JU N E'S GARDEN' ‘Progress is a swindle. George O rw ell «n Village of Rowers (continued) “ F o r If one’s home is one’s castle, the garden is an extension o f it.” Paper or Plastic?1?? (quoted from English Country Gardens by Clarke & Perry) An oval shaped sign reading, “Somerset West” identifies a white-trimmed shingled cottage, the home of Julie and David Lewis. The Lewises had the sign made in England on one of their trips to visit David’s family. Somerset is the name of a county in southwest England where David was raised. They added “West”, where he eventually chose to live in the United States and where he met his wife Julie. The couple met in California. Julie was an elementary school teacher and principal of a grade school in Marin County, California. David moved to the United States in 1974 and became an American citizen. He has a degree in agriculture, but not wanting to work with cattle or farmland in states like Kansas or Texas, he decided to move West, and obtained work in California selling cars. Among the many interests they found they shared, gardening and antiques became important parts of their lives. Moving to Portland in 1988, where Julie had been raised, they opened an antiques shop in the Sellwood district called “Lewis Antique Shop.” Their love of growing flowers was soon evident as they decorated the front of their shop with tubs of flowers. Their idea caught on, as other businesses in that district realized that the beauty of flowers draws customers. After they closed their antiques shop, the Lewises decided to move to Cannon Beach and live full time in the small beach cabin they had purchased. Moving from a large home to a smaller home is always a challenge. Their collection of fine antiques and paintings inherited from David’s father, a watercolor artist, and their love of gardening, have created one of the most charming homes and gardens on one of Cannon Beach’s “presidential” streets. Their home and garden are their castle. Beyond the arbor gate bordered by a picket fence, their front yard is filled with many varieties of annuals and perennials. By late summer, the path and porch steps are nearly covered by the vigorous growth of well-tended flowers. The front porch is a cozy nest where one can sit either on a bench or a porch swing flanking their front door. This is a place to enjoy the garden, the flower-filled planters that line the steps, or to watch the butterflies that light on the tall Buddleia bush planted on the west side of the house. Window boxes under every small-paned window are filled with lobelia, geranium, petunia, daisies, and many other flowers. Each window is dressed with Scandinavian- style white lace curtains, a backdrop that adds charm to the flowers and the white trim. Their small cottage is placed on the lot to give room for a large back yard. A deck off the back of the house is bordered by large wooden planters. Some are trellises, on which David plants sweet peas in memory of his mother, who always had these flowers in her garden in England. In the back comer of their yard is the compost pile. This where they plant nasturtiums, which eventually cover the debris. The flowers and shrubs, in many varieties, are havens for butterflies, bees and birds. Continuing projects to improve their garden is important to both the Lewises. Gardens never stay the same year after year. There is always something to change, add or improve. Last year they sadly lost their prize Lavatera shrub. They replaced it with the Buddleia. Even though they both work full time (Judy is manager of The Buttery, a gift shop, and David works at Haystack Gallery’s fine art and framing), they set aside time to garden or to visit gardens or garden nurseries looking for new plants to try. Because of their enthusiasm, their large back-yard lawn may eventually disappear entirely. Their newest adventure might be to build a greenhouse and cold frame so as to continue gardening throughout the year, or raised beds to grow dahlias. “David,” Julie said, “If we should raise cactus, vaterlillies, or pompoms?” Answering David’s quizzical look, “Dahlias, David. There are many different varieties.” Their garden is an example of other gardeners’ dreams. Arcadi Landscaping GARDENS DE9Gt£D S TO REDUCE OR ELMNWE FESnc&EUSE ATTENTION BUSItSSS WE CREAIT: iUAINWN 1A0WER BOXES, PUNTERS t HMOCSAâffïâ 43MÎ38RES J UŒMSED-BOWED WSURED M&2 The eternal checkout question is * Which is better paper or plastic bags"? Unfortunately the answer is not as simple as we would like. The production o f both paper and plastic consumes energy', utilizes natural resources and produces pollution. Plastic is made from petroleum while paper is made from wood chips. Both have the capacity to use recycled content materials in their production processes. The paper industry routinely uses recycled content materials The plastic industry is making strides in their use o f recycled content materials. Many vendors prefer plastic bags as they are less expensive and require less storage space The real difference in the paper verses plastic question is in the differences in their disposal. Plastic bags can be recycled but generally are not. Many stores set up recycling depository bins but only 5% o f the bags collected are recycled. The other 95% are sent to landfills. Plastic bags and plastic film materials comprise 50% o f the plastic in landfills. Plastic is not biodegradable so it stays in the landfill stream. Paper bags however, are a valuable commodity in recycling. They are easy to recycle and are collected w ith cardboard. The paper industry nationwide routinely uses recycled cardboard and brown paper bag stock in production o f new products which reduces the use o f natural resources. Like all recycling questions the best approach is to avoid using the material in question. I f you must use a disposable product (bags are considered disposable products), then reuse it before recycling it. The best solution would be to carry reusable bags or baskets, but this is not as easy as it sounds. I myself have some lovely reusable bags which I forget to use 80% o f the time. Many times a bag is unnecessary and the customer can request no bag. You may also request that items not be double bagged or individually bagged and placed into another bag. Most stores give you credit for bringing in your own paper bags. As w ith everything the most important issue here is consumer awareness. You have the ability to say no, change your habits and th ink about the consequences o f your actions. ««» “PLEASE DON’T TAKE OUR FLOWERS” is a sign Dolly Hutchinson and Mary Westmorland were forced to nail on the fence of their house on Jackson Street, hoping to stop vandals who are cutting off the blossoms of the Gandiflora (Peegee) Hydrangea. The blossoms of this tall, upright shrub can grow from ten to fifteen inches. In the fall, their white blossoms turn to a pink bronze color. They make beautiful bouquets and are easily dried to preserve for many years. They are prized for their shape and color. Beware, intruders. Leave the blossoms on the plants for others to enjoy. Cutting the blooms not only harms the shrub, leaving it bare and unsightly, but the owners would like to share the blossoms with their friends and prune the shrub at the proper time in the spring. NEGOTIATIONS S MEDIATION TRAINING G etting ready to change is change enough. Bennett Norbob October 27-30 or November 14-15 & 21-22 T R A IN E R S : Lynne Cox 8t Stephen Ruffo Enhance y o u r jo b perform ance, advance at w o rk , im p ro ve personal relationships. D e ve lo p the s k ills and tools o f expert co m m u n ica to rs and negotiators. “A powerful/ le a r n in g experience^. " Learn to unravel the m ost d iffic u lt problem s and uncover w in -w in solutions. T ake the firs t step to w a rd b e com ing a professional m ediator and excellent leader. “lig h ty e a r y a b o ve / o th e r tr a in e r y . “ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ Create options that gain agreements Uncover hidden Interests and needs Improve relationships and success In groups Overcome Impasse Leam how to gain the attention of others Develop expert listening skills Leam to draft agreements that hold up Overcome the pitfalls of competitive negotiations L IF E 'S M O S T P R E C IO V S M O M E N T S w ith A F o r. . . Individuals who wish to improve their ability to problem solve, bargain, communicate, and assist others in settling conflicts. Cannon Beach Salem C A fT V R E FAM ILY PORTRAIT Give the $ ift e»nlq qeu pacific Gardener cam «jive! C hris BrvjAM t’s PArAbisc P ro d u ctio n s OwAlitq PhotosrAphq Since IW t i l t Direh. AsteriA CALL N O W ! THE newsletter fo r people who garden in the Northwest • S to rie s b y a n d a b o u t g a rd e n e x p e rts : A n n L o v e jo y , B a rb a ra A s h m u n , T e d S w e n s e n , C o n n ie H a n se n • S to rie s o n w h a t N o r th w e s t g a rd e n e rs are d o in g and g ro w in g — tip s th a t w i l l w o r k f o r Y O U • B ig c a le n d a r o f g a rd e n e v e n ts th ro u g h o u t the re g io n • B o o k re v ie w s , h u m o r, n e w g a rd e n id e a s & p ro d u c ts Available free al garden centers and bookstores from Seattle to Ashland, Warrenton to Florence. Or by subscription at the incredible value o f $12 a year. Send check for $12 (for 12 issues a year), with name and address, to: ,Bw*Iu«TX*nws»C*Xt>S’6*»rmc. • Bus»««, C ams • fxiatiais. Pacific Northwest Gardener PO Box 19638 Portland, OR 97280 Cost: $800. Discount: $100 Off, with this ad. Send your name, address, telephone number and check fo r $700 to BR ID G EW ATER S, P.O. Box 604, Lebanon, Oregon 97355-0604. Pacific Northwest Gardener: The Best News Yet about Gardening in the Northwest For Training or Mediation Services. Cai! 8RIDGEWATERS t -5 4 ! -2 5 8 -4 0 9 7 1235 S. H e m lo c k , C a n n o n B e ach , OR (503) 4 3 6 -1 0 1 6 s “ Innouatiue & good to the taste** u rp u LIFT E tat OCÏ0MK W i l P relim in ism ’s central tru th is that everything is preparation fo r the real thing, but the real thing never comes.