TravelMorgan Stone GretherElk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close, pacific northwest, portland, oregon, travel, trees, willamette river

Elk Rock Garden, Winter 2019

TravelMorgan Stone GretherElk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close, pacific northwest, portland, oregon, travel, trees, willamette river
Elk Rock Garden, Winter 2019

On a drizzly February afternoon in 2019, Elaine Schimek and I visited to Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close. It’s a great little spot of solace in the midst of one of Oregon’s richest neighborhoods. But ignore the outside world and enjoy in this Episcopal retreat, the very purpose of which is clearing your thoughts and communing with nature. And even though it was a cold, wintery day, we found many flowers in bloom already.

All Elk Garden posts.

Nice person in Portland, Oregon, and beyond.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherChampoeg, oregon, pacific northwest, willamette river, trees, hiking, Champoeg State Heritage Area, Oregon parks project, winter, travel

Winter Hike in Champoeg, Oregon

In early February 2017, on a very cold, wet winter's day, I hiked around the Champoeg State Heritage Area outside of Butteville, Oregon. Champoeg (pronounced like "shampooey") was an important settlement in the 19th century and in 1843 formed an early regional government, a key step for the area eventually becoming a state. Today the former townsite is merely a field, but the surrounding 600 or so acres have become a park with forested trails easing along the Willamette River....

TravelMorgan Stone GretherChampoeg, oregon, pacific northwest, willamette river, trees, hiking, Champoeg State Heritage Area, Oregon parks project, winter, travel
Winter Hike in Champoeg, Oregon
TravelMorgan Stone GretherElk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close, oregon, portland, pacific northwest, trees, travel

Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close

Tucked the middle of one of the wealthiest sections of Portland, Oregon, with some spectacular views of the Willamette River, sits a lovely Episcopal retreat known as the Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close...

TravelMorgan Stone GretherElk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close, oregon, portland, pacific northwest, trees, travel
Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close
TravelMorgan Stone GretherOregon Garden, oregon, pacific northwest, spring, flower, tulip, magnolia, cherry blossoms, travel, Elaine Schimek, Silverton, trees

The Oregon Garden, April 2019

About 80 acres, separated out into different sections like “wetlands” and “conifers” and so on. A lot to take it…

TravelMorgan Stone GretherOregon Garden, oregon, pacific northwest, spring, flower, tulip, magnolia, cherry blossoms, travel, Elaine Schimek, Silverton, trees
The Oregon Garden, April 2019
TravelMorgan Stone GretherLeach Botanical Garden, flower, trees, travel, moss, botanical garden, portland, oregon, pacific northwest, river

Leach Botanical Garden, Winter 2020

Not only was it pouring rain in the dead of winter, but more importantly about two thirds of the place were closed for a massive renovation project…

TravelMorgan Stone GretherLeach Botanical Garden, flower, trees, travel, moss, botanical garden, portland, oregon, pacific northwest, river
Leach Botanical Garden, Winter 2020