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In the night garden: a brief history of dreams

Art and dreams make something of a shamefaced couple nowadays. I blame Dallas. In order to resurrect the soap’s only buff cast member, Bobby Ewing, Pam wakes up to the convenient fiction that the entire seventh series was a dream. Emerging from the shower, dripping masculine assurance all over the lino, Bobby listens to her bonkers summary of the past year and replies: “None of that happened. I’m here now.”

But it wasn’t always so. Dreams and art have had a long, fertile relationship, as I discovered while researching the history of dreams for a new Radio 4 series. Take the extraordinary work of the 15th-century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, who used the fantastical and the grotesque to explore morality and mortality. His Garden of Earthly Delights teems with fecund, fearful dream imagery: a copulating couple are held aloft in a closing mussel shell; a steely grey figure climbs into a man’s carcass, a large arrow extruding from his backside. Images of slippery sin and fleeting pleasures, of enduring pain and terrifying pointlessness lurk everywhere in the triptych. Our sweetest dreams, Bosch seems to say, prefigure heaven; our most terrifying nightmares hell. But the central panel, which depicts the here and now, is also discomfortingly dream-riddled. Life, Bosch implies, is as fleeting and ephemeral as a dream.

Like a dream, art both is and isn’t true. Both offer a challenge to the tyranny of realism, replacing what is with what might be. Both generate an altered state of consciousness removed from the humdrum – and both lend themselves to interpretation. That’s where the fun starts. To dream of faeces, a modern dream key drearily explains, means that “some part of your life needs cleaning up”. An Egyptian papyrus from the second millennium BC is more upbeat on the subject: it goes as far as to say that eating your own excrement equates to “generating possessions in one’s own house”. Intercourse with a cow is “good – passing a happy day”, while sex with your mother means “your clansmen will support you”.

In Homer‘s Iliad, from the eighth century BC, Zeus sends “Wicked Dream” to Agamemnon urging him to attack Troy. It is almost like a character. Dreams here have an existence independent of, and external to, the dreamer. They arrive as visitations, potentially bearing messages from the gods. In the lexicon of Homer, dreams are entities that sleepers “see”. Over the centuries, though, we have come to take possession of them: dreams today are things we “have”.

In times of upheaval, dreams can offer radical alternatives, giving artists a way to speak dangerous truths. Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream contains what could have been, for the author, fatal allusions to the sexual life of Queen Elizabeth I. Contemporaries would immediately have recognised Titania, the fairy queen, as a fictional rendering of their ageing, virgin monarch, whose continued refusal to provide the nation with an heir threatened anarchy. Titania, like Elizabeth, also refuses to share her bed, which throws the entire natural world into chaos. In punishment, she is subjugated to masculine rule, and forced to bed an ass. In light of all this, Shakespeare wisely structures his play as a dream vision, ending: “If we shadows have offended,/ Think but this, and all is mended,/ That you have but slumber’d here,/ While these visions did appear.” Bobby Ewing couldn’t have put it better.

Shakespeare’s Dallas disclaimer is undone, though, by the fact that Puck – a sprite, an imaginary creature – delivers it. The Puck of Shakespeare’s 1590s play, gadding about sprinkling love juice on the eyes of sleepers, has little truck with divine truth. But he’s related to a vibrant pagan belief, in which erotic dreams were thought to be the work of nocturnal spirits. Succubi explained wet dreams. They were female spirits who seduced sleeping men to steal their semen. These succubi would then transform into incubi, male spirits, who would impregnate witches. Such ideas had surprisingly widespread currency. In the Pendle witch trials of 1612, a dream was admitted as evidence that its dreamer, Elizabeth Southerns, was bewitched. Her dream? A little brown dog had tried to bite her armpit, and thereby suckle her blood.

In the wake of the great examples of the Bible, including the enduringly popular, sartorially splendid dream analyst Joseph, dreams characterise the poetry of the medieval era more than any other. In William Langland’s epochal poem Piers Plowman, written between 1360 and 1387, a quest for true, Christian self-knowledge begins with our narrator Will falling asleep in the Malvern hills. Decades of Will’s waking life are passed over without comment; it is only in his dreams that his search for truth can be conducted. This tells us that to the medieval mind, corporeality is erroneous and flawed. Dreams – freed from the gross, sin-stained body and potentially emanating from the divine – might be more real than waking reality. Senses lie, dreams speak the truth.

With the dawn of the Enlightenment, and its insistence on knowledge demonstrable to the senses, the idea that dreams might originate from outside the sleeper faded. But, as the Romantics were to discover, this did nothing to lessen their power – particularly frightening ones. Nightmare imagery stalks gothic fiction and ignites the art of the time, as the 1781 painting The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli shows: a swarthy goblin squats on an erotically supine sleeper as a mad-eyed mare looms out of the darkness behind.

Coleridge was plagued by nightmares so powerful he would routinely wake his entire household with his screaming. Why, he asks, in his 1803 poem The Pains of Sleep, were his dreams poisoned with “desire and loathing” and visions of an “unfathomable hell within”? Men whose lives were “stained with sin” might expect as much. But, he demands, bewildered and palpably afraid, “wherefore, wherefore fall on me?”

In a sense, it was in answer to this question that Sigmund Freud, a century later, began his investigations into dreams. Freud’s radical claim was that all our dreams – even the most terrifying – are wishes. The more difficult or dangerous our desires seem to our conscious selves, the more peculiar or terrifying their nocturnal expression will be. Dreams, Freud concluded, are “the royal road to the unconscious”.

The idea that dreams reveal aspects of ourselves that we are unable to grasp in daylight underpins most contemporary discussions of dreams, even among those who (like my iPhone autocorrect) read Freud as nothing but a well-read fraud. His sexually charged theories propelled dreams to the centre of 20th-century culture. The wildly expressive art of Dalí, Miró and Magritte, and the writings of the surrealists, used dream imagery in a bid to access and unleash authentic human experience.

Freud didn’t silence a centuries-old debate, then. He reignited it. What our dreams mean is one of the oldest and most persistent questions in human history. And, despite their tawdry coupling in Dallas, it’s extremely unlikely this ancient fascination has ended. What the history of dreams ultimately illustrates is the measure of our closeness to, as well as our distance from, the long-dead dreamers of the past – since, as Jack Kerouac said, “All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.”

• Lucy Powell presents Our Dreams: Our Selves on Radio 4 at 1.45pm, daily until Friday.

Pass the opium: five of the most influential dreams in art

Penelope’s dream of Odysseus

In The Odyssey, Penelope sees Odysseus’s return in a highly symbolic dream, but is unsure whether to trust it. Dreams that issue from gates of horn, she says, are true, while those from the gates of ivory are deceptive, an image that would echo down the centuries. One explanation could be that when horn is polished it becomes translucent, whereas ivory remains opaque.

Jacob’s ladder

In the Bible, Jacob, father of Joseph, dreams of a ladder bridging heaven and earth that angels traverse. This dream was hugely influential in the middle ages, when dreams were thought to link the temporal and the eternal, the human and the divine.

