The past two months of March and April have been busy ones for me. After a year of mulling around ideas, phase 2 of my native plant garden has manifested complete with a little gazebo for a writer’s nook.
Last year was phase one, largely a DIY project with a little help from friends. This year I signed on some professionals to get the effect I wanted. My vision is to provide (when the garden matures in a few years), a habitat for birds, invertebrates, pollinators, and myself to hang out in. This is akin to bringing nature to my front door. Later this summer a rock water feature will be added.
I was fortunate to find Marc & Josh of Amaranth Organic Gardening in Oregon City who were very enthusiastic about my vision and ready to go as soon as the gazebo was installed
I wanted a primitive look for the gazebo. My husband and I cut down alder poles which I debarked with a draw knife just like in the old days building a log cabin. The next step- not an easy one, was to find a carpenter willing to build with these primitive materials and a sense of adventure. I found Richard, just the man, on Craigslist.
After Richard finished, Marc and Josh got busy, and voila my garden! Now the fun starts watching the plants grow, a very slow process in this cold, wet spring we have been having in W. Oregon. In the meantime, I have been having fun furnishing the writer’s nook with primitive furniture, and placing bits of artwork around the garden.
As a garden is an ever-manifesting being I’m curous to see what is in store for me. I will be sharing as it unfolds from my writer’s nook.
Happy Earth Day!
On this, the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, consider this…
By Alanna Pass 