Thursday, March 17, 2016

Winter Walk-off on the South Waterfront

I've always enjoyed participating in the Winter Walk-Off posts hosted by Les at A Tidewater Gardener and I was determined to not let our non-stop March rain (3.86" thus far) get in the way of joining up again this year. So instead of a neighborhood stroll I chose to drive downtown, to an area known as the South Waterfront. That way if a downpour hit (as opposed to just the never ending drizzle) I could duck undercover of a building entrance or overhang.

The South Waterfront is a high-rise district (partially completed) built on former brownfield industrial land located south of downtown Portland, it's one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the U.S (source). Before the economy tanked in 2007, or so, construction here was zooming along at a nice clip. Then the housing/financial catastrophe hit and all new construction of condos and apartments came to an abrupt halt. Back then I was employed as the Marketing Coordinator for an architecture firm responsible for a lot of those high-rises, with more on the way. I was laid-off in early 2010 as the company downsized from upwards of 300 employees to under 70. Those were tough times, walking around this area for the first time since then brought back a lot of memories.

A close-up of the vine, an Akebia of some sort. I've never particularly cared for them one way or the other, but I think that's about to change.

How beautiful!

Sure the bars keep me out, but not my camera. This looks like a nice place to take the dog to do its business (an issue when you live in a high-rise community with 100's of other dogs I'm sure).

Planted or naturally occurring?

Above average containers I thought.

Trochodendron aralioides (Wheel Tree), Metapanax delavayi, Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' among others.

So far I've just covered the block it took to walk from where I parked to the waterfront, this is where I wanted to start. There's a lovely greenway here, one that sadly is not connected to the larger waterfront further north, at least not yet.

That's the Ross Island Bridge, one of eleven bridges that connect the east and west sides of the Portland.

This installation had no signage explaining what it symbolizes or giving credit to the artist. I was unable to find anything online but my sleuthing husband did. It's called Cradle to Cradle and is the work of Seattle artist Buster Simpson.

From his website: "Cradle to Cradle is a sculptural offering to the Willamette River. Once a wild river with vast amounts of woody debris, the Willamette has been tamed and we have become its steward. Providing habitat for flora and fauna will prove key to our mutual survival. The four anthropomorphic concrete anchors cradle three cedar ‘root wads’ awaiting deployment of their woody debris offering in support of habitat enhancement along the river’s edge."

What he doesn't mention, and isn't shown in the drawings on his website, are the four words carved into the cement base: atqi, itana, temtem, makuk. It's a mystery.

Walking along this struck me as odd, but in a good way. Usually landscape installations like this stick to one style of furniture. Here were three very different benches within just feet of each other.

I've reached the north end of the park. I like the chain link fence going right out into the river, certainly drives the point home doesn't it?

That's old Portland right there, the last of the Zidell Marine Buildings, a company specializing in barge building and repair. They're involved in the new development as well – read about that here if you're interested.

Looking under the Ross Island Bridge you can see the cables of the new pedestrian, bike and transit-only bridge Tilikum Crossing and beyond that the double-deck Marquam Bridge which carries I-5 traffic over the Willamette.

How about a shot of blooming Mahonia, because after all this is a gardening blog. There's a lot of it planted along this stretch.

I've turned around now and I'm heading back to the main part of the greenway/park. This dense planting, backed by gabions, separates the walkway from the river.

Those big cement planting boxes must anchor the shoreline?

This would be a much lovelier view on a sunny spring day when the trees have all leafed out.

Double-crested Cormorant? (I'm bird stupid)

Stay on the paths people!

This one for walkers...

This one for bikers...

And we turn back towards the development...

This made me laugh. You can be assured many well-paid folks were involved in the design of this secure entry...

And yet this...

Fat Mahonia berries! Perhaps M. x media 'Charity'

Fancy drainage...

Nobody wants to sitting outside and enjoy an espresso on a wet day such as this, giant lions excepted.

I'm no fan of pansies but a bright jolt of orange is much appreciated.

Yellow too!

Looks like a cool place to pass a warm summer afternoon.

There was a bit of a local uproar last year when our local little big burger was sold to the same company that owns Hooters. Que sera, sera...

Here we are at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, named after an early pioneer woman who was one of the first settlers in this part of the city. The tall building in the background is an Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) building.

Most of the OHSU campus is up on a hill behind the South Waterfront, however they've outgrown that area and with no space to expand they've built here. That odd shaped structure to the left is the lower tower for the aerial tram, which connects this area to the upper OHSU campus.

Here's one of the cars coming down off the hill. It's quite the ride, if it were a sunny day I would have been tempted to take you up that way but instead you can find images here.

The table is bolted in pace, but the chairs can me moved around as desired.

The wooden beams are most definitely not moving anywhere.

Although it looks convex in these photos, the shallow pond is actually concave. The discs that jut up out of the water spray jets of water, no doubt making this a popular spot for kids in the summertime.

What are the chances the rock and plaque pre-date the park? Nah.

Looking west across I-5 (white semi-truck middle of the photo) and up towards the OHSU campus (tall buildings on the right, barely visible in the trees).

Masses of this attractive foliage looks quite lovely, I have no idea what it is.

I've now crossed the street to take a closer look at the entry courtyard to the Mirabella, a fancy pants high-rise retirement/assisted living community built by the firm I used to work for. I remember drawings of this space and wanted to see how it looked "in real life"...

I like the artwork choice.

To bad there's always somebody who has to be damaging.

Love the frog!

Huge Acanthus mollis backed by a sheet of falling water.

Quite nicely done.

