If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 417

Ohme Gardens, 75th Anniversary

Leavenworthcards.com distributed the vintage photographs postcard shared this week in 2004 for the 75th anniversary of Ohme Gardens located in Wenatchee, Washington. The card has the identifying alphanumeric code OG75 on the reverse.  The four views show, from the upper left:  Vista House as it was in the early 1940’s; a view of the Columbia River and Wenatchee Valley also from the 1940’s; the Sylvan Pool, 1936; and the Totem Pole Lodge, late 1940’s.

We visited the gardens in 2015 and picked up this card and the other two found below.  The day we were there it was 90 degrees F (32.2 C) and almost unbearably hot for climbing around on the hillside.  Nevertheless, it is a beautiful and interesting garden that was originally created by Herman and Ruth Ohme.  They purchased 40 acres of land for an orchard in 1929 that included a mostly barren, rocky, craggy bluff with magnificent views of the Columbia River and surrounding landscape.  

Upper left: Totem Pole Lodge, Enchantment Falls, Vista House, and the Hobbit Bench
[photos:  Charles Adams, Marcia Janke, Tom Williams, Jamie & Judy Wild. Leavenworthcards.com LC11]

The Ohmes were not rich; they did not have formal training in landscaping design or botany.  They just had a dream of turning the desert bluff into a natural garden and were willing to do everything themselves and by hand. It began with transplanting small evergreens from the Cascade Mountains.  Native stone was hauled in to make pathways, borders, stairs, and pools.  It was a labor of love.  Water had to be hauled up from the river.  They added a pool and used a mule and drag bucket before setting up an irrigation system that piped water along the hilltop. 

Twin Pools
[Photo: Charles Adams.  Leavenworthcards.com OC5]

At first the garden was worked on in their spare time as their main work and income was dependent upon the orchards.  The gardens eventually became full time work for both of them.  Soon local people started going up the bluff to see what they were doing up there.  

Entrance into the gardens

Map of the grounds with the various pathways marked.  Smaller version of the map were available at the entry gate and in the gift shop.

 Pool

 Waterfall

There is a pavilion and large open grassy area near this waterfall that can be used for outdoor weddings in the summer. 

Stone pathways

Platform with territorial view

 Looking down on one of the pools

Territorial and garden view

Poppies

In 1939 they agreed to open the gardens to the public with a 25 cent entry charge.  If the charge was meant to dissuade people from visiting it did not work, people began traveling from all over the visit the amazing gardens.  The project continued to expand with more pools, benches and pathways.  After Herman passed away their son, Gordon, purchased the gardens and kept the dream alive.  In 1991 ill health forced Gordon to sell the gardens to the State of Washington Parks and Recreation Commission and is managed by Chelan County. 

For additional information, see:

https://www.ohmegardens.org/thegardens/pages/the-start-of-ohme-gardens
http://seattlerefined.com/travel/ohme-gardens-herman--ruths-labor-of-love-in-wenatchee
http://www.halcyon.com/tmend/gardensWA.htm
https://ohmegardensblog.wordpress.com/about/