OMSI Marathon

 I have written about various OMSI exhibits before, but that is usually going for one thing.

This time, we were very interested in the Orcas exhibit, but also interested in The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness, playing at the Empirical Theater.

Then, as long as we were there, we would also check out one of the Planetarium shows, and the new restaurant.

It's still not everything. We did not spend any time on the regular exhibits or into the submarine, mainly for lack of interest. In addition, there are always different movies and shows.

Nonetheless, we did a lot and had a pretty good time.

I'm afraid the Planetarium came in last. We were interested in how the Sesame Street one would go, but I still thought there would be more to it, and all they really did was identify the Big Dipper and the North Star. I already knew those ones.

My shocking conclusion is that the Sesame Street one is geared for kids, which is only shocking in that material suitable for children will still often have more for adults, and that just wasn't the case here. However, it did fit with our schedule.

Obviously, I took many more pictures of the Orcas exhibit, but there were many to take.

For one thing, it was a good reminder of the connection local tribes have to the species, and a reminder that they are important to the history of this area.

There was also good information about the species, and some of the social structure that can't easily be recreated when humans disrupt their living situations.

There was significant information on the history of the whales in captivity, from where it started to the current state.

As sobering as that was, a collection of ocean litter was a reminder that there are other ways in which we negatively impact their existence.

I did not see any references to White Gladis, destroyer of rudders and tutor to other Orcas on how to do so (I believe the exhibit was created before she gained her current level of notoriety), but they may be the type to hold a grudge, and act on it.

It was not all "Humans: Bad!"; the theme was that we share a future, and we need to think about that.

That made the pairing with the Arctic movie appropriate. There is a common appreciation of irreplaceable nature and a reminder of our responsibility toward it.

That just leaves Theory, the new restaurant.

Our first thought was "restaurant"? That's kind of a stretch. But no, this is not the little snack counter by the theater, but a separate spot, and kind of an attractive venue. There's even a fireplace!

The food was pretty good and the prices were better than you might expect for a museum.

My primary complaint was that while there seemed to be a focus on local and quality and even sustainability, there ended up being too much trash with our meal.

I believe with a little effort, everything could have been either reusable or compostable, and yet that didn't happen. Maybe it still can.

COVID: No staff was masked, and neither were most patrons. That is becoming more the norm, but remains a source of frustration.

Accessibility: Mobility is mainly good. The Orcas exhibit is on two floors, and the natural flow involves stairs, so you do need to detour a bit. I was pleased to see not just Spanish translation, but Braille.

I was a little shocked going into the Empirical Theater. Okay, the steps are steep and it is easy to get a sense of vertigo, however, this time there was also a long, really dark passageway to even get there which seemed dangerous. We used cell phones to light the way, which is a pretty easy solution, but it seems like a problem that shouldn't be there in the first place.

Orca: Our Shared Future will be at OMSI through January 28th, 2024.

It is harder to tell with the Empirical Theater, but it looks like the last showing of The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness is August 6th, 2023. Perhaps look for other viewing opportunities:

https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-giant-screen-film

Both are recommended.

https://omsi.edu/

Aloha: Jelana's Bake Shop

We first learned of Jelana's through this article: https://www.biztrib.com/opportunity_magazine/jelanas-bake-shop-turning-sweet-dreams-into-reality/article_4c4c8c88-b7b0-11ed-85af-03d0d15a50e2.html 

Supporting local businesses is important to us, and it can be hard to find a good bakery.

We appreciated the selection, which included plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.

Along with the sweet items there were also some savory ones and even some spicy ones.

It was hard to choose. There are also custom options. We watched a cake being frosted for a quinceanera.

Prices were reasonable, and as new customers we each got a free cookie! If you are in there looking for a birthday or other special occasion, there are some gift items available as well.

COVID: I actually think I did see a mask. Sorry to have blanked on that. I was wearing one.

Accessibility: The shop is not large, but there should be adequate room for navigating, and they have good sensitivity to allergens, though expect that there are nut items around.

https://jelanasbakeshop.com/

West Linn: Rogerson Clematis Garden

It took us three tries to be happy with our visit to the Rogerson Clematis Garden. 

They say there is always something blooming. There are other plants there, so this is true. There are daffodils and trees that blossom and all sorts of plants.

Clematis also blooms twice a year. First it blooms on last year's stock in the summer, then it puts forth new growth and blooms again in the fall.

 

But somehow, visiting when there is no clematis blooming feels like you are not getting the full impact.

We finally got it right.

We managed that by checking the Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/RogersonClematis

We went on July 8th. They had 362(!) clematis in bloom as of July 5th. Timing really is everything.

Brewster Rogerson started with four clematis plants in Kansas, and had almost 100 by the time he moved to Oregon in 1981.

Over the next twenty years, that collection grew to almost 500 plants, residing in North Plains.

Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Collection formed and located the collections current locations at Luscher Farms in West Linn over the next four years, moving 900 plants in December 2005.

One point of that story is about how exponential plant growth and breeding can be. Hobbyists may seem to take things to extremes, but it creates opportunities for others as well.

The grounds are divided into 14 gardens, with different themes like hedges or Baltic plants.

Those arrangements can provide ideas for browsers, but there are also volunteers who can answer questions, classes for home clematis gardeners, and an onsite research library. Along with notifications for events, the bulletin board had an Al's coupon someone was sharing.

The other point is that this location holds a different position on the Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory Heritage Trail.

Luscher Farms has its own history, but would probably not have made the trail on its own, without becoming home to the clematis collection.

Then Rogerson himself was a transplant, and a fairly recent one. However, what he did here drew the International Clematis Society here, making Oregon a destination for clematis fanciers.

With the move to West Linn, the gardens got a spot on the Hazelia Agri-Cultural Heritage Trail: https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/hazelia-agri-cultural-heritage-trail-luscher

In fact, Brewster Rogerson is a part of Oregon agricultural history. 

https://pacifichorticulture.org/articles/remembering-brewster-rogerson-1921-2015/ 

If the path moves around more as the history gets more modern, once we started being able to fly and talk across continents, that kind of makes sense.

The gardens add beauty to an already scenic area with walking trails and parks.

It could be could to visit anytime, but I think there is something extra when there are hundreds of clematis blooming.

COVID: Very much outdoors, though if you were to take one of the classes or use the library, that would not be the case. There is plenty to see outside.

Accessibility: Paths are wide and smooth. They are not necessarily paved, but should be all right for most mobility devices.

https://www.rogersonclematiscollection.org/