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Flicker in the Cascara Tree
Published on 2012-09-02 13:17:00
Now that my native landscaping is starting to fill in and mature a little bit, I've really noticed an increase in the number of bird species that I see in the yard.
Native Bees, Large and Small
Published on 2012-08-27 20:16:00
About a year and a half ago, I posted some information about solitary Mason Bees... how they're important native pollinators, and how you can help sustain their numbers by providing a good spot for them to shelter and lay their eggs.
Afternoon on the Esplanade
Published on 2012-06-13 08:50:00
It's Rose Festival time in Portland.
River Otters, Sea Otters, and Otter 501
Published on 2012-06-03 12:30:00
It seems I've been circling some sort of strange otter nexus, lately.River otters - photo by Dmitry Azovtsev [CC-BY-SA-3.0]Kind of an odd statement, I know.
Scrub Jays are Moving In
Published on 2012-05-23 17:13:00
I posted recently about all the spring action in my yard - including some new neighbors helping themselves to my bark mulch.
Battle of the Ospreys at Camassia
Published on 2012-05-20 11:18:00
On a recent trip to Camassia Natural Area, I was lucky enough to catch some interesting Osprey behavior on film.The Ospreys have a nest atop a cell phone tower, just outside the park's boundary.
My New Pair of Bloomers
Published on 2012-05-13 14:17:00
Two of the newest plants in my native landscaping have flowered for the first time, so I thought I would share a few pictures of this brand new pair of bloomers.Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense)First up:Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense)This plant is not a true grass at all, but a relative of the Iris.
Spring Happenings in the New-and-Improved Yard
Published on 2012-05-07 22:03:00
Readers of this blog may know that I installed a landscape using (almost) entirely native plants, in what used to be the very bland yard of our duplex (mostly lawn).
Shameless Self Promotion
Published on 2012-05-05 17:09:00
Hey, look at that!
Spring Blooms at Camassia Natural Area: Part II
Published on 2012-05-05 16:55:00
Picking up where we left off, let's see the park's namesake - the Camas lilies...The path through the wet meadows uses boardwalks to get you from rock to rock.Bumblebee on Camas lily (Camassia quamash)Camas lily with a Pacific Madrone backdropThe rocks give the meadow a very Zen look and feel.I think the yellow flowers above are Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus orthorhynchus). The pink flowers below are Rosy plectritis (Plectritis congesta).
Spring Blooms at Camassia Natural Area: Part I
Published on 2012-05-05 16:54:00
Common Camas lily and Rosy plectritisOne of the many reasons the Portland metro area is such a special place, is its knack for preserving healthy, natural habitat in close proximity to urban (and suburban) areas.
Finding Portland Beautiful
Published on 2012-04-29 10:37:00
I recently ran across this incredible video of Portland - made with time lapse photography - by the very talented folks at Uncage the Soul Video Production.
My 7 Super Shots
Published on 2012-04-26 16:40:00
After being tagged by Michael Barton, over at Exploring Portland's Natural Areas, I am taking part in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots.
Squirrel Tactics 101: Raiding a Bird Feeder
Published on 2012-03-17 04:19:00
I just put up a bird feeder the other day, and filled it with some good, low waste feed which includes cracked corn and peanuts.
Maricara Natural Area: Forest and Wooded Wetland in SW Portland
Published on 2012-03-06 23:03:00
Hidden away in the Markham neighborhood of Southwest Portland, very near Tryon Creek State Natural Area, is a much smaller woodland called Maricara Natural Area. Though it may be small (17 acres compared to Tryon Creek's nearly 7,000), it's certainly not lacking when it comes to beauty or providing that woodsy sense of seclusion that we nature-loving Portlandians crave.View Larger MapThere is not a lot of parking available around the park. The natural area is really tucked into the neighborhoo [..]
Spring? What Spring?
Published on 2012-03-01 16:41:00
Snow on KinickinickI know spring is not actually here yet, but we have had some very spring-like weather in the Portland area this late-winter.I recently posted about all the native plants breaking into bloom. In the time since that post, my Red-flowering Currant has joined the party.Now we've had several nights of 30 degree temperatures, and not much warming during the day. It tried to snow yesterday, and it looks like it succeeded sometime last night.Red-flowering CurrantIndian Plum blooms a [..]
Busy, Busy Beavers (and Frog)
Published on 2012-02-28 19:31:00
I've posted before, about Minthorn Springs Wetland in Milwaukie. It's a great little wetland habitat, surprisingly close to commercial, light industrial, and residential development along the Milwaukie Expressway (HWY 224, connecting I-205 and HWY 99E).My office is on the edge of this wetland, so I drive by frequently. On one recent trip, I looked in to the woods around the wetland as I was driving by, and noticed the bright, exposed wood of fresh beaver chews on several large trees. One was [..]
