{"id":8040,"date":"2015-10-30T19:20:52","date_gmt":"2015-10-31T02:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogadmin.plantlust.com\/blog\/?p=8040"},"modified":"2024-01-24T10:28:18","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T18:28:18","slug":"a-grand-weekend-out-the-willamette-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantlust.com\/blog\/garden-nurseries\/a-grand-weekend-out-the-willamette-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"a grand weekend out: the Willamette Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every time I take the drive south from Portland on Interstate 5, I&#8217;m reminded in living technicolor, that I\u00a0really do live in\u00a0the <a title=\"Willallmette Valley\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Willamette_Valley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Willamette Valley<\/a>. You see vast stretches of pastureland, mountains, sheep with requisite guard Llama&#8211;and\u00a0a veritable menagerie of birds. Hawks perch on\u00a0fence posts all along the highway, eagles soar overhead, <a title=\"birds in the Willamette Valley\" href=\"https:\/\/study.com\/buy\/academy\/lesson\/great-egret-facts-habitat-lifespan-white-heron.html?src=ppc_adwords_nonbrand&amp;rcntxt=aws&amp;crt=668899128939&amp;kwd=&amp;kwid=dsa-799763748178&amp;agid=150848004863&amp;mt=&amp;device=c&amp;network=s&amp;campaign={campaign}&amp;gad_source=5&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIupbN6Kr2gwMV2jutBh2mFw8gEAAYASAAEgLQrfD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"broken_link\">egrets<\/a> and all manner\u00a0of flocking birds fill\u00a0the open fields.<!--more--><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8124\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8124\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/willamette-valley-photo-Jeff-Wegger.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8124\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/willamette-valley-photo-Jeff-Wegger.jpg\" alt=\"courtesy of Jeff Wegge photography http:\/\/www.jeffweggephotography.com\/Landscapes\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/willamette-valley-photo-Jeff-Wegger.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/willamette-valley-photo-Jeff-Wegger-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8124\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">photo courtesy of Jeff Wegge <a title=\"Willamette Valley with Mt. Hood\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jeffweggephotography.com\/Landscapes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"broken_link\">http:\/\/www.jeffweggephotography.com\/Landscapes<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My book group of 24 years began making an annual\u00a0fall retreat in 1993. Our\u00a0first weekend away, we\u00a0went to <a title=\"Sylvia Beach Hotel, Newport, OR\" href=\"http:\/\/sylviabeachhotel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sylvia Beach Hotel<\/a> in Newport, Oregon. It quickly became apparent that we needed to get a house\u00a0of our own. We had such a good time, but it&#8217;s a miracle we didn&#8217;t get\u00a0thrown out. I kept expecting someone&#8217;s mother to appear at the door and threaten to call our parents if we didn&#8217;t settle down, &#8220;right this second!&#8221; We were\u00a0not encouraged\u00a0to\u00a0make a repeat visit.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, no weekend away is complete without a car\u00a0problem right before heading\u00a0out of town.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8108\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8108\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145522\/IMG_2812.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"wp-image-8108 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145522\/IMG_2812.jpg\" alt=\"We keep our cars until they are stolen or irretrievably caput.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145522\/IMG_2812.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145522\/IMG_2812-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8108\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">We keep our cars until they are stolen or irretrievably caput.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This year&#8217;s trip was to the <a title=\"10 top attractions, McKenzie River\" href=\"http:\/\/visitmckenzieriver.com\/oregon\/top-10-atractions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"broken_link\">McKenzie River<\/a>&#8211;with the added bonus of it being just\u00a030 miles down the road from\u00a0<a title=\"Gossler Farms, Springfield Oregon\" href=\"https:\/\/plantlust.com\/search\/#\/nurseries=Gossler%20Farms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gossler Farms<\/a>. Two for one. I love that kind of trip. We stayed in\u00a0a fabulous house right on the river, and the rain held off until Sunday.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8093\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8093\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/DSCN3385.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8093\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/DSCN3385.jpg\" alt=\"McKenzie River Retreat -- front porch and deck.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/DSCN3385.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/DSCN3385-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8093\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">McKenzie River Retreat &#8212; front porch and deck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Stairs from the deck.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8094\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8094\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145531\/DSCN3386.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8094\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145531\/DSCN3386.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs from the deck, well above the river's edge.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145531\/DSCN3386.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145531\/DSCN3386-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8094\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Stairs from the deck, well above the river&#8217;s edge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hey look, Katy and Billie enjoying the bounty and beauty of nature right at the river&#8217;s edge.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8091\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8091\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/IMG_2814.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8091\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/IMG_2814.jpg\" alt=\"book babes Katy &amp; Billie on the McKenzie River\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/IMG_2814.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145532\/IMG_2814-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8091\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Book babes Katy &amp; Billie on the McKenzie River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wait, upon closer inspection, it seems they were lifting a toast to the river.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8096\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8096\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145530\/IMG_2818.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8096\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145530\/IMG_2818.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs make it easy to navigate with a glass of bubbly.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145530\/IMG_2818.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145530\/IMG_2818-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8096\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Stairs make it easy to navigate with a glass of bubbly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We had to use regular wine glasses for our champagne, but that was the only real hardship. Here&#8217;s looking back up at the house from the river.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8097\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8097\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145529\/IMG_2820.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8097\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145529\/IMG_2820.jpg\" alt=\"Splitting the cost 6 ways allows for a fancy house.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145529\/IMG_2820.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145529\/IMG_2820-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8097\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Splitting the cost 6 ways allows\u00a0for a quite fancy house.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Mckenzie River, my first visit\u00a0there. Where have I been all my Oregonian life?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8099\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8099\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145527\/IMG_2838.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8099\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145527\/IMG_2838.jpg\" alt=\"The McKenzie River running lovely.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145527\/IMG_2838.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145527\/IMG_2838-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8099\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">The McKenzie River running lovely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I bet it was cold in there, but imagine sitting on that rock in late August. Of course, getting to it might be a challenge.