Bee-Friendly Gardening

Did you know that bees pollinate crops as diverse as blueberries, pumpkins and onions?  They're also essential for pollinating alfalfa and other crops that farm animals eat.  Creating a bee-friendly garden is easy and fun for the whole family.  Simple steps you can take in your own yard: provide a range of flowering plants that bloom throughout the growing season, avoid using pesticides and create nest sites for native bees.  Learn more here.

For more information about the Sabin Bee-Friendly Garden Program, contact Diane Benson at dcb1810@yahoo.com.

Bee-Friendly Backyard Tour

Please join us for a FREE tour of bee-friendly backyards on Sunday, July 14 from 11:00 to 3:00. The tour will include some gardens with bee hives, some with habitat for native bees and others with a range of bee-friendly perennials. We'll also showcase several edible gardens. As our plans progress, we'll post updated information on this website, so check back frequently.

Bee-Friendly Front Garden Tour

Print out the MAP on this website, and take the tour anytime. As you visit the gardens, you'll notice that some of them have yard signs with a phone number (503-205-0326) and a stop ID. Call the phone number and press the stop ID to hear the gardeners talking about their gardens. 

Front Garden Tour - Participating Gardens

4234 NE 21st Ave

Tim has lived in this charming home since 1980 and planted everything himself except the 100-year-old Western Red Cedar in the back yard.  He and his wife, Julie, grow edibles almost year round, with a hoop house and nearly 35 feet of vegetable garden space.  They are incorporating more native plant species, which are important for a healthy pollinator population.  Tim is a bee-keeper, with honey bee hives in the back yard.  He's also the chair of Portland Urban Bee-Keepers, co-chair of Zenger Farm's Bee Group and one of the organizers for Tour de Hives.  (Audio Tour Stop 7)
 

4224 NE 21st Ave

Over the course of nine years, Molly has transformed a weedy, neglected lot into a lush nature-scape, filled with bee-friendly flowers and plenty of edibles.  The transformation process involved a truck, a chain, a wheelbarrow and several helpers.  Molly prefers plants that need minimal care and watering.  Her favorite flowers are lavender, foxglove and Shasta daisies because they are low-maintenance and give her yard an old-fashioned look.  (Audio Tour Stop 8)

2017 NE Skidmore St

To create their beautiful garden, Melissa and Brett adopted ideas from Ann Lovejoy's Golden Bowl concept.  They removed the lawn and placed the larger shrubs away from the house.  They built a patio and winding walkways from repurposed stones.  Then, they planted smaller shrubs and perennials around the patio and walkways.  This year, they've added nesting boxes for Mason bees.  Their lovely, low-maintenance space is now a sanctuary for wildlife and for themselves.

1533 NE Skidmore St

Mandi and Steve took advantage of the large native Doug Fir and pine tree on their property to create a woodland garden of mostly native plants along the 16th Ave side.  They have over 20 different varieties of native plants and are Gold Certified through Audubon Society's backyard habitat program.  The front yard faces south and receives a lot of sun, so that's where they grow their edibles.

1534 NE Skidmore St

Joel and Liz turned a shady corner of their front yard into a sweet woodland garden, with help from garden designer Mandi Hoyt-McBeth, who lives across the street. Their yard is certified as natural habitat for wildlife, through the Audubon Society's habitat program.

4550 NE 20th Ave

This property is actually an old church that Matt Henderson has transformed into an art venue called The Xhurch.  Matt organizes unusual and sometimes provocative events like the Alien Nativity, which got national attention last Christmas.  But, about the garden - there's a small veggie plot in front of the church and a larger one on the side.  (Audio Tour Stop 6)

Sabin Community Orchard - Mason St between 18th and 19th

The Sabin Community Orchard was established in 2010 as a partnership between Sabin Community Association and Portland Fruit Tree Project.  The orchard includes currants and grapes as well as fruit trees such as figs, pears, plums, persimmons, apples and cherries.  The purpose of the project is to provide nutritious food, leadership opportunities and training for people interested in learning orchard management skills.  

4045 NE 19th Ave

Erika's lovely garden is a treat for people passing by and a haven for bees.  Waves of herbs and perennials in soft purples and greys, with splashes of chartreuse, spill over the walkways.  Most of the plants are drought-tolerant and many are native to Oregon.

4030 NE 19th Ave

When Jeff bought his house three years ago, the selling point was the front yard with it's western exposure and rock retaining wall.  His first project was to remove the existing shrubs and rebuild the wall, incorporating terraced beds for growing food crops.  Jeff then planted a wide range of flowers, veggies and perennial fruits, which are pollinated by both native and honey bees.  The rock terraces work wonders - they hold the sun's heat, resulting in a bountiful harvest of tomatoes and other heat-loving crops.

