It's a blogging tradition, every spring Les, at A Tidewater Gardener, has a "Winter Walk-Off" post where he goes for a walk and posts pictures he takes along the way. He invites other bloggers to join in the fun and do the same in our own city (we just have to avoid photos of our own gardens). Last year I stayed close to home and crossed over to the "wrong side of the tracks." This year my Walk-Off post is from Salem, Oregon, our state capital. Andrew and I passed through Salem last weekend on our way home from a get-away, Andrew was busy soaking up the ambiance of a used bookstore so I set off to take some pictures and enjoy a dry afternoon...
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Of course I had to begin with a shot of the capital building, however I made a nice surprise in the carvings flanking the front steps. Look, opuntia! And that plant on the far right bears a striking resemblance to an agave, don't you think?
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On the other side...
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More opuntia! Poor pony, I hope he didn't step too close.
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Okay, off to stroll through a neighborhood. This complex was striking for the quantity of bricks used in the fencing as well as the number of buildings.
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This one was more to my taste.
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Although the lawn would have to go in favor of a Mediterranean garden.
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The lion would stay.
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Last years walk off included a pink ribes, since one presented itself on this walk I had to continue the tradition.
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This park along the river (it looks more river like on the other side) screams 1970's landscape architecture to me...
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A wishing well, flamingos, lions, Christmas lights, solar lights, plastic flowers, stepping stones, a white spider (on the wishing well lattice roof), a couple of plastic frogs...this house has it all...and it's for sale!
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They have more moss than I do.
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This one has mid-century mod potential, but they really need to loose the Christmas wreath, it's March for goodness sakes.
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This one is odd. I can't quite figure out what it's all about.
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This just might be our state "flower" Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)...
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Those arches are far enough apart that a small child or a dog could fall through, oh the days when everything didn't have to be "safe"....
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This was a very sad discovery. I don't know who landscaped the Salem Convention Center but it is pathetic. I took far too many photos and could have done a whole post about how awful it was. Instead I'll just share a select few.
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Look there's art! At least I think that's what the shiny metal cube on the right is supposed to be...
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Aren't those 3-teir things supposed to be used in the kitchen to hold bananas and avocados?
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Oh and why bother to actually plant the plants? They're just going to die anyway and this makes them much easier to remove.
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After that I think I need a drink, thankfully Magoo's has cold beer.
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A cheery palate cleanser...
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There were quite a few amazing old buildings in the downtown area.
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This huge old bank (now US Bank) was gorgeous, for some reason it made me feel I was back in Venice, just for a moment.
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I wonder what the story is behind the newspaper on the windows? Are they newsprint blinds?
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I spy a garden store!
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Sadly they were closed, it was Sunday afterall.
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I loved these metal buckets/planters. Of course the price tag was turned away from the window so I have no idea if I could have afforded them.
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Oh look, an alley with overhanging vines, I love a good alley!
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Those are serious, this plant has been here awhile.
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I wish I could see it all leafed out...
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And a balcony! On the left we have a crispy Christmas tree...
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On the right an interesting wall of planters and table and chairs which look to have been recently used.
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Does this door lead upstairs to the balcony? I wonder. Either way someone is gardening in the space they have available.
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Next door was this Liv, nicely done with the corrugated wall and the bright green steps!
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Just like that we come to the end of my walk. Check out A Tidewater Gardener on the 19th when Les will recap all the participating bloggers.
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Of course I had to begin with a shot of the capital building, however I made a nice surprise in the carvings flanking the front steps. Look, opuntia! And that plant on the far right bears a striking resemblance to an agave, don't you think?
On the other side...
More opuntia! Poor pony, I hope he didn't step too close.
Okay, off to stroll through a neighborhood. This complex was striking for the quantity of bricks used in the fencing as well as the number of buildings.
This one was more to my taste.
Although the lawn would have to go in favor of a Mediterranean garden.
The lion would stay.
Last years walk off included a pink ribes, since one presented itself on this walk I had to continue the tradition.
This park along the river (it looks more river like on the other side) screams 1970's landscape architecture to me...
A wishing well, flamingos, lions, Christmas lights, solar lights, plastic flowers, stepping stones, a white spider (on the wishing well lattice roof), a couple of plastic frogs...this house has it all...and it's for sale!
They have more moss than I do.
This one has mid-century mod potential, but they really need to loose the Christmas wreath, it's March for goodness sakes.
This one is odd. I can't quite figure out what it's all about.
This just might be our state "flower" Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)...
Those arches are far enough apart that a small child or a dog could fall through, oh the days when everything didn't have to be "safe"....
This was a very sad discovery. I don't know who landscaped the Salem Convention Center but it is pathetic. I took far too many photos and could have done a whole post about how awful it was. Instead I'll just share a select few.
Look there's art! At least I think that's what the shiny metal cube on the right is supposed to be...
Aren't those 3-teir things supposed to be used in the kitchen to hold bananas and avocados?
Oh and why bother to actually plant the plants? They're just going to die anyway and this makes them much easier to remove.
After that I think I need a drink, thankfully Magoo's has cold beer.
A cheery palate cleanser...
There were quite a few amazing old buildings in the downtown area.
This huge old bank (now US Bank) was gorgeous, for some reason it made me feel I was back in Venice, just for a moment.
I wonder what the story is behind the newspaper on the windows? Are they newsprint blinds?
I spy a garden store!
Sadly they were closed, it was Sunday afterall.
I loved these metal buckets/planters. Of course the price tag was turned away from the window so I have no idea if I could have afforded them.
Oh look, an alley with overhanging vines, I love a good alley!
Those are serious, this plant has been here awhile.
I wish I could see it all leafed out...
And a balcony! On the left we have a crispy Christmas tree...
On the right an interesting wall of planters and table and chairs which look to have been recently used.
Does this door lead upstairs to the balcony? I wonder. Either way someone is gardening in the space they have available.
Next door was this Liv, nicely done with the corrugated wall and the bright green steps!
Just like that we come to the end of my walk. Check out A Tidewater Gardener on the 19th when Les will recap all the participating bloggers.
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.