Winter Garden Photos from Portland
by Elouise
That lovely tub above is the secret sauce for Sherry and Scott’s backyard garden. It’s a worm hatchery. Not the little bucket at the front, but the great big tub. It’s teeming with hungry worms, scraps of food, paper, and anything else worms love to eat. Worm juice collected in the small bucket gets distributed as needed. Right now this is the only worm hatchery needed for the garden. The other two are now elegant planters for japonica and other outdoor plants.
Just beside the worm house are piles of firewood neatly stacked, ready for winter.
Back in the garden, Sherry and Scott are giving me the grand tour while D takes photos. It was bitter cold that day, with a fierce wind from the northwest. The bat boxes are new since we were last there.
So while we’re at it, here’s another garden-friendly house for insects that love to catch garden pests. It’s an old bird house renovated for insects using pieces of bamboo.
At the far end of the garden, under a row of trees and near the side street there’s a virtual habitat for small animals. Not just for winter cover and spring nests, but for food served up 24/7. It’s long, lovely, and barely visible from the street. Those are old apples, discarded bamboo and other ‘throw-away’ stuff in the photo below.
Beginning with the garden gate below, here are three favorites from around the back yard.
The mini-meadow below is in the back yard. It includes a bird house, plus meadow-plants that produce lots of pollen and seeds–to attract birds, bees and butterflies. Even though it’s winter, they’re still loaded with seeds.
And one more–just because I like it! This little oriental-style lantern sits on the ground just below the back porch.
Thanks again for stopping by. In some ways, it feels as though I’ve already had Christmas. Seeing Sherry and Scott is always a big deal. And yes, absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder. So right now I’m channeling all that fondness into thoughts about our next trip to Portland! And visits with other friends and family members to celebrate Christmas and the gift we are to each other.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 17 December 2018
Photos taken by DAFraser, December 2018
Dear Elouise,
This was the most wonderful, and wonderfully inspiring post – THANK YOU for it! I loved all the critter-friendly accommodations and work-spaces! What an encouragement to know that someone out there loves little animals (e.g. worms) even more than I do…! Even without such fascinating features, the pull to Portland would be strong, because of the beautiful hearts housed in the precious people there…
Thank you, again! You’ve greatly enhanced my day!
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You’re so welcome, Debbie! I didn’t know you were (and still are 😊) an avid worm and other small critters lover! I think both of our children got bitten early by the environmental movement bug—and married partners who shared their love for all creatures great and small. Hoping there are millions out there who care for this magnificent earth.
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This is very timely – I was hearing about wormeries on the radio today. And I love the idea of a home for small insects. Bravo. 🙂 Have a lovely Christmas when it comes, Elouise. xxx
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Thank you, Fran! I hope yours is lovely too. My expectations about Christmas seem to become a bit lower every year! Which means as little decoration as possible, and tons of lovely music floating through the air (my choices, of course!). 🙂
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more beauty, like a bargain gift just waiting. Sorry it took me so long to drop in to visit ❤
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I’ve been missing in action for a while, too. 😦 Nonetheless, I hope all is going well for you, and that you’ll find beauty where you least expect it. 🙂
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