Sunday May 17 was a perfect spring morning for Ronna Fujisawa’s 5th Free Plein Air Watercolor Class in the Baltimore Woods Lower Meadow. The purple/lavender patch of lupine, the yellow and rosy hues of the meadow grasses, the cloudy deep blue sky, singing songbirds, 50 shades of green…all the necessary elements were visible to inspire one to create art. About a dozen participants took advantage of this free plein air class. The beautiful purple flowers of native Riverbank lupine, Lupinus rivularis, and Large-Leaved lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus are common to Oregon in spring. They are both nitrogen fixing perennials which means their roots help to transfer nitrogen from the atmosphere into…

North Decatur Street between North Baltimore Avenue and North Catlin Avenue, is part of the Baltimore Woods corridor. Unfortunately, due to its location and isolation it is also a target for homeless RV camping and illegal dumping. There are only a few homes along the North end of Decatur near North Catlin Avenue, and the rest of it is has no residences and no street lights. Friends of Baltimore Woods has been actively working to improve both the camping and dumping problems. Campers and RVs have been reported regularly and evicted. Debris left at former campsites has been collected and properly disposed of.  RV parking spaces have been blocked by…

Tuesday November 11, 2025 was the final day for the Friends of Baltimore Woods (FOBW) and Portland Garden Club (PGC) to work together on the Lower Meadow Restoration Project. About 25 determined and focused women from the Portland Garden Club, joined Friends’ volunteers to plant over 1000 native bulbs into the 12 fenced beds of the Baltimore Woods Lower Meadow located just north of the North Catlin entrance to the Baltimore Woods Natural Area. Once a Toyota Parking Lot, the Lower Meadow was de-paved in 2012. Because of the challenging growing environment, the process of restoration that began 14 years ago, still continues today. All the bulbs selected for this…

No doubt climate change and habitat loss are the crisis of our age, but would it give you relief to know there is action you can take in your own backyard to remedy these trends? You can create a native habitat in your garden. One that uses less water and chemicals, is ecologically sustainable and attracts native insects, birds and mammals. When you plant native plants in your garden, you are supporting native insects who have co-evolved with native plants over centuries. These native insects and pollinators in turn provide food for native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. In short, you would be creating a local healthy ecosystem pocket, in…

Sunday May 18, 2025 was the 45th anniversary of the eruption of Mt St Helens, and the 4th Free Plein Air Watercolor Class offered by the Friends of Baltimore Woods (FOBW).  All the classes in the past have been staged in the Upper Meadow of Baltimore Woods. This class was staged in the cool and shady woods of Catlin Forest near the Lower Meadow. Amazingly, it is remarkable to note that the Lower Meadow was once the site of a Toyota Parking Lot. The parking lot was de-paved in 2012 by FOBW, Metro and Depave. It is now the site of a FOBW & Portland Garden Club Meadow Habitat Restoration…

At the 2025 FOBW Sparrowhawk Native Plant Sale, I shared a covered table space with Lisa Manning apart from the Sparrowhawk canopies. I offered my hand-turned wooden bowls, plates, and lidded boxes for sale. I made them mostly on my lathe from cherry, oak and maple woods. Lisa sold her self-illustrated children’s book, Falcons in the City, and colorful nature-inspired postcards. I started with offering about four to five dozen things for sale, mostly wooden bowls of various sizes. This was my first exposure of my handmade items to the general public, so I was a little nervous about the reception they might have. All the items were donated to…

February is a great time for spring garden planning. Adding more native plants to your garden naturally supports native wildlife while creating resiliency to climate change! This spring the Friends of Baltimore Woods and Sparrowhawk Native Plant Sale pick-up days will be Friday April 18 and Saturday April 19. The native plant ordering and purchasing will begin at 9am on Sunday March 2, and run until Sunday March 30 at midnight. Beginning Tuesday February 4th, the Sparrowhawk website will list the approximately 115 native plants offered for the sale this year, including their images, sizes, prices and helpful propagation tips. The Sparrowhawk website is a great resource for successfully designing…