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8102\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8102\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/DSCN3389.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8102\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/DSCN3389.jpg\" alt=\"River rock, literally.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/DSCN3389.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/DSCN3389-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8102\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">River rock, literally.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Somewhere along the line, I became the official fire tender of the group. This house had the best wood stash ever.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8101\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8101\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145525\/IMG_2841.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8101\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145525\/IMG_2841.jpg\" alt=\"All fireplaces are not created equal. This was way good.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145525\/IMG_2841.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145525\/IMG_2841-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8101\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">All fireplaces are not created equal. This was way good.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The wood pile was clean, dry and plentiful&#8211;and no critters in there, that we saw.<\/p>\n<p><em>Here&#8217;s the spectacular view from a place we stayed on another retreat&#8211;in Mosier, just east of Hood River. But there was no firewood at all.\u00a0We walked around that little gorge town trying\u00a0our best\u00a0to pick up a lumberjack, but no luck on that front\u00a0either.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8118\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8118\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145521\/055_Book-Babes_Mosier.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8118\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145521\/055_Book-Babes_Mosier.jpg\" alt=\"Mosier House in the Columbia Gorge.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145521\/055_Book-Babes_Mosier.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145521\/055_Book-Babes_Mosier-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8118\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Mosier House in the Columbia Gorge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lots of hale and hardy\u00a0plants around the McKenzie River house, both naturally occurring and planted.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8104\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8104\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145523\/IMG_2836.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8104\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145523\/IMG_2836.jpg\" alt=\"Ferns &amp; wild ginger all around.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145523\/IMG_2836.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145523\/IMG_2836-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8104\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Ferns &amp; wild ginger in shiny happy abundance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>How is it that I&#8217;ve killed the wild gingers I&#8217;ve planted. I love them, and aren&#8217;t they supposed to be easy?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8103\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8103\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/IMG_2823.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8103\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/IMG_2823.jpg\" alt=\"Why exactly can't I grow wild ginger?\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/IMG_2823.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145524\/IMG_2823-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8103\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Why exactly can&#8217;t I grow wild ginger?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And Sarcoccoa to die for. So glossy and gorgeous, but sadly, no scent yet. Too\u00a0early in the fall season.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8098\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8098\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145528\/IMG_2832.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8098\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145528\/IMG_2832.jpg\" alt=\"Sarcaccoca confussa ? -- a shiny lush hedge skirted the house.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145528\/IMG_2832.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145528\/IMG_2832-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8098\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Sarcaccoca confussa ? &#8212; a shiny lush hedge skirted the house.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We sped by this covered bridge. There were cars behind us\u00a0and rain and we\u00a0were\u00a0on a mission\u00a0to get to Gossler Farms.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8119\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8119\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/IMG_2844.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8119\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/IMG_2844.jpg\" alt=\"Covered bridge, what? I've see a couple in Oregon, but not very often.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/IMG_2844.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145520\/IMG_2844-300x151.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Covered bridge, what? I&#8217;ve see a couple in Oregon, but not very often.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I used up all my reserve\u00a0brain battery over my the\u00a0weekend, which I understood was going to happen. I meant to make this a shorter post, with the primary focus on plants and Gossler Farms. In my defense, you cannot reason with a concussion&#8211;thus I&#8217;m having trouble whittling my story down to get where I want to go.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m reading a book,\u00a0<em>The Ghost in My Brain<\/em>, wherein the author, Clark Elliott, struggled with his concussion for eight\u00a0years before finding help. (His was far\u00a0more severe than mine, but I recognized so much of what he speaks.) At only two years in, and already having found\u00a0a crack team of smart docs and therapists, I&#8217;m feeling lucky to be a miserable and not a horrible.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll get back to you next week and share more on the actual Gossler Farms part of this post. But here&#8217;s a peek.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8149\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8149\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145518\/IMG_2892.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8149\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145518\/IMG_2892.jpg\" alt=\"team plant lust is crazy for this Quercus dentata 'Carl Ferris Miller'. If you have space, you NEED this tree.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145518\/IMG_2892.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145518\/IMG_2892-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8149\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">team plant lust is crazy for this Quercus dentata &#8216;Carl Ferris Miller&#8217;. If you have space, you NEED this tree.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8148\" aria-describedby=\"figcaption_attachment_8148\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145519\/IMG_2890.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"contentURL\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8148\" src=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145519\/IMG_2890.jpg\" alt=\"team plant lust is crazy for this Quercus dentata 'Carl Ferris Miller'. If you have space, you NEED this tree.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145519\/IMG_2890.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d17vsf20mehj1i.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/01145519\/IMG_2890-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_8148\" class=\"wp-caption-text\" itemprop=\"description\">Quercus dentata &#8216;Carl Ferris Miller&#8217; in splendid fall color.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I do thank you for your indulgence.<\/p>\n<p>Cheers<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every time I take the drive south from Portland on Interstate 5, I&#8217;m reminded in living technicolor, that I\u00a0really do live in\u00a0the Willamette Valley. You see vast stretches of pastureland, mountains, sheep with requisite guard Llama&#8211;and\u00a0a veritable menagerie of birds. Hawks perch on\u00a0fence posts all along the highway, eagles soar overhead, egrets and all manner\u00a0of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,49,2,47],"tags":[395,435,488,858,1168],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>a grand weekend out: the Willamette Valley - Plant Lust<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Every time I take the drive south from Portland on Interstate 5, I&#039;m reminded in living technicolor, that I\u00a0really do live in\u00a0the Willamette Valley. 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