Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Trees, Coffee and Bakery, Art… and Goats
I was so fortunate to have worked for an arborist for several years before I started my landscape design practice over 30 years ago. My training and perspective on trees is naturally different than many other designers. Now I can drive around and see these big Portland dogwood trees that I planted 20 and 30 years ago. Its a privilege and makes me feel like my clients and I have contributed something worthwhile and lasting for our city.
The dogwood trees in these photos are all on N Wabash Avenue in Portland North.
The best time to view the flowers on Portland’s dogwood trees is late May into early June, but I expect the fall color will also be spectacular. The Korean Dogwoods were flowering earlier this year due to warmer temperatures and these trees put on a show. I walked down the street from a client’s home to take most of these photos for you.
Coffee and Bakery: Cathedral Coffee
Hilary Hutler, my associate designer and I often meet up at Cathedral Coffee to talk shop, and I always snag a bakery goodie for my guy. Their bakery goodies are a big cut above most coffee shop fare. Many are from La Provence bakery, a local artisan bakery (see the full La Provence bakery menu). Fresh amazing bread rolls in here every Saturday and Sunday. Some items are healthy fare, the veggie turnover, a few gluten free choices. Others are old favorites done right with quality ingredients too such as house made syrups. Some pastries are also made in house.
Craftsman & Artist Supply
Down Wabash Avenue and over eight blocks is my favorite art store, Craftsman & Artist Supply.
In addition to all kinds of art supplies, they carry these exquisite pre-cut blank and expectant watercolor cards and envelopes. The paper is so soft to the touch and takes my colorful liquid watercolor so well. I use them for thank you notes to clients who refer, host a yard sign. I also use them to help me in the ongoing need for online substance and for marketing our Portland landscape design services.
The papers come in 5 x 5, 5 x 7, and 4 x 6 and include an envelope made from the same amazing paper.
Belmont Goats at Pier Park (sorry, no photo)
Full disclosure I have not yet been to visit the goats at Pier Park. They are still called Belmont Goats, not Pier Park Goats in nearby University Park neighborhood and a few blocks from the University Park New Seasons. Belmont Goats are open on weekends (most recent hours were 11-2pm) and by appointment during the week.
I want to go visit the goats and soon. Sure it could be a petting zoo thing for kids but goats are for grownups like me because they will help me find my inner kid. No kidding. My kid is more creative than my grown-up, hands down. It’s at N. Syracuse and N. Macrum but don’t park on Syracuse — if you are local you will know why!
Another Portland Dogwood Tree on N Wabash
This tree is three stories tall, ‘Venus’, a white flowering korean dogwood and is impressive to anyone. Inside scoop: this is probably the largest ‘Venus’ Dogwood in Portland. I haven’t been everywhere of course, but it is the largest one I have seen, including the arboretum.
Wrapping Up
Seeing all these Portland dogwood trees, you get a taste for the challengs in planning landscape design within a city.
Everything a person might want for their outdoor living needs to fit into a small package. We often have neighbors garage walls at the property line, power line poles in the backyard, tall houses 5′ off the fence, limited space for a shade tree that will really give shade and more.
Making it all work and add quality to my clients lives and their neighborhoods is still my idea of fun.
Contact me at Landscape Design in a Day for an experienced designer who specializes in city landscapes and their unique issues.
Carol Lindsay
