, but mainly you just keep walking.

There are event spaces. While Stevens Pavilion is the most familiar (in close proximity to the ride, and visually striking), you can also do shorter reservations at Wedding Meadow or Stone Circle. You can also find opportunities for classes and tours through the web site.

COVID: Obviously the bulk of it is outdoors. There is a small Visitor Center that does require face masks.

Accessibility: Two of the twelve miles of trails are wheelchair accessible. That includes access to the Visitor Center, the Overlook Trail, and the Bristlecone Pine Trail, with its picnic area. Even so, some parts clearly are not accessible. Plan accordingly.

https://www.hoytarboretum.org/