Dirt Therapy

This past Saturday, some friends and I made a day of one of my favorite activities - looking at other people's gardens. The tour featured five gardens in the southwest Portland area and was sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon. Our first stop was the only garden that I've seen before - Stephen Morgan & Marilyn Laufenberg's colorful garden that overlooks Stephen's Creek Natural Area, which is a steep ravine. I've been to their garden at least two times in the past. I absolutely love it, and I'm always astounded at what they have accomplished. Just looking at the terrain, it is obvious that this was no easy feat. The garden wraps around the back of their home and is a series of steps and narrow pathways, brimming with all kinds of plants (many tropical) and touches of whimsey. My laugh of the day came when I saw this sign posted at the entry to the garden - They said that the rabbits had been terrible this year. You would not notice it by looking aro...

Norwich Cathedral, just across the street from our hotel, is an impressive feat of architecture. It dates back to 1096, when it was founded by the first Bishop of Norwich, Herbert de Losinga. The Spire measures 315 feet and is the second tallest in England (Salisbury is the tallest). The current spire is the third (the first was blown down in a storm and the second destroyed in a fire), having been completed in 1485. The spire is home to many peregrine falcons. The Cloister is the largest in the country. The monument honors Bishop John Pelham (1857-1893).  The McLean Windows, in the Trinity, were designed by abstract expressionist artist John McLean and installed in 2014. They cast a colorful glow through the hallways.  Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy