Snow, snow, snow!  All you can do is plan for the spring ahead.  I'm currently working on a Commercial Design in The Dalles, and some changes for the Cathedral Ridge Winery.  I have to have patience and use my imagination.  I'm also bidding on the Water Front Park.....  along with 3 other landscapers......  I think I'll stop by Good News Gardening, and buy some seeds to start in my small greenhouse.  Lets see......  hmmmm......  Lettuce, Spinach & Thai Basil, and some regular Basil.  I chose Thai Basil because it's suppose to germinate & grow fast.  Happy Snow Shoveling.  I think I'll look at my pictures of La Ventana.

Back from La Ventana

I'm back in Hood River, and excited that spring is getting closer everday.  Days are getting longer.  I wandered around my garden.  The Snowdrops are blooming.  That's certainly hopeful.  In my vegetable garden I have cilantro.....  That wonder herb.  Luckily the Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Mexicans use it in their cooking.  I try to make it stretch by making an easy salsa that I can put in all those cuisines.  Heat a metal pan, add garlic to taste, add chiles of choice dried or fresh, (I use whatever I have still from summer), and dried tomatoes from summer (this is optional) and roast them 'til soft.  You can add oil but I never do.  Put these in a blender, add a little water & blend.  At the end add a little cilantro.  I store in a small jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks, but you know it goes fast.  I like to make it really spicy so I can punch any dish if I want to.  I learned this from a Mexican, and make it often.  Once you start using it you will add it to everything...... even Italian cooking if you take the cilantro out.  Yum!!

Off to Mexico for some R&R.

I'll be soaking up blue sky & sunshine.  I'll be back the 2nd week in Feb.  Of course I'll thinking about Landscaping with Palm Trees & Lime Trees.  I'll be looking at Coral landscapes underwater.  It's all good.  I'm counting on all of you to keep Hood River Green while I'm gone.  Ciao Amigos

Here's a picture from the other direction looking west. In the low spot is gravel & Juncus. Nice project. Coodos for the Port although they will be selling it to the city.

I'm just playing around with my blog trying to get comfortable adding pictures. This picture is on Anchor Way by the Expo Center. It's a beautiful example of a bioswale. If you look closely you can see how water trains in from the east and drains out at the lower left side of the picture. If you have a similar situation at your place you should check it out. There are wonderful plant choices. Maybe I'll post another picture from the other direction.

Ok, love this photo. Not exactly a current project. I want to keep it on my dashboard. We'll see if I can acheive this.

2011

Jan 7

It's a new year.  2011  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!  I don't know about you, but I already feel optomistic that this year will be so much better than the last 2.  I guess I consider this my work journal that I'm posting for everyone to look at.  Hope I don't bore you.  I'll try not to.

My last project was for the Port of Hood River down on Anchor Way.  I finished it just before Thanksgiving.  That was cutting it close since I like to be finished for the season by Thankgiving.  Traditionally the weather always takes a turn by then, and this year was true to the average.  But take a look at it if you like.  A newly planted project usually isn't much to look at.  Give it a couple of years.  But the Bioswale at the site is a couple of years old & definately worthy of checking out.  If you are trying to astheically resolve a drainage problem this is a lovely example of how to treat it.  My next challenge will be posting pictures.  Here goes.