Winter Hike in Champoeg, Oregon
In early February 2017, on a very cold, wet winter's day, I hiked around the Champoeg State Heritage Area outside of Butteville, Oregon. Champoeg (pronounced like "shampooey") was an important settlement in the 19th century and in 1843 formed an early regional government, a key step for the area eventually becoming a state. Today the former townsite is merely a field, but the surrounding 600 or so acres have become a park with forested trails easing along the Willamette River....
Ellie Pritts and Portland's Mississippi District
Angeleno power-player Ellie Pritts and I wandered in April 2017 around a couple of blocks in North Portland's Mississippi District, where there are fun little shops, bars, and coffee shops. Plus, we got to see one of the most wonderfully named parks in town, DeNorval Unthank City Park, or as it's more commonly known: Unthank Park. What a name! And from what I hear, Dr. Unthank himself was pretty amazing too, breaking numerous racial barriers in 20th century Portland...
Return to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, April 2017
At sunrise with a lovely veil of fog. Paradise...
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland
10 acres packed full of foliage, most importantly all sorts of rhododendrons. And they were all coming into bloom, wow...
Leach Botanical Garden
There are so many interesting plants there, and the whole estate (of about 17 acres) is serene and gorgeous...
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival 2017
Tulips never disappoint. And the Wooden Shoe farm is one of my favorite Northwest destinations...
Venice, Day 5: Giardinetti Reali
On day 5 of my Venetian adventures in December 2015, I visited the Giardinetti Reali. It's a wonderful little oasis of calm and greenery, steps away from the wild humanity of Piazza San Marco. The last time I was there the park was overrun delightfully with cats. The cats now though are all gone, as they are gone from every corner of Venice...
Venice, Day 7: Wandering Alone
On day 7 of my Venetian adventures in December 2015, I spent the evening wandering the glorious streets one last time before my plane took off in the morning. The city is so endlessly interesting to me, with its tiny alleyways, its abhorrence of 90-degree angles, its colors, its style, its life. I can't wait to return...
Portait: Jenna at Powell Butte
Traveling model Jenna shot with me at Powell Butte in Portland, Oregon, in March 2017. We have had one of the rainiest years on record here in rainy PDX, but Jenna and I somehow got to have an hour to stand outside and not get drenched. This year that qualifies as miraculous...