9 February 2007 Portland, Oregon

After a river restoration symposium on the Washington side of the Columbia River, I spent a day visiting friends and sightseeing in Portland. Late in the morning I wandered around the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park. Winter's absence of leaves exposes the forms in the Japanese garden. In spring, the cherry blossoms can dominate but in winter the drape of the branches draws attention. The simplicity of the sand and rock garden vies equally with the moss-covered ground and conifers.