The House of Fame

This early poem by Chaucer, over 2,158 lines long and thought to have been written in 1379, is one of the most sophisticated literary dreams. The narrator begins with a summary of all the possible causes of dreams, before recounting one in which he was transported by an eagle to a glass-roofed temple adorned with images of the famous and their deeds. Chaucer comically establishes a connection between dreaming and creativity, while holding fame to be as fickle and illogical as a dream.

Kubla Khan

In September 1797, Coleridge took laudanum, a tincture of opium, after reading about Xanadu, the summer home of the titular 13th-century Chinese emperor. He fell asleep and experienced a long poetic vision. On waking, he began transcribing it when a young man from Porlock interrupted him. After which, Coleridge could remember nothing more. The fragments he did set down have become one of Romanticism’s most enduring poems.

Irma’s injection

In 1895, Sigmund Freud was treating a patient he called Irma. The treatment ended prematurely and was only partially successful. He then had a dream about Irma, in which she opened her mouth to reveal alarming white patches on her throat. A colleague then gave her an injection with what Freud feared was a dirty needle. Freud eventually interpreted this dream as an expression of his desire not be held accountable for Irma’s continued illness, and his wish to be seen as a capable, conscientious physician. From this point on, Freud would argue that all our dreams, however odd or terrifying, are wishes.

7 Basics To Designing A French Style Garden

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By Marianne Lipanovich, Houzz Contributor and Garden Writer

For most people, a French landscape is also a formal landscape, and therein lies its appeal.

Think Versailles, probably the most well-known French garden space. It has a distinct look and feel that set it apart from its Italian neighbors to the south and its British neighbors to the north. Still, there are elements of both. What we think of as traditional French style does have its roots in Italian landscape design. The resulting French adaptation was in turn adopted by British gardeners, and their adaptations made their way back across the Channel and in turn influenced later developments.

Symmetry and order are the heart of French landscape design. The gardens are also meant to be viewed from a distance, so form and design play a major role. They’re meant to highlight the centerpiece of the entire space, which would be the house (or, in most cases, the chateau). They’re known for their cool color palette, with an emphasis on whites, greens, blues and purples. Think boxwood hedges, intricately clipped shrubs, neatly planted garden beds and planters, and fields of lavender. You’ll also find a great use of stone, whether for pavings, edgings, a terrace or decorative elements, and places where you can enjoy the view.

Versions for Country and Courtyard

French country gardens are more informal, with a mix of softer plantings and bolder colors, but generally follow the same basic design principles. Planting beds may be more loosely planted and less structured, but they’ll still be contained by an edging or a border of some sort. The same gravel beds that work in a formal space fit in just as well in a small home’s front entryway. Rather than an overwhelming riot of color and plantings, there’s always a sense of order, even in the most natural of settings.

Although we often think of French landscaping in terms of large spaces, the overall style translates remarkably well into smaller courtyards (imagine an interior garden in a Paris building) and even the practical vegetable garden, where a mix of small raised beds is not only popular but practical. So while you might not want an entire landscape done in this style, you might find it ideal for a smaller area of your garden.

Warning: A formal design requires far more maintenance than, say, a natural garden. When something is out of place, it’s immediately obvious. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time keeping your garden in shape, a formal French-style estate may not be for you.

This small courtyard epitomizes the essence of French design, especially when viewed from above. All of the basics are here: striaght-lined geometric shapes, neatly trimmed hedges and shrubs, gravel for paving and a monochromatic color scheme.Design tip: In even the most formal of gardens, it’s great to include one thing that doesn’t quite fit the mold. In this landscape, the bench provides a one-of-a-kind element in the otherwise repetitive (in the best gardening sense) space, keeping it from seeming too sterile.

2. Stone surfaces provide the underpinnings. Gravel paths and stone terraces are hallmarks of French garden design. A gravel path is one of the easiest ways to start your landscape. In this case, the gravel defines the path area, while the inset stepping-stones make for a more stable walking surface.Design tip: With any loose stone, be prepared for some maintenance. While landscape and weed-barrier cloths will keep weed growth down, nothing is foolproof. You will need to periodically remove unwanted plant material. The secret is to do it before things get out of control.

For a more durable surface, consider flagstone or cobblestone. Edge the space with planting beds and add pots and climbers to soften the hardscape.Design tip: Using low stone walls to form planting beds not only elevates the plants and provides more growing space, but it’s also a great way to add extra seating. Choose a stone that complements the pavers on the patio so the entire space is cohesive.

Feel free to mix and match when it comes to shapes. The diamonds on the right are offset by the semicircle on the left. Using the same plant material to form the shapes ties the two sides together.Design tip: Be sure to look at the space from all levels. It should be pleasant when you’re in the midst of the garden, but it should also be visually interesting to look into the garden from outside or to view it from above.

The Next ePIFanyNow Party Set For October 6 – WSYM

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The Next ePIFanyNow Party Set For October 6

By FOX 47 News

CREATED 11:31 AM

ePIFanyNow team Image by Bob Hoffman

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LANSING, MI ― The MSU University Club is sponsoring and hosting the next ePIFanyNow Pass-it Forward Party on Sunday, October 6, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bud Kouts Chevrolet is also the official sponsor. The event will be held at the U-Club located at 3435 Forest Road in Lansing, MI. This family oriented Pass-it-Forward party is open to the public and draws all ages and cultures to partake in the joy of celebrating human kindness.

The idea of an ePIFanyNow party is to gather a large group of people together to create an energy of excitement for passing kindness forward. When you arrive at the event you are given 100 ideas on ways to spread kindness and then are sent out into the community to spread the joy. A few hours later, the crowd gathers back together to share stories of how everyone passed kindness forward.

ePIFanyNow is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating positive change throughout our community and beyond. ePIFanyNow™ attendees find ways to burst “balls of stress” by touching peoples’ lives no matter how small, simple, or insignificant the act of kindness.

“The idea is to come together and create an energy of excitement; enthusiasm that creates continuous momentum! This isn’t a fundraiser, or religious or political in nature. It’s just like-minded people helping others for the sake of doing something nice. You leave the event on Cloud 10! It’s so much fun and it’s great for families. Kids love it!,” says ePIFanyNow Founder Bob Hoffman.

More than 200 people attended the ePIFanyNow party at MSUFCU in February 2013 and the event was featured on the national CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley in 2012. (http://bit.ly/N8Joxu) Among the group was the Webberville High School’s Girls Basketball team.

“Our team helped to paint the interior of a home and do landscaping for a woman who suffers from aneurological disorder. It was a great experience for the kids. We are on board to do it again,” says Kris Tennant, Webberville High School’s Girls Basketball Coach.

ePIFanyNow was started in 2009 by Bob Hoffman, public relations director at Wharton Center. Hoffman continues to spread the word about performing acts of kindness around Mid-Michigan, West Michigan and Illinois. His dream is to spread ePIFanyNow across the globe and eventually develop a curriculum for schools around human interaction and impacting society through acts of kindness.. All goods, services, acts of kindness, and assistance are volunteer-driven and donated in the name of passing kindness forward.

