Native Plant and Rhododendron Garden Tours at Hendricks Park

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04/28/04 WED 08:04 FAX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & POS PW ADMIN I~]001 ~ I ~ Apri128, 2004 - CONTACT: • Ginny Affriend, Gardener, Hendricks Panic, 682-5324 • Therese M. Picado, Public Information Specialist, Parks and Open Space, 682-4814 or 682-4800, terese.m.aicadoCa~ci.eugene.or.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Native Plant and Rhododendron Garden Tours at Hendricks Park Spring is here and Hendricks Park is in vivid bloom. Encounter magnolias, rhododendrons and native flora on walking tours of the renowned rhododendron garden and native plant gardens at the park this Sunday, May 2. Ginny Alfriend, Hendricks Park gardener and resident native plant expert, will lead a tour of the native plant garden at 11 a.m., and Michael Robert, recently retired head gardener at Hendricks Park, will lead a tour of the rhododendron garden at 1 p.m. All tours begin at the F. M. Wilkins Shelter at 2200 Summit Avenue and last about an hour. Robert, who has witnessed spring unfold at the park for over 20 years, describes it like this: "The canopy of magnolias, crowning over the rhododendrons, appears as a cloud of pastels, and the early rhododendrons add to a circus of color, in conjunction with the many bulbs and perennials on the ground. The Native Plant Garden is also in full bloom with hosts of trilliums, irises and western Solomon's seal." Sturdy walking shoes are recommended. The wildflower tour travels through the area around the shelter and into an area of the forest that was recently cleared of ivy on gravel or wood chip paths. The fiododendron tour walks through the hillside garden on groomed gravel paths that are largely accessible to people using wheelchairs. Pets are not allowed. Parking is limited at the park; alternative transportation is strongly encouraged. To visit the park by bus, take the #27 Fairmount route to Walnut and 17"', walk south to Fairmount, and continue one block, then turn east on Summit and walk up to the top of the hill where you will see the Wilkins shelter. For more information or special accessibility accommodations, call 682- 5324 or visit www.ci.eugene.or.us/parks/hendrdcs.