Nature Word of the Week: Cere
Published on 2012-02-23 12:37:00
This week's Nature Word - cere - was pulled from the avian morphology category. The cere on this Peregrine Falcon is yellow.Cere is defined in two ways by thefreedictionary.com (see link for pronunciation):To wrap in or as if in cerecloth (cerecloth being a type of waxed cloth used for wrapping a corpse) A fleshy or waxlike membrane at the base of the upper beak in certain birds, such as parrots, through which the nostrils open.So the cere is as plain as the nose on a bird's beak. Or at least [..]
Portland's Native Plants Spring to Life
Published on 2012-02-09 20:27:00
Remember all that sun we had recently? Wasn't that amazing? I wonder if we'll feel that kind of warmth on our shoulders again before, I don't know... June? I sure hope so, because I've got a bad case of Spring Fever!This past weekend, I tried to soak up as many of those precious rays as I could. So while millions were watching Superbowl XLVI, I was out puttering around the yard, doing whatever I could find to keep me outside a little longer. I did some weeding, a little pruning, and some r [..]
Columbia Gorge-ous Winter Afternoon
Published on 2012-02-05 12:01:00
I took a quick trip out to the Columbia Gorge on the last weekend in January, to see the falls in their full winter glory (must be all that pluviosity - lots of rain the week before), and to celebrate my mom's birthday. She chose the destination, and I thought it sounded great.Multnomah FallsIt was a cold but beautiful, sunny afternoon. (The north-facing Oregon side of the Gorge doesn't allow much of the winter sun to hit the ground, but still...)Here's a quick post to share a few pictures. V [..]
Graham Oaks Nature Park (Part 2): Restoring Oak Woodlands in Wilsonville
Published on 2012-02-02 17:29:00
In Part 1 of this post, I was taking you along on my first exploration of Graham Oaks Nature Park.Let's pick up where we left off - on the Legacy Creek Trail as it emerges from the conifer forest, to join the Coyote Way Trail.View Larger MapClick image to enlargeWhat's that sitting atop that young Ponderosa Pine? This is as close as I could get with a 300mm lens, and without leaving the trail which would be frowned upon here in the Nature Park, but I believe it's an American Kestrel. I love th [..]
Graham Oaks Nature Park (Part 1): Restoring Oak Woodlands in Wilsonville
Published on 2012-01-31 14:06:00
Just outside the city limits of Wilsonville (the southernmost suburb of Portland) and only one and a half miles from busy Interstate 5, you can find 250 acres of beautiful open space to explore in relative solitude. Graham Oaks Nature Park is an effort to restore a piece of our native oak woodlands. The park features three miles of trails through several types of habitat - in addition to oak woodland - including savanna, conifer forest and wetland areas.View Larger MapGraham Oaks is the newest [..]
Amphibians Indicate Successful Habitat Restoration
Published on 2011-05-28 12:16:00
The absence of amphibians in a wetland area can be an indicator of habitat degradation. On the flip side, the appearance of amphibians in a restored wetland area is a good sign that someone did something right.Oregon Field Guide recently did an
Amphibians Indicate Successful Habitat Restoration
Published on 2011-05-28 12:16:00
The absence of amphibians in a wetland area can be an indicator of habitat degradation. On the flip side, the appearance of amphibians in a restored wetland area is a good sign that someone did something right. Oregon Field Guide recently did an in
Cascara Buckthorn: An Oregon Native Tree
Published on 2011-05-17 16:17:00
One of the trees I’ve used in my native landscaping is the Cascara tree, or Cascara Buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana). Native along North America’s west coast from southern BC to central California, the Cascara’s dried bark was used by Native
Cascara Buckthorn: An Oregon Native Tree
Published on 2011-05-17 16:17:00
One of the trees I’ve used in my native landscaping is the Cascara tree, or Cascara Buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana). Native along North America’s west coast from southern BC to central California, the Cascara’s dried bark was used by Native and
Minthorn Springs Wetland: Milwaukie's Best-Kept Secret
Published on 2011-05-07 14:38:00
For thirteen years now, I've worked in an office located off of Highway 224, in Milwaukie. Adjoining the office complex, there's a small wetland area called Minthorn Springs. Looking out the office window, or as I've come and gone, I've s
Minthorn Springs Wetland: Milwaukie's Best-Kept Secret
Published on 2011-05-07 14:38:00
For thirteen years now, I've worked in an office located off of Highway 224, in Milwaukie. Adjoining the office complex, there's a small wetland area called Minthorn Springs. Looking out the office window, or as I've come and gone, I've seen lots
Portland Parks to Acquire Undeveloped SW Hillside
Published on 2011-05-04 18:10:00
The Portland City Council is expected to approve the purchase of 146 acres along a hillside south of River View Cemetery, using money from several different sources. The plan is to - eventually - develop a trail system and habitat management pl
Portland Parks to Acquire Undeveloped SW Hillside
Published on 2011-05-04 18:10:00
The Portland City Council is expected to approve the purchase of 146 acres along a hillside south of River View Cemetery, using money from several different sources. The plan is to - eventually - develop a trail system and habitat management plan.
Oregon Iris: Native Spring Herald
Published on 2011-05-01 13:14:00
It seems that spring has finally arrived in Portland. One sure sign of this fact, in my native landscaping, is the blooming of my Oregon Iris (Iris tenax), also known as Oregon Flag. One of my favorite plants in the yard - definitely an e
Oregon Iris: Native Spring Herald
Published on 2011-05-01 13:14:00
It seems that spring has finally arrived in Portland. One sure sign of this fact, in my native landscaping, is the blooming of my Oregon Iris (Iris tenax), also known as Oregon Flag. One of my favorite plants in the yard - definitely an eye-catch
New Digs for Portland's Nature: Urban Bird House
Published on 2011-04-29 10:00:00
No, that post title doesn't mean this blog is moving, it means that there's some new real estate available for some lucky members of Portland's avian society. I just put up a bird house! It's my first attempt at supplying a home for that segment of
New Digs for Portland's Nature: Urban Bird House
Published on 2011-04-29 10:00:00
No, that post title doesn't mean this blog is moving, it means that there's some new real estate available for some lucky members of Portland's avian society. I just put up a bird house! It's my first attempt at supplying a home for that segmen
Nature Word of the Week: Accidental
Published on 2011-04-27 09:00:00
This week's Nature Word is: AccidentalWe all know the meaning of accidental in every day speech, so we probably have a good idea of what it would mean when used to describe species occurrence. But let's take a closer look at this and other word
Nature Word of the Week: Accidental
Published on 2011-04-27 09:00:00
This week's Nature Word is: Accidental We all know the meaning of accidental in every day speech, so we probably have a good idea of what it would mean when used to describe species occurrence. But let's take a closer look at this and other words
Critters on the Urban Landscape: Forest Park
Published on 2011-04-26 11:25:00
This sounds like an interesting evening for any Portland nature lover. I hate to miss it but I'll be out of town. If you go, let us know how it was. From Henry Miller, via the Salem Statesman Journal's Get Outdoors blog:On May 4, John Des
Critters on the Urban Landscape: Forest Park
Published on 2011-04-26 11:25:00
This sounds like an interesting evening for any Portland nature lover. I hate to miss it but I'll be out of town. If you go, let us know how it was. From Henry Miller, via the Salem Statesman Journal's Get Outdoors blog: On May 4, John Deshle
Creating a NW Native Landscape: Part Four - In With the New
Published on 2011-04-21 14:10:00
Part One - IntroPart Two - The PlanPart Three - Out With the OldPart Four - In With the New In part three of this series, I told you about removing existing lawn and landscape plants to create a "blank slate". With that done, we can prepare the
Creating a NW Native Landscape: Part Four - In With the New
Published on 2011-04-21 14:10:00
Part One - Intro Part Two - The Plan Part Three - Out With the Old Part Four - In With the New In part three of this series, I told you about removing existing lawn and landscape plants to create a "blank slate". With that done, we can prepare the
Stylish Blogger Award: I Won!
Published on 2011-04-21 14:08:00
I don't like tooting my own horn, but...
Stylish Blogger Award: I Won!
Published on 2011-04-21 14:08:00
I don't like tooting my own horn, but... I won the Stylish Blogger Award! What an honor for such a recent arrival to the blogosphere! Sarah, over at Hood Photo Blog, was ki
Nature Word of the Week: Pinnate
Published on 2011-04-20 15:11:00
This is the first posting of a new weekly feature... Nature Word of the Week. Every Wednesday, I'll define a different nature-related word. I'll try to mix it up, referencing different sources and choosing words of varying obscurity or te
Portland's Mill Ends Park: World's Smallest
Published on 2011-04-18 12:06:00
A fairly well-known bit of Portland trivia, is that Portland's Forest Park is the largest urban forest in the United States. A lesser-known fact is that Portland is also home to the world's smallest park - according to the Guinness Book of Worl
Shiny Green Bug: What is it?