For more information about this organization and event visit ePIFanyNow’s Facebook page here.

PRESS RELEASE

New Sheriff in Town

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Monday, September 23, 2013

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The Isla Vista community has been gearing up for the start of UCSB’s fall quarter on September 22, and students will find a few changes. Each of these changes has the potential to make the area a little nicer, safer, and more pleasant.

First and foremost, a new Sheriff’s Department lieutenant now heads the Isla Vista Foot Patrol. Lt. Robert Plastino took over for Lt. Ray Vuillemainroy, who moved to overseeing the Santa Maria Substation.

Cat Neushul

Plastino is a San Diego native who is well-versed in the unique challenges Isla Vista poses. He worked as a Foot Patrol officer more than 10 years ago before moving on to become head of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s human resources department. He also served in Iraq and is a decorated war veteran. His previous experiences make him the perfect candidate for this post. He knows how to deal with chaos and still find ways to address individual needs. So far, he said, his new job has kept him incredibly busy.

In the past two weeks I have met with Plastino twice to discuss issues of particular interest to local residents. We talked about noise, trash, and Halloween. In each of these discussions he showed himself to be intelligent, focused on community improvement, and most importantly, in possession of a good sense of humor.

Courtesy Photo

Lt. Robert Plastino heads the Isla Vista Foot Patrol.

Anyone working or living in I.V. has to have a sense of humor. Isla Vista is a very different place where rules, like stopping your bike at stop signs, are often flouted, and some students believe that anything goes. Things that would not be tolerated in other areas, like Montecito, are accepted as part of the I.V. culture. But the lieutenant does not accept this as a given. He said things have changed for the better in I.V. since he worked here 10 years ago, and he wants to keep up the forward progress.

Plastino already has a long list of tasks that he would like to spearhead. As he meets residents, he listens to their concerns in order to see where law enforcement efforts can become more effective. He is working with UCSB and SBCC officials to enhance accountability for students in Isla Vista and is discussing ways to use the property owned by Santa Barbara County in downtown I.V., that formerly housed the Isla Vista Neighborhood Clinic, as a possible community meeting space.

Lights and More Lights

Since safety remains of the utmost concern, Plastino was particularly enthusiastic about the addition of energy-efficient LED lighting along Del Playa Drive, Sabado Tarde, Trigo, and Pasado roads. Last year, members of Associated Students UCSB were instrumental in highlighting the safety concerns posed by inadequate lighting in Isla Vista, and Santa Barbara County allocated the funds through a Community Block Grant to make improvements. This was just the first phase in a long-term plan to address lighting issues.

Locals will also notice that the median along El Colegio, near Isla Vista elementary school, has been revamped. New landscaping and lovely street lights have been added.

With a new school year beginning, and renewed efforts to beautify and improve Isla Vista, there are reasons to be optimistic. Each time someone makes a small effort to improve the I.V. environment, we all benefit.

Below are extracts from my conversation with Lt. Plastino.

When did you take over command of the Isla Vista Foot Patrol?

I was officially assigned to Isla Vista on July 8. Prior to that transfer, I was the lieutenant of the Human Resources Bureau for the Sheriff’s department, where I spent the past four years. Before that, I was a sergeant for the Central Stations patrol, which includes the Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, and Lompoc areas.

Tell me about your background.

I grew up in Solana Beach, a small coastal town in San Diego County. After high school, my parents moved the family to Nipomo. I attended San Diego State University and obtained a B.S. in Business Management. I later obtained a master’s from Cal State Northridge in Public Administration. But in between, I worked in the private sector, first for a company in Orange, and then later for a company in Irvine. I had this desire to do something more and to serve the community. So while maintaining my job, I joined the Army National Guard as military police. I ended up enjoying my experience as an MP so much that I decided to switch careers and make law enforcement my main profession. I moved back to the Central Coast in 1997 and was hired by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.

I was first assigned as a deputy to Isla Vista in 1998 and again in 2004. Each time, I spent close to two years in Isla Vista, doing foot and bike patrols. I’ve also worked various other assignments in the department, including gangs, DARE, background investigations, narcotics, SWAT, and I’m currently the supervisor for the Sheriff’s Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (dive team).

I was deployed numerous times with my military unit. Once, during the Bosnian war and then twice after 9/11. My wife and I were married just days before I deployed for Iraq in 2003. After I returned home, we wanted to start a family, so I left my part-time military career in 2005. I now have a 7-year old son and twin daughters, one and a half years old.

I love living in Santa Barbara County and working here. I feel privileged that I can raise my family in such a beautiful location.

What are some of the improvements you are trying to bring about?

The first things that come to mind are safety, quality of life, and social responsibility. I don’t think we can ever reach a point where we say that safety concerns have been completely eliminated; improving the safety of residents and visitors to Isla Vista is at the top of my list. There are methods to make this happen, but it requires involvement from the community as well as law enforcement. Resources from the Sheriff’s Department are not unlimited, so we have to get creative in our solutions. This involves buy-in from the community, so we turn to community leaders for assistance. I personally rely on partnerships with Supervisor Doreen Farr, the University Police Department, and other UCSB departments such as the Dean of Students Office, the Associated Students, Women’s Center, and Office of Student Life. Additionally, I provide and obtain input from the Isla Vista Community Network, business owners, the California Highway Patrol, permanent I.V. residents, and many other area stakeholders. Improving safety is the job of the entire community.

Getting the word out and creating that shift in thinking is critical, and it is a challenge at times. However, even simple efforts such as the “Stop Burglaries in I.V.” campaign, which reminds residents to lock their doors and windows, make a difference.

Quality of life improvements are more subjective and less quantifiable than pulling crime statistics. This involves practices regarding safety, but it also requires proper infrastructure to make Isla Vista a desirable location and one that can cater to its diverse population. We have families, retirees, students, professors, businesses, homeless, and a myriad of other residents and visitors that provide for an incredible array of culture and ethnic diversity.

Improving the lives of individuals from such varied backgrounds is a humbling and daunting task. Again, I cannot make these types of improvements alone. I have worked with the Isla Vista Recreation and Parks Department to come up with solutions in regards to the district parks. I have also urged the building of the Pescadero Lofts project, which will provide low-income housing and onsite medical and mental services for our homeless population so they can begin the process of recovery and rehabilitation. For students, I have worked with the Associated Students at UCSB to provide education to the student body about our laws and regulations, as well as methods to keep themselves and their neighbors safe. Additionally, I’ve met with property owners to discuss ways that they can provide living situations that benefit them and their renters in positive ways. This includes coming up with ideas for lease agreements that assist law enforcement in shutting down parties with too many occupants, or fining tenants that contribute to underage drinking.

