Field Trip!

It was forecast to be so hot today that we re-scheduled our garden field trip to 8:30 this morning, which was perfect. The temps were in the 70's and there was a lovely breeze. We had a terrific visit to this phenomenal garden in SW Portland - the result of 21 years of experimentation, vision and experience by a professor of invertebrate biology and her husband, an author of textbooks in environmental science. Here's a description of their garden:

"Our cottage garden is designed for pollinators, birds, and year-round interest. There are multiple spaces to linger in the garden, each with its own personality. The front yard is a mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers that put on a boisterous display and add scent throughout the spring and summer. Small prairie patches provide further food and shelter for beneficial insects. A rock-rimmed pond provides a haven for dragonflies, birds, and frogs, while the street is bordered with drought-tolerant plants selected for climate resilience. A diversity of organically grown fruiting trees and shrubs produce incredible flavor in the summer and fall, while herbs offer delightful scents. The shady back yard features mature trees under-planted with natives, as well as the creative use of dead wood to provide shelter and resources for pollinators, birds and frogs."

Back to the classroom afterwards, where we studied our own plants in the relative splendor of air conditioning, since the temps were forecast to be 97F/36C.