Published on 2011-04-15 21:01:00
OK, this beetle does not technically fall within the Nature of Portland, but it comes pretty close. I took these pictures a few years ago up along the Clackamas River, during the summer. When I ran across this post over at Appalachia &
the Nature of Milwaukie: Kellogg Lake Light Rail Bridge
Published on 2011-04-15 13:00:00
TriMet's Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project will extend MAX service across a much-discussed new bridge over the Willamette River, and into Milwaukie, along SE McLoughlin Boulevard. After traveling through downtown Milwaukie, the line will be
Spring Blooms at Crystal Springs
Published on 2011-04-14 12:47:00
One of my early posts on this blog was a complete profile of Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. I visited the garden two days ago, in the evening, and thought I'd share a few pictures from my walk. Most of the Rhododendrons have not qui
Creating a NW Native Landscape: Part Three - Out With the Old
Published on 2011-04-13 19:02:00
Part One - IntroPart Two - The PlanIn Part Two of this series, I gave you some ideas for planning a naturescape using native plants, which saves water, saves money, keeps the rivers cleaner, benefits wildlife, and does a lot of other good stuff.
Volunteers Needed: Audubon Santuary and Forest Park
Published on 2011-04-12 14:18:00
Some great opportunities to help out with habitat restoration and trail maintenance in the Audubon sanctuary and Forest Park...By Molly Hottle, The Oregonian The Audubon Society of Portland is plannin
Red-flowering Currant: an Early-Blooming Oregon Native
Published on 2011-04-11 19:45:00
Early spring blooms of the Red-flowering currantWhether you're creating an all-native landscape or just looking to add some early interest to your yard, the Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) is one good choice. It's a drought-tolerant NW
the Nature of Portland 3.0: Fresh Look
Published on 2011-04-08 12:44:00
Well... I logged on this morning with the idea of creating a post about one of the native plants I've used in my yard, but suddenly my blog's design was looking a bit out-dated and old school to me. While there's nothing wrong with a retro look, I d
Creating a NW Native Landscape: Part Two - The Plan
Published on 2011-04-07 19:07:00
In Part One of this series, we talked about all the benefits of creating a native landscape, or naturescape. This time, let's jump right in to the planning! I guess there are two basic methods for naturescaping, you can either rip out all the exis
Portland's Urban Growth Boundary: Battle Lines Being Drawn
Published on 2011-04-06 14:50:00
When it comes to government and planning in the Portland metro area, there's possibly nothing as controversial as the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Some Portland residents don't like the idea of increased density that the UGB encourages. Farmers
Why Blog About Nature in Portland?
Published on 2011-04-05 19:06:00
As you can plainly see, from the nifty Outdoor Blogger Network badge - over there on the right side of this blog - I am a member of the Outdoor Blogger Network (OBN). The OBN is a great way for outdoor bloggers, outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, an
Portland's Waterfront: Cherry Blossoms
Published on 2011-04-04 21:35:00
Signs of Spring are popping up - and open - everywhere! From Trilliums at Tryon Creek, to the Red flowering currants in my yard, things are starting to come alive. Just a quick post to encourage everyone to go see the beautiful cherry blossoms rig
Clean Up Of Ross Island Nears Completion
Published on 2011-04-01 13:09:00
Good news - no foolin'!From timesunion.com: Since the 1920s, Ross Island provided sand and gravel for many of the highways and tall buildings in Portland. It began importing material in the 1980s, and some of that was dredge spoils from the Port of
Creating a NW Native Landscape: Part One - Intro
Published on 2011-04-01 09:42:00
Almost exactly three years ago, my wife and I bought a duplex in SE Portland. It's a very basic, mid-60s ranch style building, and when we bought it, it was in need of a little TLC. Part of the problem was the landscaping, or lack thereof. It r
Tryon Creek Trillium Festival: April 2-3
Published on 2011-03-30 12:24:00
Pollen | by p medved on Flickr It's Spring, which means wildflower season is upon us! Trilliums are one of the most spectacular wildflowers in our area, and a great place to see them right now is Tryon Creek State Natural Area. by the Oregon
Oregon Field Guide: Portland's Heritage Trees
Published on 2011-03-27 11:23:00
Some of the things that Portland is best known for start with the letter 'B'. Bikes, brews, bridges, baristas... Let's see, is there a 'B' word for rain? One of things that Portland is known for which does not begin with the letter 'B', is trees.
