What is going on???  Is it summer again?  The calendar says it is fall, but it feels like the middle of summer.  We have been enjoying the great weather and spending more time on the patio.  One thing we are watching:  The slow change of color in our plants and trees.  With the cooler nights the fall colors are really starting to pop!  Get out in your garden and enjoy the show.

This week we featured...

Under the Autumn Moon Festival

We dropped by the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131) because we heard there was a festival going on and we found a huge neighborhood celebration.  The Under the Autumn Moon Festival will take place at the newly designed festival streets on NW Davis and Flanders between the renovated NW 3rd and 4th Avenues. The festival will open with a spectacular Mid-Autumn parade, and continue throughout the two days with multi-cultural music and dance, a global marketplace, fireworks, an international food area with cooking demonstrations, and arts and craft activities.  We met with Peter Englander from the Portland Development Commission to learn about all the street improvements (and they look spectacular).  Then we met with Gloria Lee at the garden and learned that they will be open for FREE on Sunday.  If you are looking to get out and have some fun in the sun, check out this wonderful multi-cultural event!

Stanley Pre-Bonsai

Some people want to get into the art of Bonsai, but they are afraid to start.  We found an easy way to get the bonsai look in your plants with out all the time and effort.  Larry Stanley from Stanley and Sons Nursery showed William some pre-bonsai trees.  These are naturally short, slow-growing varieties that will give you a head start on tackling bonsai.  You can leave these varieties in pots or planters for quite a long time and they will not become too big, too fast.  Of course, if you want them to get a little bigger just move them into your regular landscape and they will slowly get bigger.  For more information you can give them a call or contact your local independent garden center.

Cement Leaves

Before the leaves start to fall, harvest them for some quick garden art.  We met with a local artist, Ann Kenkel, to learn the steps for creating cute cement leaves for your landscape.  Ann has worked out the kinks and made all the mistakes so you don’t have to.  Just follow her ‘Cement Leaf’ recipe. CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE.  She recommends you start with smaller leaves and ones that are non-fuzzy.  Put your cement mixture on thick and then make sure you let it cure for quite a while.  Ann recommends at least 2 days before you remove the leaf.  You can do this with any leaf and now is the perfect time to do it. 

AMS – Landscaping

In the past we have told you about the Axis product and the company that distributes it, AMS (503-367-3640).  We found out that it is now becoming the product of choice for landscapers as well.  Rob Lubliner from Lubliner Landscaping told us how he uses it to give his clients a quick, lasting solution to their soil and lawn problems.  As a landscaper he has found that if you don’t fix the problem the first time you are just asking for trouble in the future.  If he has a clay soil with poor drainage he will give the AMS crew a call and they can eliminate it in short order.  George Serrill from AMS told us how easy it is to do to an existing lawn with their special equipment.  If you have soil problems, do what the professional landscapers do, call AMS.

Kindergarden – Bug Cups

This week’s kindergarden segment was a hoot!  We learned how to amplify the sounds of bugs using a small cup and some wax paper.  Amy Bigej from Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) brought this project to us and it was so easy we couldn’t resist.  To do it at home, capture a bug in a cup.  Stretch some wax paper across the top and then secure it with a rubber band.  Hold it up to your ear and you will be able to hear the bug clearly!  The fun part of this story was the ladybugs getting loose and tickling one of our little gardeners.