Introduction

In November 2000 I moved to Portland Oregon, USA and I need to learn new things that relate to my new environment. I have always enjoyed gardening and have had the opportunity to live in many very different climates. For many years I lived in western Washington state USA which is dry and has 4 seasons. Then I lived in the rain forest of Cameroon Africa, which has rainy and dry season and everything grows like crazy. My next stop was Minnesota USA where winter lasts from October till May and it gets very cold.

My new house used to belong to an avid gardener but for at least one year it has been left totally without care. Most of the back yard is a flower garden and I can't wait to see what types of flowers are planted. There are tons of Iris and lots of small bulbs too, all which need to be dug up and spread out. My biggest problem is that there is a lot of grass growing now. I think one of the reasons is that after the bulbs bloom in the spring there is nothing happening to keep the grass from growing. The other problem I have is that my lawn is mostly dead and has been taken over by moss.

I took this class winter 2001 and had a great time in this class leaning about organic gardening. One of the things I am trying is to put news paper down under a layer of organic matter to keep the weeds (in my case grass) from growing.

Garden Plan

Feb 2001 Goals
  • Look nice
  • Able to keep it up
  • Nice place for Relaxing
  • Vegetables
  • Flowers for Cutting
  • Cheery form inside esp during the winter
Wish list
  • Fish Pond
  • Roses
Current Strengths
  • Plenty of bulbs
  • Nice shady spot under the pine trees
  • Nice Rhododendron
  • Nice bush (aka The Fruitloop Bush)
  • Fence for pet
Current Problems
  • Shrubs by driveway are tired
  • Grass growing where it doesn't belong
  • Bulbs are over crowded
  • Too much to weed
  • Not enough Lawn in Back yard for kids
  • Little Tree is too close to the house
  • Lawn in bad shape out front
  • No cutting flowers…. I think
  • No Compost heap
  • View of neighbors under shrubs
  • Shrubs too tall
  • Back Flower garden dosnt have anything in it
  • A lot of shade
Ideas
  • Take out at least some of the left hand flowers and make grass
  • Move interesting stuff to back bed
  • Add Irises to front and Side
  • Put Roses where front shrubs are
  • Hanging Baskets in front and back
  • Add Vegatable plot
  • Herb garden
  • Or possibly no lawn in the back works better than lawn if it is dry

2004 Update

Completed Projects and Improvements
  • Moved all of the plants to the back bed
  • Planted Grass where the Left Bed was
  • Planted 11 Rosebushes
  • Grass is healthy again
  • Added more earily bulbs that show from inside
  • Container Garden on the Patio (herbs and flowers)
  • Composting has improved soil in the back bed
  • Trimming all Shrubs has made them healthier
  • Feeding and watering has brought more birds
New issues
 
Neighbor cut down fenceline bushes, so I am adding climbing roses and other Tall Border plants
 
Old Issues
  • The little tree in front is STILL too close to the house
  • I STILL want a fish pond