Fort Clatsop, Oregon, February 7, 1806

While the Mountain Huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) can be found from Alaska to California and east to the Great Lakes, the Evergreen Huck is native only to the northwestern states. However, both will grow well all across North America in USDA zones 6-9 or even 10. Easy to care for, beautiful to behold and a delight to the palate, we send our thanks to Captain Lewis for recognizing the huckleberry as worthy of note.

Fall color

Since their departure we have discovered that they have stole an ax.

And about the men who were ill:

Gibson is on the recovery fast; Bratton has an obstinate cough and pain in his back and still appears to be getting weaker. McNeal from his inattention to his disorder has become worse.

More of Meriwether Lewis' thoughts on the Chinook visit:

... Chinooks ... at all events we determined always to be on our guard as much as the nature of our situation will permit us, and never place ourselves at the mercy of any savages. we well know, that the treachery of the aborigenes of America and the too great confidence of our countrymen in their sincerity and friendship, has caused the destruction of many hundreds of us. so long have our men been accustomed to a friendly intercourse with the natives, that we find it difficult to impress on their minds the necessity of always being on their guard with respect to them. this confidence on our part, we know to be the effect of a series of uninterrupted friendly intercourse, but the well known treachery of the natives by no means entitle them to such confidence, and we must check it's growth in our own minds, as well as those of our men, by recollecting ourselves, and repeating to our men that our preservation depends on never loosing sight of this trait in their character, and being always prepared to meet it in whatever shape it may present itself.

We can but wonder what the Chinook people felt about these men of pale countenance. Not nearly as much has been written from that viewpoint as remains of the celebrated expedition.

Go to our Corps of Discovery Expedition Bicentennial Index page to see all links in this series. Or click here to go directly to the next installment of our journey.

Bringing history alive: Using the plants

Restoration: Native plants interwoven with hybrids form the basis of Salem, Oregon, Bush Park and adjoining Deepwood Estate Museum

www.historicdeepwoodestate.org/

Landscape architects Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver were commissioned by Deepwood owner Alice Brown to create the formal gardens at Deepwood Estate. Lord and Schryver were the first formally trained women landscape architects in the northwest. Pictured at right, top, is the 1905 Lewis & Clark Gazebo acquired by Mrs. Brown and sited at Deepwood in 1949. Below is an architectural drawing of the grounds at Deepwood.

The gardens contain boxwood gardens, an English tea house garden, covered arches and gazebos, ornamental gates and fences as well at The Rita Steiner Nature Trail weaving its way through the western border of the property towards Bush Park. Native shrubs, trees and perennials flourish in these gardens. There are hundreds of Fawn Lilies (Erythronium oreganum) celebrated in the annual Erythronium Native Plant Festival and Sale (see the calendar on their website at the above link).

As part of raising the level of public awareness concerning the legacy of the two landscape architects, the Lord & Schryver Conservancy began preservation work in the gardens at Deepwood in 2003.

Deepwood is the most significant example of landscape architects Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver's northwest work. It is their only garden design that is open to the public. Intriguing features at Deepwood include a scroll garden with a hidden signature, an ivy tunnel and a pastel tea garden. There are three other superb examples of their designs in the area, but they are associated with private residences.