GUILTY OR - Whitney Heichel, 21, Gresham, 16 Oct 2012 #6

[Sasquatch]

A butterfly! How lovely

Would it be possible to put a bench next to or opposite the garden for people to sit?

Thank you! The butterflies were flying around me all day and one happened to land on one of La Louve's beautiful flowers! I would love to put a bench there one day. The only problem, is that the best spot is on PGE Power Companie's property, so I would probably have to get their permission! But that is an excellent idea!

 

[La Louve]

Thank you! The butterflies were flying around me all day and one happened to land on one of La Louve's beautiful flowers! I would love to put a bench there one day. The only problem, is that the best spot is on PGE Power Companie's property, so I would probably have to get their permission! But that is an excellent idea!

I've been thinking a bench would be nice too. There are some nice boulders perfect for sitting on but it would take some work to get and keep them cleared out of weeds and tall grass.

And then there is the PGE issue too.......

Those are the Wallflowers that the butterfly is perched on in Sasquatch's photo. They grow very similarly to the Sweet Williams, just a much larger version.

 

[Lilibet]

Lilibet, you are welcome to use my photos for your signature or avatar/ or both!

Thanks so much, Sasquatch. It was hard to choose. I wish I could put more than one photo in my signature. I guess I'll do a rotating display.

 

[La Louve]

Lilibet, you are welcome to use my photos for your signature or avatar/ or both!

Thanks so much, Sasquatch. It was hard to choose. I wish I could put more than one photo in my signature. I guess I'll do a rotating display.

It all looks really nice, Lilibet.

:tyou:

 

[Elainera]

I've been thinking a bench would be nice too. There are some nice boulders perfect for sitting on but it would take some work to get and keep them cleared out of weeds and tall grass.

And then there is the PGE issue too.......

Those are the Wallflowers that the butterfly is perched on in Sasquatch's photo. They grow very similarly to the Sweet Williams, just a much larger version.

If they don't approve of a bench maybe they'd approve that the boulders be sculpted into a bench. If they're big enough it wouldn't be difficult and would look completely natural.

 

[La Louve]

If they don't approve of a bench maybe they'd approve that the boulders be sculpted into a bench. If they're big enough it wouldn't be difficult and would look completely natural.

Sasquatch and other local websleuths can speak to the history of Roslyn Lake better than I. The boulders are all similarly sized and lined up in a row very deliberately, running east to west on the north side of the turnout. My assumption has been that they were placed there when the lake was drained, to keep people from trying to drive out on the lakebed.

They're fairly hidden by the grass at the moment but I'll try to snap some pics when I go out to water tomorrow (unless Sasquatch beats me to it )

 

[Sasquatch]

Lilibet, you are welcome to use my photos for your signature or avatar/ or both!

Thanks so much, Sasquatch. It was hard to choose. I wish I could put more than one photo in my signature. I guess I'll do a rotating display.

You are welcome, Lilibet! It looks great! Every time someone sees a photo of Whitney's Garden it helps spread the ripples of beauty and light! Feel free to use other photos as well!

 

[Sasquatch]

Sasquatch and other local websleuths can speak to the history of Roslyn Lake better than I. The boulders are all similarly sized and lined up in a row very deliberately, running east to west on the north side of the turnout. My assumption has been that they were placed there when the lake was drained, to keep people from trying to drive out on the lakebed.

They're fairly hidden by the grass at the moment but I'll try to snap some pics when I go out to water tomorrow (unless Sasquatch beats me to it )

After looking at the Wiki article about the history of Roslyn Lake, I noticed that PGE might not own the property in that turnout anymore. The article states:

"Powerhouse ReGen completed the acquisition in 2011, the property by then consisting of the powerhouse site, the historic former Bull Run elementary school, and portions of the former Roslyn Lake Recreational Area. Since the transference of ownership, restoration has commenced on various elements of the sites, but no specific repurposing has been determined."
Bull Run Hydroelectric Project - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bull Run Elementary School, is just a stones throw East of the turnout. Metro bought the other portion of Roslyn Lake to use as a Remote Elephant Center. I have not seen a released map, showing how the property is divided.
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/125183-elephants-pack-trunks-for-roslyn-lake

I am not sure when the boulders were placed in the turnout. I do know that they bulldozed some dirt around after the lake was drained in 2008. La Louve is right, that the boulders were placed, so that people would not drive into the lake bed. There are a lot of recreational 4wheeling people in the area. I do know that there were similar boulders on the NorthEast side before 2008, where I used to fish. I just didn't fish the South side enough, to remember if the boulders were already placed there.