Cooper Mountain Nature Park: Restored Habitat on Beaverton's Doorstep
Published on 2011-03-24 15:31:00
Park entrance - view across Tualatin River Valley Last Sunday, to mark the first day of Spring, I wanted to explore a Portland area park that I'd never been to before. What better way to start off a new season than with a visit to a new place where
Get Your Green On With Metro's GreenScene
Published on 2011-03-17 11:40:00
Happy St. Patrick's Day, nature lovers! As a fellow fan of nature, green just may be one of your favorite colors. To celebrate the day, and the coming of Spring in general, this post begins with a tribute to the verdant color, through a selectio
Vote for Johnson Creek
Published on 2011-03-17 10:50:00
From Carrie Sturrock, Special to The Oregonian Keep it local: consider voting for the Johnson Creek Watershed Council in a national grant competition that would mean $30,000 to support salmon restoration in one of the last above-groun
Take Action to Protect Portland's Trees
Published on 2011-03-15 11:45:00
One of the many reasons Portland is such a beautiful city is a well-planned Urban Forestry program, supported by a strong tree code. That code is being threatened by amendments which will weaken it. You can ask the Portland City Council to mainta
Celebrate National Wildlife Week - March 14-20
Published on 2011-03-14 14:53:00
Ever heard of National Wildlife Week? I personally had not, but thanks to the National Wildlife Federation, I found out in time to read up and make some plans. The scoop from NWF's website: About National Wildlife WeekHeld annually since 1938, Na
Tanner Springs Park: Nature in The Pearl District
Published on 2011-03-11 22:34:00
Portland's Pearl District is now known for upscale condos, trendy shops and cafes, and easy access to MAX and the Portland Streetcar. Rewind about a century, and the area now known as "The Pearl" is home to warehouses and rail yards, atop
Mason Bees: Using an Oregon Native Species to Pollinate Your Garden
Published on 2011-03-09 18:12:00
Photo credit: Wikipedia/Red58bill - some rights reservedMason Bees are an interesting lot. They're an important native pollinator, and because they are native, they're especially "tuned in" to some of the early-blooming native plants around Por
Learn about Naturescaping, Using Oregon Native Plants
Published on 2011-03-06 12:56:00
Have you ever thought about trying to incorporate more native plants into your landscaping? It's a great way to conserve water and reduce the use of chemicals, because native plants are already accustomed to growing conditions in our regional e
"Birds of a Feather" Art Exhibit Benefits Portland Audubon
Published on 2011-03-04 17:51:00
From Audobon Portland: Featuring images of birds and their habitatsThe Caswell Gallery celebrates Spring with an exhibit dedicated to birds — and will donate 10% of the “Birds of a Feather” exhibit sales made during March to Audubon Society o
Pacific Madrone
Published on 2011-03-01 20:50:00
Photo credit: Wikipedia/Walter Siegmundsome rights reserved.Arbutus menziesii, or the Pacific Madrone, is a striking, large tree, native in Oregon along the Coast Range and in the Willamette Valley. The thick, dark green leaves - similar to tho
Oregon Field Guide - Gresham Turtles
Published on 2011-02-24 00:34:00
From OPB: While surveying a wetland in 2007, Gresham urban ecologist Laura Guderyahn stumbled across what may be last urban population of native Western painted turtles east of the Willamette. Now she and the community are joining forces to make
Red-winged Blackbirds
Published on 2011-02-21 17:05:00
Adult male Red-Winged Blackbird.Photo credit: hart_curt, some rights reservedRed-Winged Blackbird nest.Photo credit: Wikipedia/Bob Dayle, some rights reservedEven though Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most common North American birds, you
Elk Rock Island
Published on 2011-02-18 17:36:00
To get to Elk Rock Island (unless you have a boat), you first have to go to Milwaukie's recently improved Spring Park. From there, take the trail toward the Willamette River. The short, dirt trail leads through the woods to a low, r
Metro, Portland to purchase natural area
Published on 2011-02-16 12:01:00
Thanks in part to Metro's Natural Areas Program - the same program which helped purchase land for a great park on Mount Talbert in SE Portland - a new park and natural area will soon be established in an under-served area of NE Portland.Read all abou
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Published on 2011-02-13 12:49:00
Situated between Reed College and Eastmoreland Golf Course in SE Portland, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a hidden oasis. The garden is tucked into the base of a hill, and you'd never guess how large it is judging from the small parking
Mount Talbert Nature Park
Published on 2011-02-10 17:55:00
I've been meaning to check out Mount Talbert ever since Oregon Field Guide did a segment on it way back in... well, I guess it's been several years now because I can't find any reference to it on the Oregon Field Guide website. I don't think th
First Post
Published on 2011-02-10 17:50:00
Hello - and welcome to the very first post on the Nature of Portland! My intention is to focus my posts on three major topics:native plants of the Portland areanative animals of the Portland areaprofiles of parks and other green spaces where th