Okay, I'm wrapping this visit up and heading back to my car - but not before I show you that this is still a neighborhood very much under construction.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour of a new part of town, and thank you Les for the excuse to get out and explore (this was the last fun thing I did before getting sick with the flu). Back to strictly plant and garden talk tomorrow!

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

34 comments:

  1. There's a ton to see in your post. The buildings looked oddly familiar to me. I might have walked there myself years ago with Portland friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or maybe you were in the Pearl District? The buildings have a similar feel and that part of town is also a "new" development - although aged enough to have some character and a lot more for people to see and do (restaurants, galleries, shops).

      Delete
  2. Nice to see that there is waterfront viewing if not access. A great portion of our local lakes are bordered by homes making lake access limited to certain areas. I do find those three bench styles in view of each other disconcerting. I can see wanting to offer different choices to folks but not so near each other. Dilutes the effect of any given style.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Waterfront view/access is very democratic in this state, well except for Lake Oswego. The rich need somewhere to feel exclusive I suppose. And thank you, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one a little surprised by the benches. I know I said "in a good way" but I keep going back and forth on that...

      Delete
  3. Very nice! Some great details everywhere. I really love the Acanthus mollis planting -- wow! I'm mainly wondering though: where is everybody?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well...it was raining, so people aren't going to be hanging out on benches and in parks. They were hurrying along the sidewalks and quickly walking their dogs. Also it was a Friday afternoon and a lot of people were probably at work, and keep in mind this isn't a finished neighborhood. Plus I tried not to point my camera at people, they don't like that so much.

      Delete
  4. What a bummer about the broken glass ball on the sculpture. Maybe it was hail. I really wanted to take part in this, but the rain and my health have just conspired against me. I'd be tempted to do it in the next two sunny days, but I'm so far behind in my gardening, I'd feel guilty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Imagine how I'm feeling Alison...finally we have some sun and I'm to sick to make use of it. Pity party for me!!!

      Delete
  5. This area is on my list for entertaining out of town visitors, including a tram ride. I've never been able to do justice to the wall of water. I think you have come as close as possible without resorting to video.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really thought I'd posted about riding the tram previously but I couldn't find it. I took my parents there years ago and my nephew loved it so much when he visited we had to go back again (although he had to be talked into it the first time...it looked too scary).

      Delete
  6. I enjoyed this tour much more than I expected when I saw the words "urban redevelopment." I'm glad to see your city is invested in making the area attractive using plants and sculpture. I saw an article on redeveloping the old Ports of Call Village area of San Pedro (along our harbor) and can only hope that this smaller size effort (if it even gets off the ground) will be undertaken with the same kind of style and forethought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's hoping for you and Call Village!

      Delete
  7. Fascinating to see this new neighborhood! It must have been an especially interesting time for you having worked at the architecture firm that dreamed up so much of the space. Your city sure has a lot going on! Sending healing thoughts your way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And back at you...hopefully you've managed to escape the worst of it?

      Delete
  8. A great series of pictures with just enough pithy text.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much Loree for joining in, especially in such weather. As much as I like historic neighborhoods, I am also intrigued by how people are constructing the new. Do you think the words on Cradle to Cradle are in a Native American language?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought perhaps so, which is why I got my husband on the assignment (he's smart that way). Turns out Hoov (below) cracked at least part of the code.

      Delete
  10. Thank you for that tour, I loved it! So nice to be shown around, and I think it's a really nice development with great plantings. I had no idea about your job situation back then, those must have been incredibly stressful times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seems like a million years ago now but yes, it was!

      Delete
  11. itana
    temtem translates to

    So much
    Continues

    in Gujarati.

    Cool tour, no matter what the meaning. Portland is becoming something much different than the lumber-shipping hub it used to be. Is it weird to look back at your past? Things change, much is lost, so much continues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Hoov! You're a superstar. And it is always good to remember to look back, as long as one spends most of their time looking forward.

      Delete
  12. If we are ever in Portland again this seems like a great area to wander around. Could that vine be some kind of Celastrus instead of Akebia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am pretty sure it's an Akebia, but I'm curious why you think Celastrus?

      Delete
  13. to me, the best part of all your beautiful pictures was the sheen on water on everything... we've missed it so much here!

    ReplyDelete
  14. It must have been a bit hard to visit an area of town were there were buildings constructed by your former employer, but it's would be interesting to see a project you once knew as a drawing. I have never been to Portland and enjoyed seeing a glimpse of all this fine city has to offer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually it was quite nice to see how they're all coming along. And be happy I'm no longer involved!

      Delete
  15. Lot's to see here! I love that frog! Is that an ivy planted along the top of the wall adjacent to the wall of water? I love the texture. Those English daisies in the lawn look too dense not to have at least started out as intentional plantings, but maybe whoever maintains the lawn just knows how to encourage them. There's a lot in the grass at my house, but we don't water so they aren't as lush or dense. The unidentified masses of attractive foliage before the Daphne look like Cistus creticus. I like akebia, but don't really have many places suitable for it to grow. Maybe now with the fence I can find a spot. The seed pods are really cool when they open. I'll have to send you a picture. Might be too large and vigorous for your garden, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't that texture great? It's not ivy but a ground cover - I think Rubus pentalobus? Cistus creticus...yes, thank you! Re: the Akebia being to vigorous for my garden, that's what I'm afraid of...still I want it!

      Delete
  16. I love the Trochodendron and Metapanax containers -- I hope they get watered this summer! The shrub in the photo above the daphne looks like a Cistus to me.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!