That would look pretty neat having a bench made from one of the boulders. I wonder if I can get one of the local stores to donate a cement bench? That is a great idea to have one placed there. It would be nice to clear a spot and place a bench, so that people could enjoy the garden while seated!

Roslyn Lake Powerhouse Blog
http://bullrunhydro.blogspot.com/

Bull Run Hydroelectric Time Line/Including Roslyn Lake

1906 Planning begins on BRHEP
1908 Construction on LSRD and flume begin
1912 Little Sandy River Dam completed
1912 Bull Run begins generating power
1912 MHR & PC merges with PRL & PC (PGE)
1913 Marmot Dam completed
1925 Bull Run Reservoir renamed Roslyn Lake
1989 Marmot wooden crib dam replaced with new concrete dam
1999 PGE announces it will remove Marmot dam
2004 Marmot Dam operating license expires
2007 Marmot Dam demolished
2008 Little Sandy River Dam demolished
2008 Roslyn Lake ceases to exist

 

[Sasquatch]

I went out to Whitney's Memorial Garden at Roslyn Lake this morning. On my way out there, I crossed the Sandy River Bridge at Dodge Park and something caught my attention in the river. I pulled into Dodge Park and walked out to the beach. I noticed that somebody had stacked some rocks in the river. Some people call these stacked rocks, cairns. Cairns have been symbols of marking ones journey for centuries. After I took a few photos, I continued on my journey up to Roslyn Lake.

I was able to mow the little strips of grass and edge and water the garden. Whitney's family placed beautiful Dahlias in a glazed pot last week, on the West end of the garden. La Louve came out on Sunday and added more potting soil to them and added a drain tray. I can't wait until Amber and Trent's miniature roses start blooming soon. My original miniature roses that I placed out in October, had one stem survive. That one stem has grown, and has a few buds on it. It will be nice to see those bloom as well. The garden is still looking really nice. It looks so beautiful with all of the blooms and colors! I spoke with one gentleman who was biking in the area and one lady who was walking. It is nice to be able to talk to people about Whitney and about the story of her garden!

 

[Sasquatch]

I went out to Whitney's Garden today and watered. I had a chance to capture a few photos of Amber and Trent's miniature roses that are blooming now. Amber and Trent were Whitney's Starbucks customers. They planted the miniature roses next to the rock and tree last year. In Spring, La Louve welcomed the roses into Whitney's Memorial Garden when she saw them! Now we have beautiful peach and red/pink roses blooming! The weather was perfect today and at noon, I could see a half moon in the western sky!

Amber and Trent's Roses



My original miniature roses that I placed back in October. There was one stem that survived, and here is a photo of one of the two buds forming.


The half moon at noon. You can see the moon halfway between the treeline and the white line, just right of the power line.


Here is a closer shot of the moon. It is located a bit left of the power line.

 

[Glow]

Those pictures are wonderful and the garden looks so good for the middle of summer.

I always enjoy your posts and pictues so much. Thank you!

 

[Sasquatch]

Those pictures are wonderful and the garden looks so good for the middle of summer.

I always enjoy your posts and pictures so much. Thank you!

Thank you Glow! Both La Louve and I have been able to keep the garden watered enough and maintained this Summer. Since we have had mild weather here in Oregon, we have been able to keep it nice with only going out there every other day. Both Whitney's and Clint's families have been out to visit the garden. I still keep them updated on all of the new blooms. It is nice to see so many people smile when they drive and walk by the garden. I am glad that we have had the opportunity to share the garden with you and everyone here on Websleuths. Thank you for your wonderful, kind words Glow! It is always nice to see you and read your thoughtful posts!

 

[Sasquatch]

Here is a photo of the yellow miniature rose starting to bloom, at Whitney's Garden yesterday! This yellow rose came from the original miniature rose plant that I placed by the power pole, last October of 2012. Only one stem survived from being in a plastic pot all Winter. I finally planted it in the ground, March of this year. This is the first bloom since then.

 

[Wolf Dreamer]

That's so beautiful. Whitney's case is what hooked me here. Just something about her, and the way her community rallied to find her, moved me greatly.

I love that you chose forget-me-nots as well.

 

[Sasquatch]

That's so beautiful. Whitney's case is what hooked me here. Just something about her, and the way her community rallied to find her, moved me greatly.

I love that you chose forget-me-nots as well.

