Category Archives: Local interest

Things of interest to those living in Portland, especially in North and inner NE, as the posts will often deal with the state of our neighborhood public schools.

Exquisite Creatures, exquisite world

Posted on January 6, 2020 by annamadeit

Currently showing at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) is this fantastic exhibit we all owe it to ourselves to see. It is the work of Christopher Marley, showcasing the immense beauty of the other creatures in the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Just for fun, Local interest | Tagged *see* the world, animals, art and science, birds, crustaceans, Exquisite Creatures, insects, naturalistic art, OMSI, reptiles | 12 Comments

An evening at the Japanese Garden

Posted on June 6, 2015 by annamadeit

Day or night, I rarely – if ever – turn down an invitation to experience the Japanese Garden. So when Drake (the owner of the company I work for, and also a board member of the Japanese Garden) asked if … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Just for fun, Local interest | Tagged ceramics, dusk, exhibit, garden, illumination, Koi pond, Living National Treasure, Mashiko, outdoor lighting, Portland Japanese Garden, pottery, twilight | 4 Comments

Oh mighty metal head…

Posted on February 8, 2015 by annamadeit

The other day, in a quest to find someone who could build some metal planter boxes, I visited Delia – a metal works place right up the hill from where I live. My neighbor Jeff works there, and I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest | Tagged Delia, Design, garden, local resources, metal, Portland, sculpture, steel | 14 Comments

A stroll through the Lan Su Garden

Posted on October 21, 2013 by annamadeit

The Lan Su Garden is a true gem in our city. It is a garden the size of a city block, which was built as a collaboration between Portland and its sister city Suzhou in the Jiangsu province in China. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool plants, Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest, On Design | Tagged chinese, details, garden, Lan Su, mosaic, paving, plant vignettes, poetry, stone | 20 Comments

From field to finishes – agricultural waste transformed!

Posted on July 9, 2013 by annamadeit

In a world of dwindling resources, shrinking forests and threatened ecological habitats, it is more important than ever to embrace sustainable, environmentally sound alternatives, and find ways to reduce waste. In my quest to become a full-fledged locavore, and make … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool building materials, Local interest, On Design | Tagged Building, creativity, environment, Green, Interior Design, LEED, Materials, Renewable, Resources, sustainability, TorZo surfaces | 7 Comments

Subtle, simple and sensual – material expressions in the Japanese Garden

Posted on July 4, 2013 by annamadeit

One of the top destinations in our fair city – in my book, at least – is the Japanese Garden. It never disappoints. Every time I go, I see new things, depending on light, weather, seasons – what have you. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool building materials, Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest, On Design | Tagged creativity, Design, fences, garden, Garden design, Japanese, Landscape design, Nature, paths, sculpture, Traditional | 9 Comments

The grass really is greener, but…

Posted on April 14, 2013 by annamadeit

The discussion came up at my kids’ school of replacing some more of the blacktop with greenspace. The idea is to fundraise and write grants to make it happen, as naturally there is no money for anything extra – at … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool plants, Environment, Gardening and Landscaping, Green Living, Local interest | Tagged athletic fields, clover, drought-tolerant, environment, evergreen, grass, Green, groundcover, lawns, low-budget, play area, schools, synthetic turf | Leave a comment

Spring is around the corner…

Posted on February 18, 2013 by annamadeit

There is something comforting in sameness…You know winter’s wrapping up when the YGP show comes to town. And you know that each year, there will be largely the same vendors as last year. Since the economic crash a few years … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool plants, Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest | Tagged creative seating, focal point, garden, landscape, Plants, spring, Trees, visual punch | 8 Comments

How low do we go? Ballot Measure 5, twenty-one years later…

Posted on May 2, 2011 by annamadeit

Each year, the trade publication Education Week ranks the public school systems of the 50 states + District of Columbia. The criteria the rankings are based on include, among other things, accountability standards, college readiness of high school graduates, spending and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local interest, On Community | Tagged budget, education, Measure 5, Oregon, Portland Schools Foundation, PPS, public, sales tax, schools | Leave a comment

Heaven for a plant addict!

Posted on April 11, 2011 by annamadeit

Okay – this past weekend was a holiday weekend in my world! The occasion? It happens twice a year, once in spring and once in fall – the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s plant sale at the Expo Center! The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool plants, Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest | Tagged Cool plants, HPSO, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Portland | Leave a comment