Compared to the previous years I was assigned to Isla Vista, I’ve seen a phenomenal change in student attitudes toward their own social responsibilities within the community. This is such a refreshing and encouraging transformation from previous years, where it seemed very few people showed an interest in making positive social changes in the community. Cultivating this new mentality is something I embrace and want to see continue. I was recently approached by a UCSB Bike Club student who noticed the large number of derelict bikes scattered throughout Isla Vista. He had a desire to refurbish abandoned bikes that the Sheriff’s Department would normally confiscate and destroy if the owner could not be located. He was willing to fix these bikes with club money and then give them away to needy students and Isla Vista residents. Working with him, we have started a program that is socially responsible, helps clean up the community, and provides a benefit to those that are in need. This is the kind of effort that I strive to cultivate and improve among the population.

How are you working with officials at SBCC to improve collaboration?

On Friday evening, September 20, SBCC President Lori Gaskin came out to Isla Vista to see how we provide safety to her students and to get an idea of how her students are impacting the town. She was very engaged with the students on the street, some of whom immediately recognized her and approached her in a positive way. She also witnessed some of her students receiving citations for various alcohol-related crimes.

As we walked up and down the increasingly busy streets of Del Playa, Sabado Tarde, and the business loop, we talked about the difficulties of educating new students about our laws and regulations. Each year, we get a fresh group of new students that don’t know how to keep themselves safe in such a dense population, or what the impacts of their actions might have on their future. Early in the evening, one SBCC student was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol, and it was his second offense in two weeks. He understood that he was going to lose his driver’s license for a year because of the second citation. The lesson learned was that maybe better education, up front, for incoming students is needed to help them make wiser decisions.

Of course, there will still be plenty of young adults that do not take sage advice and are destined to either learn from their own mistakes or end up paying the consequences in court. Both President Gaskin and I agreed that collaborative efforts between SBCC and Isla Vista Foot Patrol could help alleviate some of these problems. Over the next few months, I will be working with her to improve our combined interest in educating students of their responsibilities and then holding them responsible for their actions. It’s a small percentage of students that end up making bad choices, but we will be working together to make that percentage an even smaller figure.

neighbors fear theft, peeping Toms if path is built

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Overnight work scheduled on Tacoma’s Pacific Avenue this week

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Nighttime drivers on Tacomas Pacific Avenue will encounter delays this week as crews begin paving and striping as part of a larger streetscape project.

The work will be done from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. between South 15th and South 9th streets. Police officers will be at intersections to direct traffic.

Improvements to Pacific Avenue include upgraded sidewalks, new curbs, new pedestrian ramps, landscaping, lighting, rain gardens and art.

Paving on other parts of Pacific Avenue are scheduled for November.

Gardens that are greener on the other side

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British Gardens in India: Eugenia W. Herbert; Allen Lane/ Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11, Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-110017. Rs. 799.

If your idea of the perfect garden is a neat little lawn trimmed with borders full of seasonal flowers, you have more of a colonial hangover than you imagined. This is the kind of garden that hundreds of sahebs and their wives longed for as they pined for England during those sweltering, disease filled summers in the hot Gangetic plains, and sought to create with mixed success in a land that was green but not in the way they wanted it.

Much has been written about colonial architecture in India; Flora’s Empire – British Gardens in India by Eugenia W. Herbert, focuses on the little documented but fascinating aspect integral to the ‘residences’, homes, cities, towns, and hill-stations that the British went about building in the two centuries and more that they established themselves in this country.

Herbert is Professor Emeritus of History at Mount Holyoke College in the U.S., and her book is a view of British imperialism from a unique and engaging perspective. As she observes: “And everywhere [the British] created gardens, large and small, private and public, that embodies not only aesthetic ideals but also philosophical understandings of the good life, of civilization, and the social and political order.”

In this way, the British rulers of India had more in common than they cared to acknowledge with their Mughal predecessors, who had very definite views about landscaping and left their own green stamp on India, from the terraced gardens of Kashmir and Lahore to the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal.

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When Edward Clive became governor of Madras in 1798, he and his wife, both enthusiastic botanists, set about improving Government House and its gardens set in 75 acres in what was then known as Triplicane (where now stands the abandoned secretariat built by the previous DMK government). Clive was recalled by the Company for his extravagance, just about the same time as Lord Wellesley, whose spending on building a palatial Government House in Calcutta similarly found few sympathisers back at the head office. But both were only reflecting the growing fortunes of the East India Company by projecting power and opulence on a grand scale. In Calcutta, as in Madras, the British found their initial settlements too suffocating, and expanded out into the suburbs that they segregated exclusively for their use.

In Calcutta, Garden Reach rose like “a fairy isle” on the banks of the Hooghly, with its mansions surrounded by gardens that extended up to the water. In Madras, gentlemen of means broke out of Fort St. George to build “garden houses” farther afield, with trees lining the avenues from the fort to the new settlements. In addition to Government House, an official country retreat in Guindy Forest (now Raj Bhavan) came up.

Though some like Clive, Wellesley and much later Lord Curzon were personally involved in planning the open spaces around their official residences, gardening was in the main the domain of the memsahibs, who found in it a way of expressing themselves, and spending the time that hung heavy on their hands, with hordes of servants doing all the chores, the husbands away and the children left behind at schools in England.

Gardens were also a way for rulers to separate themselves from the ruled. “Manicured gardens with neat lawns and flowerbeds were a means of distancing oneself from the smells and dirt of India,” Herbert notes.

The many differences of a British garden from a typical Indian bageecha underlined the separateness, which too grew with the passage of time. During Company rule, the gardens were a more relaxed mix of East and West than in the post-1857 period, but too much Indianness in a garden was always seen as an early warning of “going native”.

On the whole, British gardens tended to reflect the nostalgia for English annuals — sweet peas, dahlias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, hollyhocks, and the like. Flowers such as jasmine, whose fragrance was too overwhelming for delicate British noses, did not find place in most of these gardens.

Reams of manuals were printed on how to grow a garden, with detailed instructions about soils, temperatures, watering, seeds, manure, insects and designs. The lawn, that enduring symbol of an English garden, remained the main challenge.

Though Herbert does not quite accept a theory that the social class of individuals back home in England was reflected in their gardens in India – the lower you were on the ladder, the more open you were to Indian influences in your garden – she argues that this nevertheless showed that the garden was something more than met the eye; “[a] synecdoche, the part standing for the whole of one’s response to an alien culture and the life that exile imposed, especially on women”.

Proving that the grass is ever greener on the other side, those who returned took back with them exotic Indian plants, to create a little corner of India in their English gardens, not always successfully.

Simla

Written with all the enthusiasm of an avid gardener and botanist as much as a historian, the book has a richly detailed portion on the creation of Simla as the summer capital of the Raj, where rhododendrons grew wild, as “forest trees, not shrubs as you have them in England”, covering the hills with a deep red in April. Growing English flowers in Simla was a walk in the park, the only problem being the non-availability of enough level ground. Only the Viceregal Lodge built by Henry Irwin in the late 19 century boasted sprawling huge lawns, improved upon by later Viceroys and Vicerines. Lord Curzon was to remark that the grounds were the only thing that made the Lodge bearable.

