Portland - Oregon - includes related article

Sunset, August, 1994 by Steve Lorton, Bonnie Henderson

But the majority of the garden belongs to well-known climbers, floribundas, hybrid teas, old garden varieties, and miniatures, all perfectly labeled and groomed. Among the old favorites is Rosa rubrifolia, which fountains up and spills over the bank on the south side of the garden; with its dusky blue green foliage, blushed with burgundy, and pink red stems, it never fails to thrill even the nonrosarian.

New introductions that have taken up permanent residence in the garden include the pale pink floribunda 'City of London', the vivid red hybrid tea 'Kardinal', and 'Champagne Cocktail', a painted floribunda in shades of yellow and pink.

The major flush of roses is in June, but because the vast majority of the 10,000 plants are perpetual bloomers, there will be no shortage of color and fragrance in August and into the fall. The garden is open daily dawn to dusk. Admission is free.

The 5 1/2-acre Japanese Garden is really a collection of five gardens: the Strolling Pond Garden, Tea Garden with an authentic ceremonial teahouse, Natural Garden, Sand and Stone Garden, and Flat Garden.

Each is rich with imagery and craftsmanship. In the Sand and Stone Garden, you'll see one large vertical stone and seven smaller ones that tell a story of Buddha and a family of lion cubs. In the pond garden, stand on the Moon Bridge to see the big bronze cranes that guard the koi. And at the tea-house, take time to appreciate the intricate patterns in the bamboo fencing and gates.

At the main gate of the garden, indigenous shore pines more than a century old demonstrate how successfully some native plants adapt to Japanese gardening skills and techniques. Elsewhere in the garden, northwestern vine maples (Acer circinatum) are intermingled with their cousins, the Japanese maples.

The garden is supported by the city's large and active Japanese Garden Society. This summer the society opened a new gift shop, which is traditionally styled to match other buildings on the grounds. Here you'll find gardening books, wind chimes, ikebana and bonsai containers and tools, iron lanterns, and bronze cranes, as well as high-quality Japanese home accessories such as teacups, sake decanters and cups, rice bowls, chopsticks, and chopstick rests.

The Japanese Garden is open daily from 9 to 8. Admission costs $5, $2.50 for seniors and students. For more information, call (503) 223-1321.

On the waterfront

Today it's hard to imagine downtown Portland without Tom McCall Waterfront Park. But barely 20 years ago, what is now a mile-long swath of lawn fronting the Willamette was an expressway. Now the fastest traffic is on roller skates, though the park is most popular with joggers and walkers enjoying the city at a slower pace.

Waterfront Park has been called Portland's living room. Indeed, this is where much of the city's entertaining takes place, from blues and classical music festivals to, in August, The Bite, during which more than 30 restaurants set up booths offering tastes of what they do best.

To appreciate the park's unadulterated personality, stroll through between parties. The park is anchored at the south end by the RiverPlace development, with its hotel and condominiums, and a collection of riverfront restaurants, shops, and marina. About 1/3 mile north is Salmon Street Springs, an entertaining and--in midsummer--decidedly interactive fountain. Continuing north, look for the touching Japanese American Historical Plaza/Bill of Rights Memorial on the left, and listen for the eerie tones emanating from a 20-foot sculpture called Friendship Circle just to the north. The park ends between the Burnside and Steel bridges.