The City of Lake Oswego celebrates two things in April: trees in honor of Arbor Week, and Shakespeare in honor of the 400th anniversary of his death. Methinks the Bard would deem it well and good because you know what he said, “A tree by any other name would look as grand.”

ARBOR WEEK
●Heritage Tree Bike Ride. Kick things off with a 14-mile bike tour of some of Lake Oswego’s 35 Heritage Trees. These trees hold a special place in our city’s history and character due to their age, size, species, and horticultural quality. A bike mechanic from Lakeside Bicycles will accompany participants on the route to handle any mechanical difficulties. Bring a waiver/release form with you.  Sunday, April 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Leave from lower Millennium Plaza Park at 11:00 a.m.

●Arbor Week Festival. It’s a tree-extravaganza with live music, tree climbing demonstrations, kid crafts and more. Get expert advice from certified arborists on-hand and learn how you can do your part to enhance and protect our urban forest. Sunday, April 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park, First and Evergreen.

●Heritage Tree Celebration. Get a good dose of history behind some of the people and some of the trees that made Lake Oswego the beautiful spot that it is. See the only madrone currently designated as a Heritage Tree in town. Tuesday, April 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Oswego Pioneer Cemetery, 17401 Stafford Road.

●Barnyard Tales and Heritage Tree Walk. Luscher Farm is the perfect setting for an Arbor Day celebration for the little ones, ages 3-8, accompanied by their parents. Event includes storytime and a visit to the Heritage Trees located on the premises. Thursday, April 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Road. The event is free but due to limited space, you are asked to secure a spot by registering online for activity #12901.

●Make Your Own Paper. Kids in grades 5-12 will learn through doing by making recycled paper. This hands-on activity will help them understand how recycling paper saves trees, water and energy. And, at the end of the day, they have something beautiful to show for it. Thursday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. at the Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street.

●Preschool Walk in Springbrook Park. Educator Sue Thomas will unlock the mysteries of trees and the things that live in them during the first of four preschool walks in April in Springbrook Park. Geared to children ages, 2-6, but all are welcome. A bucket of “discovery supplies” will be available to the children to help them in their investigative walk. Bring a snack. Friday, April 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Springbrook Park entrance at Uplands Elementary, 2055 Wembley Park Road.

●Tree and Native Planting Event. Here’s an opportunity to give back for all the beauty that trees lend our community. Help to revamp Campbell Native Gardens with new plantings, including a tree. Susanna Kuo, Mr. Campbell’s daughter, will give a history of this Oswego heritage family as well as of Iron Mountain Park. Boots and glove recommended. Saturday, April 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Campbell Native Gardens, 2750 Iron Mountain Boulevard (across from the Lake Oswego Hunt).

Ongoing activities.
●The Lake Oswego Library will be featuring tree-themed books for checkout all week.
●The City of Lake Oswego is hosting a tree-themed poetry contest for 1st through 12th grade Lake Oswego students. Maximum length is 14 lines. Deadline is April 29. Check here for more details or call 503-635-0290.

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL MONTH. All events will be held at the Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street. For more information, check online or call 503. 636.7628.

●A Midsommer Night’s Dreame. Experience Shakespeare like the Elizabethans did as the Original Practice Shakespeare Festival stages A Midsommer Night’s Dreame with limited rehearsal, minimal sets, audience interaction, energetic acting and an onstage prompter. Thursday, April 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

●Music of the Renaissance. Let sound transport you back to Shakespeare’s time as Gayle and Phil Neuman combine period music with commentary. These musicians, instructors and instrument builders specialize in the performance of historical music so you are in good hands. Tuesday, April 12 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

●Poetry Readers and Writers Celebrate Shakespeare. There’s a reason so many consider him the Master of the English language. Bring your favorite Shakespeare poem to share or just come and listen and see if you agree. Wednesday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.

●400 Years in Shakespeare’s Kitchen. Let Keri Sanburn Behre, Assistant Professor of English at Marylhurst University, introduce you to the foods Elizabethans enjoyed as well as the ones they thought were healthy and dangerous for you. Enjoy 17th century snacks and take recipes home with you. Saturday, April 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

●Monsters and Maniacs of Shakespeare. Rickie Birran is on a mission—to illustrate the power of great literature and he does that through his one man theater company—Man of Words. Hear Shakespeare come alive through a masterful presentation by Birran as he reads from both the Bard as well as a collection of short stories he has written. Tuesday, April 26 from  7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

This blog is paper-free, doing its part to preserve trees in our community. Subscribe to it with a clear conscience by hitting the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.