The combination of British architecture and gardens was perhaps nowhere better demonstrated than in the creation of New Delhi. Lutyens had little regard for Mughal architecture, but took more readily to their gardens, sharing as he did the same fondness for symmetry, order and geometry. Urged by Lady Hardinge, he took from the Mughal gardens in Kashmir as he planned the 15-acre space around the new house of the Viceroy on top of Raisina Hill. The plan, he wrote to his wife was all “too Alice in Wonderlandish for worlds. However, it will come in time”.

But as Herbert observes, the Mughal Garden at what is now Rashtrapati Bhavan was all too English: instead of a zenana, Lutyens put in tennis courts; and, instead of the central chabutra at the intersection of the water channels, a lawn. Herbert quotes Jane Brown — she wrote on the long professional partnership between Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, the English designer with whom he worked on many projects back in England — as describing that lawn as “a symbolic triumph of the English way of gardening”.

Written with wit, humour and style, this exhaustively researched book — the references at the end run to nearly 50 pages — hooks the reader with both its details and its sweep, not to speak of the little surprises that spring up now and then. The one that threw me was that the marigold, regarded as the quintessential Indian flower, came from Europe.

(Nirupama Subramanian is an Associate Editor with The Hindu)

Tips for collecting your own seeds for next year

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September finds me saving seeds of some of this year’s best peppers and flowers to plant in next year’s garden.

Why?

Saving my own seeds from year to year gives me a bit of independence from seed companies, which may stop offering certain varieties. It’s also a way to maintain an annual supply of seeds that seed companies never offer, such as some so-called heirloom varieties handed down for generations.

And with a packet often costing more than $3, saving seeds is also economical.

This year, for example, I grew a tomato plant from seeds a friend gave me. Where did my friend get them? From another friend.

Avoid hybrids for saving seeds

Heirloom seeds are from plants whose flowers self-pollinate. Some varieties of vegetables and flowers may not have been around long enough to be called “heirlooms,” but still might be from self-pollinating plants.

Hybrid seeds, in contrast, are produced when the pollen of one selected plant is made to fertilize another selected plant. Hybrid plants often are more robust than their parents.

Producing hybrid seed of a known variety is beyond the capabilities of most gardeners. Male and female plants must be known or chosen, and then pollination must take place without contamination from other plants or even the female plant.

Seeds taken from a hybrid plant will not, when planted, yield plants the same as the parent plant. Take the seeds out of a hybrid sweet pepper, such as Candy Apple, and you will not get Candy Apple fruits on those plants next year.

You must buy hybrid varieties’ seeds if you want those varieties.

Give seeds development time

If you save seeds from your own garden plants, select healthy plants. Let fruits or flowers mature, whether they’re dry pods of bean plants or radish plants, the fruits of pepper or cucumber plants, or dry seed heads of marigolds or zinnias.

Mature pepper fruits generally are red, though some may be yellow or purple; the fruits are very tasty at this point. Mature cucumber fruits are hardly edible, with thick or hard skins and hard seeds. Rinse well and dry the seeds.

No need to do anything with the dry seeds you pop out of radish pods or rub from the heads of marigolds or daisies, except to pack them away. (Botanically, the “pod” of radish or other members of the cabbage family is not a pod, but a siliques, which is a podlike structure with a membrane separating its two halves.)

Cool, dry conditions keep seeds at their best. Small envelopes are good for storing seeds such as pepper and radish. A jar is a good long-term home for larger seeds such as beans and corn.

And next year?

What kinds of plants you end up growing next year will depend on whether the seeds you collect are from hybrid plants, and whether the seeds were from plants that self-pollinate or cross-pollinate.

Cucumbers, for example, have separate male and female flowers, so they readily cross-pollinate. To perpetuate a non-hybrid cucumber variety, either grow the plants in isolation from other cucumber varieties or else bag and hand-pollinate a few female flowers with male flowers on the same plant. A female cucumber or squash flower is easily recognizable by the small fruit at the base of the flower.

The most predictable outcomes from saved seeds will be from those taken from non-hybrid plants that have not cross-pollinated or do not do so readily. Expect some interesting results with the others.

Gardening tips, concerts, plays: Oregon City and Canby events

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OREGON CITY

Pioneer Community Choir: The group enjoys singing popular
standards with a few serious choral numbers for variety. Open to new
singers through Oct. 11. Rehearsals weekly 10 a.m.-noon Fri, Sept.
6-Nov. 8; with performances Nov. 15-Dec. 13. Pioneer Community
Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City; $30 dues for fall term; Melinda Beyers, 503-381-9827 or melindabeyers@comcast.net

Family Story Time Hour: All ages invited to pursue new
adventures with story-teller Missy. Weekly 11 a.m. Fri. Oregon City
Public Library, 606 John Adams St., Oregon City; free; www.orcity.org/library or 503-657-8269

View full sizeBrooks Robertson performs Sept. 19 at the library.Aaron Almquist
Concert: Features finger-style guitar player, Brooks
Robertson. 7 p.m. Thu, Sept. 19. Oregon City Public Library, 606 John
Adams St., Oregon City; free; www.orcity.org/library or 503-657-8269

Healing Garden Gala:
Children’s Center will host its second annual Healing Garden Gala on
Thursday, Sept. 19, at the clinic at 1713 Penn Lane in Oregon City. This
premier Clackamas County event allows community members throughout the
region to unite on behalf of abused and neglected children.

A
reception and open house style tours will begin at 6 p.m. and will
feature heavy appetizers and a hosted bar. Beginning at 7:30 p.m.,
guests will enjoy a live program with speaker Jessica Farmer, volunteer
and community advocate, and special guest Steve Dunn of KATU Channel 2
News.

Presenting sponsor is Airstream Adventures Northwest, and
gold sponsors include Warn Employee Community Impact Project and NW
Natural.

Tickets cost $100 each and tables of 10 are available
for $1,000. Receipt of RSVP and payment by Sept. 5 ensures your seat at
this event. Register online at www.childrenscenter.cc

If you
would like to attend the gala or support the event as a sponsor, contact
Shauna Lugar at 503-655-7725 or shauna@childrenscenter.cc.

— Barbara Peschiera, executive director, Children’s Center

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View full sizeThe
Oregon/Washington Memorial Garden is the eighth memorial for the
National Organization for Parents of Murdered Children in the United
States and is the only one in the northwest.City of Oregon City
Memorial:
Oregon City and the Greater Portland Area Chapter of Parents of
Murdered Children are proud to announce the completion of the
Oregon/Washington Memorial Garden located in Mountain View Cemetery.
This is the eighth memorial for the National Organization for Parents of
Murdered Children in the United States and is the only one in the
Northwest. It will be a beautiful place for anyone who has lost a loved
one or child due to homicide.

