After the Garden Bloggers' Fling in Portland last July, we stayed in town for an extra day to visit some favorite places. Here are a few fun things spotted on Alberta Street on the way to Digs Inside and Out (more on that in another post.)
Portland is known as The Rose City. How Nice that Portland General Electric uses this cool rose medallion in steel plates covering manholes.
This green wall looked really familiar. It should have as Loree at Danger Garden has written about it here in 2013 and here. I was thrilled that it still looked so good.
This street is a hop skip and a jump from the Danger Garden itself. We decided to have Thai food for lunch and saw a place that looked (and was) good. Interestingly, the first post about this wall mentioned that D.G. had discovered it after picking up take-out Thai for dinner one night.
What do you think about green walls?
Lots of fun artwork on this street.
Must visit Portland again soon!
Oh those glorious sunny summer days are sweet to remember.
It's such a cool city Portland is! Wish we had more time to explore it...
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to come back and come visit Washington as well this time.
DeleteVertical wall gardening is fantastic to see. I would not want to be the gardener. Some of the original 'crispy critters' were replaced since Loree showed them after a freeze. It speaks well of whomever maintains this wall that they're finding plants that hold up well to replace those that die.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Interesting to see but one would imagine they'd require a lot of maintenance!
DeleteWhen I went to Digs Inside and Out last year I should have taken some time to wander in that area. Green walls are pretty cool, but I wouldn't want to do the maintenance on them. That one looks like it's made with wooly pockets, and being able to see them is kind of lame. If structure is going to show, it should be aesthetically pleasing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great area with interesting galleries and all manner of cool stores and eateries. I so agree that the structure should be invisible so that the whole thing seems to be growing out of a wall.
DeleteThe green wall is interesting...the art? Well, I found at least 1/3 of it pleasing. :)
ReplyDeleteGreen walls are great in other people's gardens.
DeleteI'm considering another trip to Portland this summer, I liked it so much!
ReplyDeleteGreen walls are beautiful, but I don't see them as being practical in tough climates (where it gets really hot, really cold, or both). I think about creating one every year, so maybe someday...
Portland is a wonderful city to which you should return often and also come up north to Washington to visit even more groovy nurseries!
DeleteI think you're right about green walls in tough climates.
Hold on. I'm getting over that scary humanoid bursting from the crack in the cement to feed on a bug. I love all types of green walls, green roofs, vertical vegetable gardens and the likes. I've seen wrought iron chairs where the seat was replaced with a sempervivum collections. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteDon't be frightened, it's a friendly crack-dwelling, bug-eating humanoid. Glad that you're a fan of green walls!
DeleteYou took the words right out of my head "Oh those glorious sunny summer days are sweet to remember"...and to think about them returning...
ReplyDeleteWe've had some pretty grand days this last week or so that have me longing for summer.
DeleteThe crack-dweller is rather scary looking. With my outdoor succulent expertise, I could probably quickly turn that green wall into a twisty brown wall. Hens and Chicks run for cover when they see me coming. I wish I had the time and inclination to spend some time in Portland, it looks tempting.
ReplyDeleteA twisty brown wall sounds just like what I'd produce given time! Portland has such wonderful nurseries and neighborhoods. Will you be attending Hortlandia again this year? You could stay a bit longer and explore the town!
DeleteI've been to Portland twice on business and was impressed by how interesting and friendly the city was. LA can be interesting but it isn't always friendly...
ReplyDeletePortland is a very friendly city! You may wish to come to Hortlandia (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon spring sale) this year on April 18. It's the largest plant sale this side of the Rockies and there are always choice plants there! The vendors bring their best to this one!
DeleteI suspect that green walls take a lot of maintenance. The watering system must be pretty elaborate too.
ReplyDeleteBut I do like the look of them.
I agree. Lovely to look at but a lot of work!
DeleteI did not know that Portland is called city of the rose. Must be all city covering with roses:))
ReplyDeleteLove this artwork, Peter. Is it monkey or bear?
I also take photos of manholes too ant this is pretty!
I think that was a bear. I hope you are keeping warm and happy in your northern garden, my friend!
DeleteI am feeling tres unobservant, having spent some time on Alberta without noticing the manhole cover or the bear. Always ready for an excuse to go back. Indian food at Bollywood Theater, corn ice cream at Salt & Straw, leisurely meander through Digs and Thicket = perfect afternoon.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like a perfect afternoon!
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