Design

An early morning speaker (at the Garden Writers Association conference that I'm attending) pointed out a growing interest in small-scale gardens. I'm not sure that is anything new, but I'm definitely impressed by the intensive gardening practiced in the private gardens on our tours yesterday afternoon. Honeybee on dahlia

As soon as it became light, I was off to walk. I like to get my bearings in a new place, and see how the neighborhoods and cityscapes feel. I MUCH prefer to walk outside (in whatever weather) in preference to indoor gyms. Looping through downtown Portland (very quiet so early) and walking back along the Waterfront Park path was urban, with pockets of streetscape plants. Returning through more of a neighborhood area gave me a different perspective, with restaurants, and coffee houses, and folks stopping on the way to work. I was impressed with a couple of curbside and parking lot plantings near a huge mall -- definitely an encouraging start for the week!

Ok so I pretty much love everything in this image. That funky blue and white fabric on that ottoman/floor pillow glider (what are those called? we had one when I was little...but I want this one!), the colorful throw pillows, the old yellow fun, the turquoise candlestick...it all looks so perfect with that lovely shade of blue on the wall! I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! :) - MarthaStewart.com via Decorology

Heading to a conference on the other side of the North American continent takes me from Eastern oak-hickory forest and old fields to the damp western slopes of the Cascades. I may not see much in the way of natural areas in downtown Portland, but it is certainly a city of gardens, parks, and focused (and contained) urban growth. Rosehill Cottage chair My part of North America (the Southeast) exemplifies sprawl and a larger ecological travel footprint, according to an expert interviewed on our CU-produced program (Your Day) for SC-ETV Public Radio, aired as I was driving to the airport. There’s certainly irony in that, but I guess I believe in the benefits of travel, and hope the carbon offset programs do some good! But he also spoke about how Portland had made a choice between expanding highways and mass transit, opting for transit. I’ll take a light rail system from the airport to the conference hotel for about $2.30. If I have time to go to the other side of the Willamette River,...

I think if I were to have a porch on my home, I would have it look EXACTLY like this one by interior designer and preservationist Jane Coslick ! I adore the pretty turquoise paint combined with the red and white accents. For more images of the colorful interior, go here !

This entryway is so appealing to me in a very cozy, homey way. I think I can hear people laughing and smell dinner cooking in the next room over! - Apartment Therapy via Desire to Inspire

This gate surrounded by a delightful planting scheme caught my eye on a walk last weekend. The autumn clematis, blue anise sage ( Salvia guaranitica ), and a purple-leaved annual made a perfect late summer scene.