Portland Oregon

[urbpan]

This isn't at all what I pictured Portland would look like.  Alexis and I flew into Portland, got a rental car and a hotel room, and checked the internet for something interesting to see.  I actually went to yelp.com and typed in "interesting" and "portland."  The first hit was a city park called Tanner Springs Park.  We typed the intersection into the gps and went to go find it.  Strangely, we couldn't find it anywhere.  We parked the car and went walking around what turns out to be called the Pearl District.  Down by the river we found this horse barn.





We found our way closer to the river and found a bumper crop of Himalayan blackberries, the Pacific Northwest's most delicious invasive species! (though, to be fair, I haven't tried nutria)





Himalayan blackberry flowers are bigger and pinker than those back home.

We wandered around the area for an hour or so, stopped for a snack, and then headed back to the car.  That's when we found Tanner Springs Park.



This part of the city was a wetland originally, and this city block has been restored to one.  The spring's streams go into culverts before flowing to the river.  The park is just under one acre, and is slightly below street level.  We looked past it when we first parked, because it's not really visible from where we were.  I'm glad we found it; it's definitely interesting.












The water lilies are covered in tiny insects.


I assumed they were springtails, but now that I see this super close up, I'm not sure.

Then omphalina

Comments

[bellelvsbeast.livejournal.com]

I have never been to Tanner Springs Park and I was born and raised there...how odd...
I have seen that horse barn though! :)
Isn't Portland cool? I loved it there, I just couldn't see myself living there with the career I want to do...they just don't have openings...
EW don't eat Nutria!!! :P

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

very cool

Portland - Horse Barn and beyond

[(Anonymous)]

The horse in this area are part of the Portland Police Mounted Patrol -- often seen in the downtown areas and in Waterfront Park -- both within riding distance south of this location. Next time you're in town visit Washington Park & the rose gardens, Forest Park (largest urban forest in a city) and if you want some funky shoping along with some main stream shopping -- NW 23rd Ave (and NW 21st to some extent).

Come back sometime!!!
Janice

Re: Portland - Horse Barn and beyond

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Thanks Janice!
Visited Forest Park (x2) and loved it. (See subsequent posts on the subject.)
We'll be back. Oh yes we will.