Parents of Murdered Children
invites all interested parties to attend the dedication of the
Oregon/Washington Memorial Wall and the National Day of Remembrance for
Murder Victims.

View full sizeThese
murder victims and others will be remembered in a special ceremony
hosted by the Greater Portland Area Chapter of Parents of Murdered
Children Sept. 25 in the Mountain View Cemetery.City of Oregon City

This special event will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 25 in Mountain View Cemetery, 500 Hilda St., Oregon City.

After
the dedication ceremony, lunch will be hosted by Beavercreek
Cooperative Telephone and the Greater Portland Area Chapter of Parents
of Murdered Children Inc.

–Scott Archer, Oregon City community services director

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View full size1968 Tucker Sno-CatCourtesy of Clackamas County Historical Society
Mount Hood Exploration:
This summer when Lake Oswego writer Jon Bell came upon a 1968 Tucker
Sno-Cat at the city’s antique car show, he was enthralled to find an
out-of-season relic of Mount Hood’s past so far below its snowy grooms.

Bell
presents tales and images illustrating Mount Hood’s history in a free
evening program at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Museum of the Oregon Territory
in Oregon City.

Bell is the author of “On Mt. Hood, A Biography
of Oregon’s Perilous Peak.” Like his 2011 biography of Mount Hood, Bell
is steeped in every aspect of the mountain, from its influence on the
development of snow-moving technology to its rich geological and
cultural history. He applies himself to exploring its facets both as a
mountain climber and a historian.

View full sizeAuthor Jon Bell on Mount Hood.Courtesy of Clackamas County Historical Society

The
free program is recommended for all ages, and takes place at Clackamas
County Historical Society, 211 Tumwater Drive, Oregon City. More
information: 503-655-5574 or www.clackamashistory.org.

–Roxandra E. Pennington, Clackamas County Historical Society

********************************************************************

Playbill:
Clackamas Repertory Theatre concludes its ninth season with “The 39
Steps,” a madcap farce adapted by Patrick Barlow from John Buchan’s
novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film.

View full sizeJayson
Shanafelt (from left), Jayne Stevens, James Sharinghousen and Travis
Nodurft in the Clackamas Repertory Theatre’s production of “39 Steps.”Clackamas County Repertory Theatre
Barlow
turned “The 39 Steps” into a farce by having four actors play all of
the 151 characters in Hitchcock’s thriller. One actor plays the hero who
is unexpectedly thrust into a deadly game of espionage and the lone
actress plays three characters, leaving the remaining two actors, Clown 1
and Clown 2 to represent a 147 characters, a variety of heroes,
villains, men, women, children and the occasional inanimate object.

Pre-show
lectures, “Hitchcock Talk,” with Ernie Casciato, take place an hour
before performances every Saturday and two Sundays, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19-Oct. 6, in the Osterman
Theatre at Clackamas Community College. Tickets range from $12-$26 and
may be purchased at clackamasrep.org or by calling 503-594-6047. The
low-price preview is Sept. 19.

–Clackamas Repertory Theatre

*********************************************************************

New Student Experience Orientation: Designed to help first
time students get acquainted with the campus, connect with faculty and
current students, learn about academic programs and extracurricular
activities, and become familiar with critical resources to be a
successful student. Free pizza lunch. Participants can earn one free,
transferable credit (register through myClackamas at www.clackamas.edu
for CRN# 24302). 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri, Sept. 20. Randall Gymnasium,
Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Ave., Oregon City; free;
admissions and recruitment office, 503-594-3284 or
outreach@clackamas.edu

Social Media Mondays: Trevor Dodge, a Clackamas Community
College instructor, will lead a discussion on Pinterest. If you have a
laptop or other digital device which you’d like to practice on, bring
it. 7 p.m. Mon, Oct. 7. Oregon City Public Library, 606 John Adams St.,
Oregon City; free; www.orcity.org/library or 503-657-8269

Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness: Clackamas Fire
District #1 will be onsite providing education on fire safety and
prevention in observation of National Fire Prevention Awareness Week.
9-10:30 a.m. Tue, Oct. 8. Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St.,
Oregon City; free; 503-657-8287

Willamette Falls Festival: Hosted by
the Willamette Falls Heritage Area Coalition, the event celebrates the
area’s heritage, culture and outdoor recreational opportunities through
activities that include a We Love Clean Rivers Benefit Dinner,
fireworks, live music, artisan farmers market, tribal cultural
demonstrations, a fun-athlon with a 5K fun run, paddle and bike events,
Plein Air artists and RiPPLe Artist demonstrations, a heritage parade,
jetboat rides, industry tours, heritage trail tours, and Geocaching.
Proceeds benefit We Love Clean Rivers. 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sat, Oct. 5; 8
a.m.-1 p.m. Sun, Oct. 6. Clackamette Park, 1955 Clackamette Drive,
Oregon City; free; www.WillametteFallsFestival.com

View full size The Associated Press/2009
Food Preservation Classes: The Extension
Service is offering a variety of food preservation classes this summer. The
classes are staffed by experienced volunteers who provide instruction and hands-on
opportunities for participants to practice safe food preservation techniques
and build self-confidence and skills.

The schedule continues with:

Tuesday,
Oct. 8, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: All About Apples
Saturday,
Nov. 9, 9 a.m.to noon: Introduction to Pressure Canning

Preregistration
is required. Cost is $30 per class, with the exception of the Fermented Pickles
classes, which are $35 each. Fee includes instructional packet, recipes, and
sample product to take home. The classes will be held at the OSU
Extension annex, 200 Warner Milne Road in Oregon City. To register and for other information, call 503-655-8634
or visit http://extension.oregonstate.edu/clackamas/.

View full sizeEllen Whyte

60th Eastside Birthday Bash: Features the Ellen Whyte Plus
Sized Band. 9 p.m. Sat, Oct. 19. Trails End Saloon, 1310 Main St.,
Oregon City; $10 cover charge; www.ellenwhyte.com/‎ or Ellen Whyte at amallegory@aol.com
Medicare 101 Presentation: Certified SHIBA counselors will
give an extensive overview of Medicare and the most recent changes.
Questions encouraged. 2-4 p.m. Mon, Oct. 21. Pioneer Community Center,
615 Fifth St., Oregon City; free; 503-657-8287

*********************************************************************

View full sizeCheck out the sky at the Haggart Observatory located in Clackamas Community College.

Sky Viewings: The Rose City Astronomers is offering monthly public sky viewings at the Haggart Observatory at Clackamas Community College.

The
free viewings begin around sunset and continue until about 11 p.m.,
weather permitting, on the following Saturdays: Oct. 26, Nov. 30 and Dec. 28.

The Haggart
Observatory, located at the Environmental Learning Center, offers views
of the night skies through 24-inch and 13-inch Newtonian reflector
telescopes. Viewings are free during the astronomy club’s Public Nights.

Space in the observatory is limited, and viewers may at times
have to wait to look through the telescope. If the weather is uncertain
during the day of the event, call 503-594-6044 after 3 p.m. for a
recorded message announcing if the viewing will be held or canceled.

