The Lazy Way to Make a Garden Bed-Portland, OR

Pretty purple petunias

I made a new flower bed a few weeks ago, and started planting it with annuals today. I wish I was one of those gardeners that are in to doing things the correct and right way all the time. But frankly, I no longer have the energy, or time to always do things the right way. More times than I care to admit, I like to take the easy way to complete many routine gardening projects. Making new gardening beds is one of these projects that I try to do the "easy" way.

Snapdragons. I noticed that the ones I planted last year, grew back this year

My new bed is a 9ft by 4ft bed that I made over grass. My lazy bed technique included covering the grass with two layers of black weed blocking fabric, followed by dumping several inches of mulch over the top. By next summer the grass should be dead underneath leaving a nice layer of soil. If you can, it is best to mow the grass and remove any weeds that you can.

These annuals should fill in as soon as the weather is warm everyday

Today I was able to plant some annuals in the bed. I also transplanted many annuals such as Cosmos and Zinnias that were seed starts. Planting is fairly easy. You just temporary remove the mulch where you want to plant. Then cut a slit in the fabric with a knife and tuck the plant into the slit. You may have to dig a hole if the plant won't fit. After placing the plant, I just pushed the mulch back around the plant.

 I selected this method to make the bed because it is still cool and wet here in Oregon. If it was the middle of summer I could have just covered the spot in black plastic or weed blocker fabric.  The heat from the sun, and lack of light would then  kill the grass underneath in a week or so. In fall I like to cover areas with cardboard then add soil and compost on top. The cardboard method is my favorite way to make a bed because the cardboard breaks down quickly, leaving a rich soil underneath by next planting season. It also attracts a lot of worms. Here is a video that shows you how to do it in a raised bed.

Response to Caroline: Progress in the Garden

Today was beautiful in Portland and we broke records for one of the warmest days in April. It was up in the 80's, just like the weather you have been having in Maine for the last month. I heard on the news that a cold snap is due this week where you live. What will you do with all the plants that you put in over the past couple of weeks? It seems like our weather is always opposite. This is our last day of warm weather. It is back to reality with average temperatures in the high 50's.

Thought you might be interested in this restaurant that I pass by on my walk to the community garden. I took a photo of it because like most businesses here, sustainability and green practices are very common.Notice in the second picture that the water from the roof downpour spout is being used to water some kind of roof top planters.

Below is the park that is attached to my garden. I have to walk through the park to get to my garden.

 I spent my whole two hours in the garden mulching pathways to keep weeding to a minimum. This is the mulch that the community garden provides. It isn't really the best.Only wood chips, but it is better than nothing. I think your son got the same sort of free chips from your city down there or was it better stuff?

The Rhubarb I started from seed last year is doing really well.Notice how large the leaves are getting and the stalks look like they are ready to harvest now. You know I am not a great cook, but I made a nice Apple & Rhubarb crumble pie last year. We used Rhubarb a great deal when I was growing up in England. 

Here is one of those fancy lettuces that survived the winter and is now going to seed.

Another plant that has gone to seed. I can't tell what it was, but I probably should pull it before the seed pods release their seeds.

 Chives with their pretty purple flowers

 One of my garden neighbors gave me some winter and summer squash starts.I put them in the ground although I think it is a tad early. Another neighbor started a tomato plant.I know it is way early for tomatoes, but it might be a good idea to get a few in if we don't get a cold snap. One hassle I have been experiencing is getting rid of the rye cover crop. I don't think any

kind of grass cover crop is a good idea if you have to get rid of it by hand. I like how the cover crop worked ,but this fall I am planting what everyone else does here-Crimson Clover.

Note to Caroline: First Seed Sowing Day

It is a late start here this year due to heavy spring rain and cool weather. Today was in the 60's so I took the opportunity to sow some seeds.






In bed one I sowed the following: Evergreen Hardy White Bunching Onion, Saxa II Radish, Miner's Lettuce, Arugula and Parisienne Carrot. In bed two  I sowed the following: Bull's Blood Beets, Oregon Sugar Pod II Peas and Sugar Ann Snow Peas. Not sure that peas and beets make such a great combination? What do you think?

Tomorrow I hope to plant my Potatoes and Strawberries. I saw my garden neighbor today

and she is going to send her Strawberry runners my way. We also discussed the possibility of putting

up a compost bin we can share.