3907 NE 19th Ave

Buddy and Karie recently redesigned their front yard.  They've replaced a portion of their lawn with garden beds for herbs, veggies and flowers.  On the south side of the house, behind a screen made from salvaged windows, you can see their colorful bee boxes, with bees buzzing around.  Raspberries, a favorite of honey bees, grow nearby.  (Audio Tour Stop 9)

2013 NE Ridgewood Dr

In 2012, Connie removed the lawn from her sloping corner lot with the help of a friend. She hired Structure Landscapes NW to install the elegantly curving retaining walls. Then, she planted sun-loving perennials such as salvia, catmint and rockrose on the terraced slopes. At the top of the hill, she created a patch of clover-lawn for her dogs. Clover can be mowed, but doesn't need to be, so it's a good option for people wanting to avoid noisy machinery.

The eye-catching red-orange azalea (shown in the photo) brightens up a shady spot near the front door.

1932 NE Ridgewood Dr

The focal point of this serene and shady woodland garden is a Japanese-style water fountain made from a large ceramic bowl and a bamboo spout.  With it's ferns and laceleaf maples, the garden perfectly complements the storybook house, which Bob and Ron have owned since 1990.

3946 NE 18th Ave

Linda lives across from Sabin School.  Her front garden is famous for it's selection of unusual plants and it's vibrant carpet of purple thyme. This year, Linda has added a variety of edibles, including squash and beans.  (Audio Tour Stop 10)

4745 NE 16th Ave

Marc runs his own organic landscaping company, called Amaranth Organic Gardening, so he creates and cares for other people's gardens as well as his own.  He sees gardening as "bridging the gap between the natural world and our hectic modern life.  The garden is the place where those things meet - it’s all manmade but it emulates and is subject to the whims of nature. Especially so in the city, where the gardens are little islands of tranquility and shrines to something greater than concrete and cars."

Marc's front garden is all organic and mostly drought-tolerant.  It is constantly evolving, and he has been introducing more structure by using repetition.  (Audio Tour Stop 5)

4723 NE 16th Ave

Tori enjoys gardening with native plants, edibles and perennials.  The front garden is a mix of flowers, grasses, small shrubs and trees.  The side yard contains raspberries, blueberries, a kiwi, a pear tree and a bed for vegetables.  One section of the backyard is set aside for Oregon natives: columbine, iris, oxalis, wild strawberries, thimbleberries, bleeding hearts, lewisia, penstemon and manzanita.  Tori gardens with no pesticides.

4004 NE 16th Ave

Terence's property contains some of the best bee forage in Sabin, according to a local bee expert.  The front garden is full of calendula, clover, nasturtium, artichokes, wild roses, allium and much more.  Perhaps the most amazing thing about Terence's front garden is the horizontal espaliered fig growing along the southern retaining wall.

3934 NE 16th Ave

Dena has a passion for flowers and recently purchased a lot in the Cully neighborhood where she is starting an urban flower farm.  Her Sabin garden bursts with color and includes salvia, batchelor buttons, gaillardia and rose campion.  She also grows tomatoes, raspberries and other edibles in the front yard.  To create a safe haven for bees, Dena gardens without chemicals. 

3906 NE 16th Ave

Susana has turned her large corner lot into an urban farm and bee paradise.  She grows fruit trees, blueberries, raspberries, tons of sunflowers plus a wide range of veggies and herbs.  Susana runs the Portland Culinary Workshop, and uses the produce from her garden for her cooking classes.  This garden is really amazing - don't miss it!

3704 NE 16th Ave

Michelle's lovely corner garden features more than 30 vintage rose bushes, as well as 17 trees and new hardscaping.  (Audio Tour Stop 11)

1515 NE Fremont Ave

When he bought his home in 1992, Bill tore up the lawn and planted nearly 300 trees, shrubs and flowering perennials. Many are native species which attract birds, bees and butterflies throughout the spring and summer. Bill is committed to organic gardening, and has led the way in Sabin, with the first yard intentionally dedicated to native habitat.

3819 NE 15th Ave

Naomi and Michael recently landscaped their entire front yard.  Kristine Hanson of Green Leaf Design created the plan and Spencer Burton of Mountain Top Stone Masonry built the beautiful curved stone wall.  The plants include mock orange, rhododendron, laceleaf maple, hostas, snowberries and lenton rose.  Naomi and Michael are excited to see how their garden changes as it matures - the bees are already enjoying it!  (Audio Tour Stop 13)

3713 NE 15th Ave

Barb replaced her lawn with a fragrant, colorful herb garden, featuring mounds of flowering soapwart, fuzzy lamb's ears and vintage roses.  In designing her garden, she considered all the senses, which explains why it's such a standout.  Barb gardens for all the people who walk, drive or ride their bikes past her house every day.  (Audio Tour Stop 12)

4821 NE 14th Ave

Carolyn loves hiking along creeks and waterfalls, and she incorporated the design pattern of cascades and flows into her garden.  The draping branches of a weeping larch evoke that feeling of flow, as do the mounds of perennials and herbs.  Carolyn listened to words of wisdom from Sean Hogan of Cistus Design: begin with good soil, and she did.  The result is a tiny, but enchanting front garden that serves as paradise for bees, butterflies and other crittters.

