The Senior Scene

(Pictured: Asahel Curtis took this picture in 1929 of Galbraith Dock on the Seattle waterfront. The steamship Hyak Poulsbo (lower right) and the double-wing airplane ferry to Bremerton and Gorst in Kitsap County (middle) are tied up at piers. Downtown buildings are seen in the background.)

The race to preserve 60,000 priceless and fragile photographs capturing the diversity of Pacific Northwest life during the last two centuries is the subject of a documentary from Cascade PBS.

Most of the images—made by photographer Asahel Curtis from the 1890s to 1940s—have remained in boxes and unseen by all but a handful of people for the past 80 years. “Asahel: The Curtis Collection,” relating the Washington State Historical Society’s purchase of and ongoing effort to digitize the massive collection for free public use, is available to stream via the Cascade PBS app and at cascadepbs.org

“Every day is an adventure as we digitize images,” said Margaret Wetherbee, head of collections at the Historical Society. “What will we find? Steam engines, historical fashion, or signs for businesses long forgotten? These moments provide a glimpse into the lives of Washington’s past residents.” 

The images are fragile, captured on glass plates or nitrate negatives. Because they’re susceptible to combustion, the originals are at risk and must be stored in climate-controlled vaults. Each image is being scanned in time-consuming process to ensure the collection survives, Weatherbee said. 

During his career, Curtis often made images of everyday life in the Northwest: People at work in barbershops and flower shops, on the waterfront, in logging camps. He also produced photographs of the region’s natural wonders, including ice caves, mountain peaks, and coulees. 

The Curtis collection “is a gold mine of history and connection for the people of the Pacific Northwest and beyond,” said the documentary’s co-producer, narrator and historian, Knute Berger, who also hosts Cascade PBS’ “Mossback’s Northwest.” Public access to the photos “will likely change—and will certainly enrich—our view of the region and its people,” he said.

Asahel (pronounced “AY-shul”) Curtis, who died in 1941, is the brother of the even more famous photographer Edward Curtis, whose life’s work aimed, incorrectly, to portray Native Americans as people on the verge of extinction. While Edward Curtis’ portfolio is appreciated in some cases for its historical value, today it’s also criticized for distorted perspective and damaging impact. 

The Curtis brothers parted ways early in their careers and took different approaches with their work. 

“Connecting to our past is really about empathy and being able to empathize” with what people experienced and “to gain understanding of our own experience,” Jennifer Kilmer, director of the Washington State Historical Society, says in “Asahel: The Curtis Collection.” 

Cascade PBS is a public media organization serving the Northwest with Public Broadcasting
System national and local programming, independent news and investigative journalism.

(Pictured: To divide perennial plants into smaller sections, use a sharp spade or garden knife. Photo credit: Corona Tools)

By Melinda Myers

Overcrowded, poor-flowering and floppy perennials can be invigorated with a shovel and a bit of your time and energy. Dividing perennials is an excellent way to improve their appearance and create new plants to use in other spaces in your landscape.

Divide spring flowering perennials in late summer or early fall, divide fall bloomers in spring, and summer blooming perennials in either spring or fall. Some gardeners prefer to enjoy the spring blooms and divide soon after the flowers fade. Most gardeners have found the best time to divide is when they have the time and can provide proper post-transplanting care.

Reduce the stress on plants by dividing perennials on a cloudy, overcast day when the plants won’t dry out so quickly. Make sure they are well-watered a day or two in advance of dividing.

Dig up the whole plant using a garden fork or sharp spade. A shovel with a long handle and narrow blade makes it easier to access plants in small and hard-to-reach spots. Carefully lift the plant out of the soil. Depending on the plant and the tenacity of its roots, you may be able to gently pull the roots apart with your hands. Otherwise, use a sharp spade or knife, or a reciprocating saw to cut the plant into smaller sections. Some gardeners place two garden forks back-to-back in the center of the clump and pull the forks apart to make the divisions.

Discard the dead center, if needed, in the compost pile. Make sure each division has at least three to five healthy shoots and adequate roots. The larger the division, the quicker it will fill in the space and possibly need dividing sooner than smaller divisions.

Replant the divisions as soon as possible. In the meantime, store them in a cool, shaded location and keep the roots covered and moist.

Prepare the soil before planting. You can plant one of the divisions in the original spot once the soil is amended. Use the others to fill in bare areas or start new garden beds. Plant the division at the same depth it was growing. Some gardeners set it slightly higher so it can settle in place. Either way, make sure the roots aren’t exposed and the crown, the part where the roots meet the stems, isn’t buried.
 

Gently firm the soil around the plant and water thoroughly. Check the soil moisture every few days and water deeply and often enough to keep the roots slightly moist. Reduce your watering frequency as the plant begins to develop a more robust root system.

Start by dividing just one or two overgrown plants. As you master the technique, you’ll find it easier to divide perennials when needed to keep your gardens looking their best.

Melinda Myers (melindamyers.com) has written more than 20 books, hosts a video series, and has TV and radio programs on gardening.

According to the National Council on Aging, a quarter of adults over 65 fall each year. Most of these falls occur in bathroom due to slippery floors and stepping up and in or out of a combination bathtub-shower. Ways to help prevent such slips include installing grab bars, non-slip mats, and ventilation systems that reduce surface moisture in the bathroom. Another is the installation of a walk-in bathtub.

The specialized tubs, equipped with a door and seat, allow safer bathing, especially for people of limited mobility or who can’t get up easily in a slippery tub. Their low entries, typically a few inches high, eliminate the considerably higher edge of a traditional bathtub.

Walk-in tubs are also unique because the molded seat enables bathers to enjoy a bath in an upright, seated position while submerged in water, a truly therapeutic soak. Walk-ins have twice the depth of conventional tubs.

The tub doors have rubber seals to prevent leaks. Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on the doors. Other features include drains that empty the water faster to allow bathers to open the door and exit more quickly. Wheelchair and handicap-accessible tub models also are available.

Medicare won’t cover the cost of walk-in tubs, but information on government programs that can for qualified buyers is available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Depending on the tub’s type and the manufacturer or store, retail prices of walk-in tubs range from $1,500 to $11,000.

Source: Theseniorlist.org, a site with consumer information for older adults.