I should never curse the sun for shining in Portland, but these pictures would have been so much better if the sun had just been a little less vibrant on the afternoon I turned this corner. The harsh shadows and sun-flare made capturing this vignette nearly impossible. Still I think you can hopefully make out most of the details of this very unique corner garden in SE Portland.
Believe it or not the first thing to grab my eye was not the tall Yucca rostrata, although once I noticed it I did see this whole arrangement in a different way. I think it’s playing the part of a tall floor lamp, between the sofa and chair. Here’s a close up so you can see the construction. I wonder if it was more grown-in over the summer, and fall/early winter has played a little rough with the “upholstery?”
The “fence” around this installation is made of bits of bike frames, with bike chain running through the hollows…
Bike chain also makes up the “do not sit” ropes across the chair and sofa, something straight out of a high-end antique store…only of course they would be silk ropes not bike chain.
Can you make out the face, peeking over the right hand corner of the sofa? He has a yucca or agave for hair; I couldn’t get close enough to see which in the bad light.
And I have no idea what the structure on the corner is all about. On the bottom left is a memorial plaque with a name and dates, but it somehow seemed disrespectful to photograph it for a blog post.
I should never curse the sun for shining in Portland, but these pictures would have been so much better if the sun had just been a little less vibrant on the afternoon I turned this corner. The harsh shadows and sun-flare made capturing this vignette nearly impossible. Still I think you can hopefully make out most of the details of this very unique corner garden in SE Portland. 
Believe it or not the first thing to grab my eye was not the tall Yucca rostrata, although once I noticed it I did see this whole arrangement in a different way. I think it’s playing the part of a tall floor lamp, between the sofa and chair. Here’s a close up so you can see the construction. I wonder if it was more grown-in over the summer, and fall/early winter has played a little rough with the “upholstery?” 
The “fence” around this installation is made of bits of bike frames, with bike chain running through the hollows… 
Bike chain also makes up the “do not sit” ropes across the chair and sofa, something straight out of a high-end antique store…only of course they would be silk ropes not bike chain. 
Can you make out the face, peeking over the right hand corner of the sofa? He has a yucca or agave for hair; I couldn’t get close enough to see which in the bad light. 
And I have no idea what the structure on the corner is all about. On the bottom left is a memorial plaque with a name and dates, but it somehow seemed disrespectful to photograph it for a blog post. 
How fun, love the creativity! Great that you could capture it even in the glare of the sun.
ReplyDeleteThis house has always been interesting. I lived on the next block for years and during those years a bicyclist was killed by a car who didn't stop at the stop sign. A memorial was built for the cyclist and I can see they are still doing some interesting work there!
ReplyDeletePeople's creativity still never ceases to amaze me! The 'furniture' can be adapted to become a form of vertical gardening :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I bet it looks stunning in the summer!
ReplyDeleteThis may well be the most unique garden I've ever seen. The Yucca rostrata makes a fantastic floor lamp (it's one of my favorite plants anyway). Can you post the exact location or is that too much of a breach of privacy?
ReplyDeleteDelightful use of a front yard. I wonder what it looks like in summer.
ReplyDeleteI love the bizarre creativity of it all. It seems like a place that no one would forget:) and the person to whom the memorial was built.
ReplyDeleteI lived in SE Portland during 1971-72, Ramona St.near Reed College, in a house that looked just like that one. Takes me back....
ReplyDeleteShirley, I've discovered that if you take enough photos there are bound to be a couple of decent ones in the mix!
ReplyDeleteLauren, thank you for the back-story...sad as it is.
Mark and Gaz, exactly! I wonder if they will ever actually sit on it, or if the chains will remain in place?
Deb, I'll try to check back.
Gerhard, I would be happy too...if I knew where exactly I was! This was another case of my cutting through a neighborhood and discovering something wonderful...I know I was somewhere in the neighborhood bordered by SE 39th, Hawthorne, and Belmont Aves...no more than a few blocks west of 39th. Are you planning a trip to Portland?
Hoover, I will attempt to find it again and report.
Rohrerbot, exactly.
Jean, glad I could provoke the memories!
Loree, thanks for the location. I have friends in Portland and will probably come up in the spring. Maybe we can meet for coffee?
ReplyDeleteGerhard
:: Bamboo and More ::
I suspect the chain will mostly remain in place, but the sofa occasionally sat on for photographic purposes :)
ReplyDeleteCup of tea or not, one must salute the effort and imaginativeness.
ReplyDelete