4724 NE 14th Ave

Christie and Gerard removed their driveway and, in it's place, built a curving set of stairs that bends around lush garden beds.  They used the broken cement to create a retaining wall.  Most of their plants are hand-me-downs, adopted from friends and neighbors.  Christie and Gerard may be the only people in Sabin who cut their garage in half to make more space for a favorite tree.

4077 NE 14th Ave

Charles' unique garden is dedicated to plants native to South Africa.  It contains more than 50 species of bulbs, daisies, succulents, thistles and much more.  (Audio Tour Stop 4)

4057 NE 14th Ave

Built in 2002, the Bacon-Brenes home incorporates passive solar features, salvaged materials and a rainwater harvesting system.  The garden is eco-friendly, too, with much of the space given over to growing edibles.  Oh, and they have bees!

Read more about the Bacon-Brenes home here.

4039 NE 14th Ave

Harriet teaches food preservation and householding skills, and her garden reflects her passion.  The front yard is mostly herbs and perennials.  The serious food cultivation happens in the back and side yards.  As you're walking by, take a peek.

3916 NE 14th Ave

Kathy's yard was mostly lawn when she bought the house in 1996.  Over the years, she has gradually removed lawn and added more shrubs and flowers.  Many of her plants were acquired from friends or the discount section of the nursery.  Kathy prefers plants that are drought-tolerant and low maintenance.  One of her favorites is the cardoon, or ornamental artichoke, with purple thistle-like flowers.

4003 NE 13th Ave

Carol's corner lot is filled with unusual objects, such as the little red shed with a rocket on top of it, as well as a mix of edibles and ornamentals.

3967 NE 13th Ave

Morgan and David moved into their house in 2009 and are slowly converting much of their yard to edibles. In the front yard, they have espaliered apple and pear trees mixed in with beautiful ornamentals like weigela and peonies. Their side yard includes raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, currants and gooseberries. Their persimmon tree is rumored to be the largest in the city. If you enjoy growing edibles, but don't want to give up your beautiful ornamentals, you'll love this garden.

1234 NE Failing Ave

Red crocosmia and white hydrangea blooms mingle sensationally in Kristin's corner garden, right next to a tree loaded with red apples.  With all of the surprising plant combinations and half-hidden art objects, this garden is a delight to stroll by.

4046 NE 11th Ave

Ian and Chelsea live in a charming cottage known as the Halloween House or the Pumpkin House, not just for it's color scheme, but also because they grow pumpkins in the front yard.  Aside from squash, their garden includes red hot poker plants, crocosmia and lambs ears.  Two graceful crape myrtles frame the yard and provide shade.

Ian and Chelsea have acquired most of their plants from friends and neighbors, rather than buying from a nursery.  They raise bees and chickens, in the backyard.

3932 NE 11th Ave

Dave and Amy's front garden overflows with old-fashioned roses, yarrow, catmint, delphinium, shasta daisies and peonies.  Golden blooms overhang the sidewalk, inviting neighbors to stop and smell the roses and chat about gardening.

3931 NE 11th Ave

Beds of ferns, foxglove and Japanese maples are framed by tidy pebble pathways at Linda and Michael's house.  Zen-themed art objects have been tucked among the plants, to surprise and please passersby.

3926 NE 11th Ave

Diane removed the lawn, arborvitae and chain link fence when she bought her house in 2007.  The front yard now features a mix of roses, perennials, small shrubs and a few small trees.  The perennials include bee-friendly helenium (shown here), salvia and agastache.  (Audio Tour Stop 3)

3727 NE 11th Ave

When Vanessa moved into her house, the front yard consisted of chain link fence, grass and dandelions. Now it's an eclectic mix of plants and found objects, including driftwood, a sign she found on the beach and several vintage typewriters. Vanessa got all of the rocks, paving and fencing materials free from craigslist. Most of the plants came from friends, neighbors and relatives. Vanessa is trying to incorporate more native plants into her yard, to sustain native birds and insects. The south side of her yard is almost all natives and is busy with hummingbirds and bees all summer long.

Oh, about that tree trunk holding up her front porch - it's from a tree that was cut down on 12th Ave between Beech and Failing.

Ariadne Garden - NE 11th Ave between Fremont and Beech

In 1993, Kim McDodge purchased two lots on NE 11th Ave and founded Ariadne Garden.  She donated the land to the Oregon Sustainable Agricultural Land Trust (OSALT) to ensure that the land would remain a community garden in perpetuity.  Ariadne is run by volunteers and is a self-sustaining retailer, selling flowers and produce, including peonies, sunflowers, gladiolas, tomatoes, lettuce, mustard, kale, beans, squash and raspberries.  The market stand is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 1:00, May through October.

3910 NE 10th Ave

Bess and John have a double-lot on a corner, so there's plenty of room for apple trees, blueberries, raspberries plus a variety of vegetables.  (Audio Tour Stop 2)

3512 NE 10th Ave

Trent is a professional landscape architect.  His lovely home has a tiny, but delightful front garden with eye-catching plants including the brilliant purple allium shown here.  (Audio Tour Stop 1)