Tuesday, August 17, 2010

yard of the month

We took a little trip last weekend to Central Oregon. Several times a year we find ourselves speeding along I-84 in the Columbia River Gorge, in-route to visit family in Spokane. My husband really wanted to get off the freeway and head south to see just what that area was all about.The second night on the road we spent in Condon, OR, population somewhere between 668 to 780 (depending on what report you read). We picked up the local paper and saw this photograph and story about the “yard of the month.” Isn’t it great that such a small town has a garden club?
Of course I had to check it out.
Very tidy. Must be a lot of pressure to keep things looking good when you have the sign in your yard for an entire month.
Down the street a bit we found an entirely different take on what makes a great yard.
And another...
And would you believe tiny little Condon has a satellite Powell’s Books (Powell's is a Portland institution)...they were closed when I took this picture so we didn’t poke around inside.
The same business has a little nursery! And demonstrating that small town atmosphere they left the herbs…
sedum...
…and trees outside, on the sidewalk, unsecured, after closing.
These poor specimens look destined for the dumpster.
Speaking of the dead…
And, of course, across the street from the Sweeny (Todd?) mortuary was a barber shop (I’m not making this up!). Hanging above the entry was this plastic bag filled with water and a few pennies. Casting a spell? Keeping the evil spirits away?
More from central Oregon to come, it’s an awe-inspiring natural landscape out there.

10 comments:

  1. My husband and I stayed at the Hotel Condon last fall for a night-not much going on, but it's a cute town. We had a view of the back of the mortuary from our hotel window if I remember correctly. It felt a little haunted, like we were the only guests in town...the hotel manager was also the bell boy and also the waiter and bartender in the restaurant!

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  2. The bag above the door keeps the flies out -- or so they say. Check out the Reel 'em Inn on Division and ask the bar tender about it. They have the same thing there, sans the pennies.

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  3. Small towns rock!

    The water-filled bag repels fruit flies. We saw the same thing (sans coins) at the Rogue Brewery in Astoria this past weekend. The server said she thought it was the silliest idea she'd ever heard and removed them: the fruit flies came right back. She's convinced now. Apparently they don't like seeing their reflection in the water.

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  4. I've heard of the pennies in a bag to get rid of flies. Haven't tried it yet. I grew up in smallish Moses Lake and worked at a little nursery where everything was kept safe at night by a rope strung across the dirt parking lot entrance.

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  5. What a cool little town. That's old time America for ya. Can't leave the greenery and trees out in other areas they would be gone quick. And love the house with the flamingos! So funny!

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  6. Small towns are neat! Plants left outside, who'd of thunk it! I guess when you know everyone in town, there's a higher level of trust!

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  7. Must be nice to be able to be so trustworthy. I have seen and heard of the bags of water to repel flies.

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  8. All - wow! Thanks for the info on the bag of water and flies, who knew? (apparently everyone but me)

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  9. Oh Loree, You've done it again! What a great post. That YOTM is a great idea even if the criteria seem to be somewhat um, well, different than you and I would aspire to. I love the third example with all the cool stuff bedecking the fence with the urban-esque building in the background.

    Destined for the dumpster...too funny but tragic too... And those cool windows behind it all.

    Like you I've never heard of or seen the water to repel the fruit flies. Now if there were garlic cloves floating in it, hmmm.... Actually one of the blueberry nurseries nearby is using vinegar in a cup with a tiny hole pricked in the lid to lure a newly discovered fruit fly. Not quite the same thing but...

    Did you make it as far south as K. Falls? Probably not but I'm taking mental notes on your delightfully entertaining method of garden-related "travelogue." There is so much to see and photograph and share with other like-minded friends out there. Fun!!!

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  10. I always hankered after a book deal where I would travel around the country taking pictures and talking to people about their folksy approach to gardening. Looks like you are beating me to it.

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