For more information, contact Diana Fredlund, Rose City Astronomers media director, at media@rosecityastronomers.

Ongoing

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (Oregon City)
and Oregon City Visitor Information Center at 1726
Washington St. is open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily from Sept. 3-30; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thu-Mon (closed Tue-Wed) from Oct. 1-May 31.

Admission: $9/adults, $7/seniors, $5/children ages 4-17
(children 3 under are free, as well as military personnel)

For information on new
education programs, exhibits and events, school/group reservations, volunteer
opportunities and more, visit www.historicoregoncity.org

Clackamas Mineral and Gem Club Meeting: Visitors welcome.
Monthly 7-9 p.m. third Tue. Zion Lutheran Church basement, 720
Jefferson St., Oregon City; $12 annual dues, or $15 family, plus
optional $10 newsletter subscription; www.clackamettegem.org or Bea Settle, 503-631-3128
View full sizeTracy
Hill (right), coordinator for the McLoughlin Memorial Association,
gives a bobbin lace demonstration at the McLoughlin House. Victorian
handcraft demonstrations are offered from noon to 4 p.m. on the second
Saturday of each month, except for December and January, at the museum
at 713 Center St. in Oregon City.Heidi Pierson
Victorian Handcraft Demonstrations:
Visit the website for theme. Monthly noon-4 p.m. second Saturday.
McLoughlin House, 713 Center St., Oregon City; free;
www.mcloughlinhouse.org or 503-656-5146

Oregon City Saturday Farmers Market:
Farmers and vendors
sell local produce, flowers, plants, meat, fish, eggs, cheese, bread,
pastries, nuts, honey preserves, hummus, soaps, lotions, wood crafts,
and hot and cold food and drinks. Features live music, cooking
demonstrations and a Kids Power of Produce Club. Debit, SNAP and WIC
accepted. Weekly 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, through Oct. 26. Clackamas County
Public Services Building, Parking Lot, 2051 Kaen Road, Oregon
City; free admission; www.orcityfarmersmarket.com or Jackie
Hammond-Williams, 503-734-0192, or marketmanager@orcityfarmersmarket.com

View full size

For teens:

Teen Wii Night: Grades
6-12 invited to play a Wii game and eat free snacks. 6:30-8
p.m. Thu, Sept. 5 and Nov. 7. Oregon City Public Library, 606 John Adams St., Oregon
City; free; www.orcity.org/library or 503-657-8269

For adults:

Beginning Line Dancing: Learn
the basics and simple dances. No partner needed. Weekly 1-2 p.m. Mon.
Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St.; 50 cents per class;
503-657-8287

Busy Bees: Have fun making crafts, sewing
quilts and aprons, and creating other items for fundraisers. Weekly 9
a.m.-noon Mon. Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St.; free;
503-657-8287

Intermediate Line Dancing: Learn the latest and traditional steps. No partner needed. Weekly noon-3 p.m. Tue. Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St.; 50 cents per class; 503-657-8287

Dance Lessons:
The Bachelors ‘N’ Bachelorettes Square and Round Dance Club offers
lessons weekly 7-9 p.m. Tue. The club for singles and couples also hosts
dances weekly 7:30-10:30 p.m. Wed. Abernethy Grange, 15745 S. Harley
Ave.; $5 per lesson (first lesson free); http://bnbsquares.org or Gene
or Patricia Neils, 503-829-8529

Knitting and Crocheting:
Learn basic stitches and share tips. Bring your own needles and yarn.
Registration required. Weekly 10 a.m.-noon Wed. Pioneer Community
Center, 615 Fifth St.; $20 for four sessions; Janice Tipton,
503-829-8031

Chrysalis: Women Writers: Local author Pat Lichen guides women writers of all levels
through discussions of their work. Weekly noon-2 p.m. Wed. Clackamas
Community College, Literary Arts Center, Rook Hall, Room 220, 19600 S.
Molalla Ave.; free; 503-594-3254

Support

Clackamas County Chapter of Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): Visitors welcome. Monthly 7-9 p.m. fourth Tue. Atkinson Memorial Church, 710 Sixth St., Oregon City; free; 503-887-4556

CASA 101 Volunteer Orientation:
Child Advocates, Inc. is recruiting volunteers to serve as Court
Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for foster children. Informational
meetings offered monthly 6-7 p.m. first Wed. Mt. View Professional
Building, Suite 203, 101 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; free;
www.casa-cc.org or Linda Rinnan, CASA manager, 503-723-0521 or
lrinnan@casa-cc.org

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group:
Share feelings, thoughts and experiences to better cope with and manage
the shared problems of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Monthly
1-3 p.m. the second Thu, except Nov. 22. Pioneer Community Center, 615
Fifth St., Oregon City; free; Diana Miha, 503-317-2245 or
dhm@pdxarttherapy.com

Grief Support Group: The Bristol Hospice “Build a Bridge of Hope”
support group, facilitated by Joanne Petrie, a chaplain, is a chance
for people to share feelings and receive support from others who are
experiencing grief. Contact Bristol Hospice volunteer Marilyn Fergus,
fergusfamily@gmail.com, for more information. Monthly 1:30-3 p.m. the
second and fourth Thu. Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St.,
Oregon City; free

National Alliance on Mental Illness Connection Group:
A recovery support group just for persons with mental illness
regardless of their diagnosis. Meetings offer a flexible and casual
environment without an educational format, and no registration or
enrollment obligation is required. Weekly noon-1:30 p.m. Wed. Stewart
Community Center, 1002 Library Court, Room 15, Oregon City;
www.nami.org/sites/nami:clackamascounty or
503-344-5050 or nami.clackamas@gmail.com

CANBY

View full sizeLearn the fundamentals of saving seeks in a class Nov. 19 at the Canby Library. The Oregonian/2009
Master Gardener series: Are you new to gardening or an experienced hand?

The
following workshops at the Canby Public Library have something to offer for everyone:

Tuesday,
Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. –
Fall maintenance in the garden.
Fall is a good time to add new plantings, move or transplant shrubs and
perennials, and mulch your garden.
Tuesday,
Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. –
Fall and winter gardening.
Learn how to extend the growing season, and to enjoy fresh vegetables all
year long. See which vegetables will grow and produce during fall and
winter.
Tuesday,
Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
– Seed saving. Learn the
fundamentals of saving seeds. Once you are familiar with these concepts
you can easily and successfully save just about any seed you want.