The Grotto, The Natural Santuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, Portland, Oregon

The Grotto is a a special tribute to Mary the Sorrowful Mother of Jesus and includes 62-acres of gardens. A grotto was formed at the base of a 110 ft basalt cliff where an altar was constructed. The grounds also include several chapels, a visitor center and a beautiful meditation chapel that was built in 1991 (pictured). The chapel includes glass walls.

The gardens are primarily shade gardens and include a wide variety of trees, hostas and other shade loving plants and shrubs

This tiny chapel honors St. Anne , the mother of Mary and was built in 1934. It now contains many Madonna paintings from around the world.

The Rose Garden. Since 2003 the garden has expanded through Mother's Day donations from supporters who have planted roses in honor of their own mothers.

The bronze doors of the Chapel of Mary. The chapel seats 500 people.The Grotto hosts a Christmas Festival of Lights each year which is a popular family event in Portland. Every year the event welcomes 50,000-60,000 people.

Seating by the Grotto cave which is approximately 30 ft wide by 30 ft deep. Over 30,000 people visited the first outdoor Mother's Day mass in 1930. Mass is held each Sunday May through September at noon.

The Grotto is built on two levels that are connected by a 125 foot (ten story) elevator.

A water feature in the Grotto.

The Peace Garden one of the many Grotto gardens. The Grotto is maintained entirely through gifts and donations and receives no financial support form the church.

One of many statues in the Grotto

The Grotto was founded by Father Ambrose Mayer (1883-1971) who prayed to the Virgin Mary for his mother's life promising that if she was spared he would one day undertake a great work for the church. The land for the Grotto was purchased for $3,000 from the Union Pacific Railroad Company . The initial asking price was $48,000.

Oregon Wine Country

Russian Sage at the White Rose Winery

Wine country is 25 miles from Portland

Beautiful views of the vineyards

Dahlias at the vineyards? I saw a great many of them planted in containers

Late Summer Visit to the Portland Rose Garden

This is one of the oldest public gardens of its kind in the United States. The garden was founded in 1917. There are over 10,000 plantings of 500 varieties of Roses. The garden is free to the public.



Portland Japanese Garden

Visited these beautiful 5.5 acre gardens today. Upon entering a Japanese Garden the hope is to realize a sense of peace, harmony and tranquility. The garden has been proclaimed the most authentic Japanese garden outside Japan. The garden was designed by Professor Takuma Tono in 1963.

This is the Wisteria Arbor which leads to the antique 5-tiered stone pagoda lantern given to Portland from its Sister City in Japan.

Part of the Natural Garden which winds its way down the south hillside. Other features include ponds, waterfalls and shallow streams. Trees, shrubs, fens and mosses grow in their natural form.

Another beautiful feature of the Natural Garden

The Flat Garden is designed using a sea of raked sand. The two islands of green represent a sake cup and bottle which signifies the pleasure and wish for the visitor's happiness.

Waterfall feature at the gardens

The Poetry Stone. The haiku reads "Here, miles from Japan, I stand as if warmed by the spring sunshine of home"

The Sand and Stone Garden featuring weathered stones rising from a bed of gravel. This garden style is typically found in Zen monasteries.

A stone pathway

Koi swimming at the lower pond of the Zig Zag Bridge

Garden feature and view of garden



Portland Community Garden Late Summer

After one of the wettest summers in the Pacific NW we finally have had a few weeks of warm weather. Here you can see that the Rainbow Chard continues to do well and the leaves are getting quite large now. I love Chard because as soon as you harvest a few leaves, more grow back and Chard grows here spring through early winter.

I have been harvesting tons of the Yellow Wax Beans. They grew and started producing beans very quickly even though they are only a foot tall. I would definitely grow more of these next year.

Pictured is one of the many squash plants that have started to product. I like the Lemon Squash we are growing because the plants don't get that big, but produce a great deal. I also found the squash easy to cut and the peel very soft.

There is a lot of talk in the garden about winter gardening. I was told that we can grow a great deal here in the Pacific NW just by using a row cover. The best time to sow seeds for winter gardening is now. I have read that the trick is not having too much top growth by the time the cold weather starts in most plants. Not sure if I want to take a break or continue to garden all year round.