Thank you Wolf Dreamer! I am so happy that you, and many others here on WS are still thinking about Whitney! La Louve planted the forget-me-nots and they are beautiful! I just finished up a garden bench for Whitney's Garden, so that Whitney's family, loved ones and visitors can sit and view the garden. La Louve and I have been working hard by keeping the garden watered and looking nice. Some flowers quit blooming during the heat spell that we had. Now that we are starting to get cooler temperatures, the flowers are starting to grow more shoots again. New blooms are just around the corner!

 

[Sasquatch]

Here is Whitney's Garden Bench that I built from scratch. I placed it in the turnout at Roslyn Lake, between the two rocks across from Whitney's Garden. I couldn't dig down because of the boulders, so I created a stadium seating platform on the hillside. Now Whitney's family, loved ones and visitors can have a seat while they enjoy the garden!

 

[Lilibet]

Here is Whitney's Garden Bench that I built from scratch. I placed it in the turnout at Roslyn Lake, between the two rocks across from Whitney's Garden. I couldn't dig down because of the boulders, so I created a stadium seating platform on the hillside. Now Whitney's family, loved ones and visitors can have a seat while they enjoy the garden!

The bench is beautiful, Sasquatch. I love how you set it off with bark and rocks. I can't wait to come visit Whitney's Memorial Garden the next time we are up your way. Thanks so much to you and LaLouve for your hard work.

:tyou::tyou:

 

[Sasquatch]

The bench is beautiful, Sasquatch. I love how you set it off with bark and rocks. I can't wait to come visit Whitney's Memorial Garden the next time we are up your way. Thanks so much to you and LaLouve for your hard work.

:tyou::tyou:

Thank you for your kind words, Lilibet! I am happy with the way that the bench turned out. I was originally going to put the posts into the ground, but the boulders made it impossible to dig down deep enough. I was then able to improvise and use preformed cement blocks and secure them with additional cement. By building the bench onto a platform, it makes it more accessible during the Winter time, and a person's feet won't be resting in a puddle. I used an oil based stain, so it will be protected for many years from the elements. It will be great when you can stop by, and visit the garden firsthand. The bench gives a wonderful elevated view of the garden!

 

[Sasquatch]

It has been over a month, since we have last posted updates of Whitney's Memorial Garden. La Louve and I still take turns driving out to the garden, making sure that it is weeded and watered. Every time that we go out there, people still stop by and talk about the beauty that the garden has brought to the area, and that they still are remembering Whitney!

In the past month, we have had a lot of rain, so the garden has not required as much attention as during the hot months. We have had a few pitfalls with the garden, this last month. Someone took a metal saw and stole the bench, at the beginning of September. The bench was extremely secured to metal posts in cement. I had placed special locking nuts, to add extra security. Our bench fell victim to metal thieves, who also broke into other places along Thomas Road. During the middle of September, we had rutting Elk tear up a tree on the berm, then come down and eat all 8 buds off of my Blue Girl Rose and continue to eat other flowers. Part of the side of the garden was caved in. Luckily, nothing was permanently damaged, and I was able to put the garden back together again.

Now that we are starting to approach the one year anniversary of Whitney's passing, the garden is still a place that brings peace and hope. Whitney's family and loved ones, visit the garden on a regular basis. In July, Whitney's mom placed Dahlias in a glazed pot, next to the garden. La Louve was kind enough to make sure that the Dahlias were tucked into their new home, and the Dahlias have been thriving for months now. Clint came out and posted photos of Whitney on the power pole, above the garden. Although the Blue Girl Rose will not bloom again until Spring, we are blessed with Amber and Trent's Red and Yellow Roses, La Louve's Pink Roses and my original Yellow Roses that I placed by the power pole last October. Along with this we still have a variety of pink, purple, white and blue flowers blooming all around. There is still a beautiful variety of flowers in Whitney's Garden!

I would like to personally give a big Thank You to La Louve, for not only extending the garden last year and helping create a place of beauty, but thank her for all of her guidance and time that she has put into the garden this past year. Whitney's Garden would not have been what it is today, if it was not for her! Also, I need to give a big Thank You to everyone who has been following and commenting about Whitney's Garden this past year!

I am thinking of Whitney, Clint, their families and all of Whitney's loved ones, as we approach the one year mark next week!


Whitney's Garden October 2013

La Louve's Pink Miniature Roses



My original Yellow/Pink Roses that I placed by the power pole in October 2012




Whitney's moms Dahlias



Amber and Trent's Miniature Roses (Whitney's customers from Starbucks)




La Louve's Wallflowers



A mom and baby deer I saw, as I was leaving Roslyn Lake

 

[Bravo]

I come here often. This case captivated me from the get go. Thank You both for keeping Whitney's spirit in the forefront. You both are the spirit of what is still good in the world. God Bless.