Participants may come to one or all workshops free of
charge. Classes are presented by OSU Master Gardener volunteers of Clackamas
County. The library is at 292 N. Holly St. For more information, call 503-266-3394 or visit www.canbylibrary.org

Saturday Game Day: Games and activities for families. 2 p.m. Sat,
Sept. 21. Canby Public Library, 292 N. Holly St., Canby; free;
www.canbylibrary.org or 503-266-3394

View full sizeSt. Josef’s Estates and Winery
Grape-stomping Festival: The 31st annual event features
grape-stomping contests, food and music by the Original Donaumusikanten,
an eight-piece German band from Bavaria. Noon-6 p.m. Sat-Sun, Sept.
21-22. St. Josef’s Estate Vineyard Winery, 28836 S. Barlow Road,
Canby; $10, includes souvenir glass and tasting; www.stjosefswinery.com or 503-651-3190
History Book Group: Read and then discuss “A People’s
History of the Supreme Court: The Men and Women Whose Cases and
Decisions Have Shaped Our Constitution” by Peter Irons. 4 p.m. Wed,
Sept. 25. Canby Public Library, 292 N. Holly St., Canby; free; www.canbylibrary.org or 503-266-3394

View full sizeThe Casey MacGill Trio performs Sept. 26 in Canby.Brian Massengale

Concert: Decades of music collide as multi-instrumentalist
and vocalist Casey MacGill leads his trio in a program of classic
American swing and popular songs. Hosted by Live On Stage, Inc., and the
Canby Community Concert Association. 7:30 p.m. Thu, Sept. 26. Richard
R. Brown Fine Arts Center, 721 S.W. Fourth Ave., Canby; $25, or $20 in
advance for ages 14 and older; free to others; www.canbycommunityconcert.org or Diane Brown, 503-266-9574

Family Night: Music by Grupo Condor. 6:30 p.m. Thu, Sept. 26.
Canby Public Library, 292 N. Holly St., Canby; free;
www.canbylibrary.org or 503-266-3394View full sizeGrupo Condor performs Sept. 26 at the Canby Public Library.Courtesy of Grupo Condor

“Catch the Wave”: Cascade Harmony
Chorus performs in preparation for an international competition in
Hawaii in November. 7:30 p.m. Sat, Sept. 28. Richard R. Brown Fine Arts
Center, 721 S.W. Fourth Ave., Canby; $28 general; app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=chc01 or 503-266-7464

View full sizeMark Cunningham
Conversation Project: Join Mark Cunningham for a
thoughtful conversation about the future of reading in “From Print to
Pixels: The Act of Reading in the Digital Age.” 6 p.m. Tue, Oct. 1.
Canby Public Library, 292 N. Holly St., Canby; free; www.canbylibrary.org or 503-266-3394

Support

Grief Release: Hosted by Bristol Hospice, the course
encourages unhurried healing to bring life back into focus from the blur
of pain, confusion and bewilderment caused by loss. Provides practical
step-by-step support as a road to restoration. First class is mandatory.
Weekly 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wed, Oct. 2-9.
Country Side Living, 390 N.W. Second Ave., Canby; free; Joanne Petrie,
503-698-8911

Ongoing

Canby Saturday Market: Vendors sell produce, flowers,
plants, food, and arts and crafts. Weekly 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, through Oct.
27. Canby Cinema 8 parking lot, 252 N.E.
Second Ave., Canby; free admission; www.canbysaturdaymarket.com or 503-680-5088 or canbysaturdaymarket@canby.com
View full sizeThe Oregonian

Bridge Games:
Card game for senior citizens. Weekly 1 p.m. Mon, except holidays. Canby Adult Center,
1250 S. Ivy St., Canby; free; www.canbyadultcenter.org or 503-266-2970

Line Dancing for Beginners:
Wanda Matlock teaches senior citizens the basics. Partner not required.
Weekly 1-2 p.m. Mon, except holidays. Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy St., Canby; free,
but donations appreciated; www.canbyadultcenter.org or 503-266-2970

Line Dancing:
Wanda Matlock teaches senior citizens some advanced steps. Partner not
required. Weekly 1-2 p.m. Tue and Thu. Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy
St., Canby; free, but donations appreciated; www.canbyadultcenter.org or
503-266-2970

Language
Exchange:
Practice English or Spanish and help other learners in a friendly atmosphere.
Weekly 10:30 a.m. Mon (except Sept. 2 and Nov. 11). Canby Public Library, 292
N. Holly St., Canby; free; www.canbylibrary.org or 503-266-3394

Tuesday Evening Dinner: Senior citizens can
make new friends while eating a free dinner. Weekly 5-7 p.m. Tue. Zoar
Lutheran Church, 190 S.W. Second Ave., Canby; free; www.zoarlutheran.org
or 503-266-4061

Canby First Friday: Monthly 5-8 p.m.
first Friday. Join participating merchants in downtown Canby for
family-friendly activities, dining, wine and shopping discounts.

Handiwork Group: Senior
citizens socialize while producing craft projects. Weekly 10 a.m. Tue.
Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy St., Canby; free; bring your own project
supplies; www.canbyadultcenter.org or 503-266-2970

Pinochle: Card
game for senior citizens. Weekly 1 p.m. Tue and Fri. Canby Adult
Center, 1250 S. Ivy St., Canby; free; www.canbyadultcenter.org or
503-266-2970
Yoga Fitness: Erin Hancock teaches the class for senior
citizens. Weekly 1:15 p.m. Wed. Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy St.,
Canby; free, but donations appreciated; www.canbyadultcenter.org or
503-266-2970

View full sizeBeth Nakamura/The Oregonian
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies: Adults
invited to snack on free popcorn and tea while watching a movie. Visit
website for titles. Weekly 1 p.m. Wed. Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy
St., Canby; free; www.canbyadultcenter.org or 503-266-2970

Civic

For information, visit www.ci.canby.or.us or call 503-266-4021.

*Canby
Planning Commission: Monthly 7 p.m. second and fourth Monday in Canby
City HallDevelopment Services Office, Council Chambers, 155 N.W. Second
Ave.

*Canby City Council: Monthly 7:30 p.m. first and third
Wednesday in Canby Development Services Office, Council Chambers, 155
N.W. Second Ave.

*Urban Renewal Agency: Monthly 6 p.m. second
Wednesday in Canby Development Services Office, Council Chambers, 155
N.W. Second Ave.

*Canby Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Monthly 7 p.m. third Tuesday in Canby City Hall, Conference Room, 182 N. Holly St.

Clubs

Kiwanis Club of Canby:
Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization of individuals who want to
improve their communities. Weekly noon-1 p.m. Mon, except holidays. Old Town Hall,
Cutsforth’s Thriftway, 225 N.E. Second Ave., Canby; $7-$10 for lunch;
www.canbykiwanis.org or Nancy Murphy, 503-266-6048

Rotary Club of Canby:
Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business,
professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as
Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical
standards in all vocations and help build goodwill around the world.
Weekly 11:45 a.m. Fri. Old Town Hall, Cutsforth’s Thriftway, 225 N.E.
Second Ave., Canby; no-host lunch; www.canbyrotary.com

Canby Chamber of Commerce: Network
while eating lunch. Reservations recommended. Monthly 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
first Tue. Old Town Hall, Cutsforth’s Thriftway, 225 N.E. Second Ave.,
Canby; $12-$15; Canby Chamber of Commerce, 503-266-4600 or by email to
chamber@canby.com

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