Home » Journal » Welcome to the Portland Botanical Gardens Blog!

Welcome to the Portland Botanical Gardens Blog!

Welcome to the Portland Botanical Gardens Blog!

Posted on March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 by Kate Bodin

Please stay with us as we build out some content for you to enjoy. Thanks for your patience.

Best,

PBG Management

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

pdxbot

Plant of the Week - Pelecyphora aselliformis Pele

Plant of the Week - Pelecyphora aselliformis

Pelecyphora aselliformis, also known as the hatchet cactus, is a unique cactus native to central Mexico around San Luis Potosí.

A slow-growing species, this diminutive cactus thrives in shady areas, gradually forming clumps over time. Pink to violet flowers can be seen in spring.

📸: iNaturalist - 1. Bryanbacm, 2. marumg, 3. jartigas

Today we published our first blog article, which p

Today we published our first blog article, which provides a much needed update about our progress. Link in bio. You can find the PBG Journal (blog) under “Learn” on the website—this may change.

We’ve been very quiet for a while, but we want to let you know that we are still alive and kicking! We are just making big moves that we can’t really talk about, yet.

Over the next few weeks, we hope to lift the veil on what what’s been happening behind the scenes this past year. There will be a lot of big, exciting changes in the very near future and you can follow them on our social media, blog, and newsletter.

Thank you, everyone!

Plant of the Week - Osmanthus fragrans Osmanthus

Plant of the Week - Osmanthus fragrans

Osmanthus fragrans, also known as fragrant osmanthus or fragrant olive, is an evergreen shrub native to the Himalayas, China, and Japan. During the fall season, it produces small, fragrant flowers that fill the air with a delightful aroma, making it a popular choice in landscaping.

In various parts of Asia, these flowers are used in teas, jams, sweet cakes, dumplings, and soups. In the mid-1800s, horticulturists created interspecific hybrids by crossing O. fragrans with O. heterophyllus, resulting in O. x fortunei, another remarkable fall-flowering plant for landscaping.

The genus name Osmanthus derives from the Greek words ‘osme,’ which means fragrant, and ‘anthos,’ which means flower, perfectly reflecting its aromatic blooms. The specific epithet ‘fragrans’ also aptly describes its fragrant nature.

📸: Nurseries Caroliniana

#PortlandOregon #BotanicalGarden #Horticulture #PBG #PlantOfTheWeek #Planstagram #PlantsOfInstagram #PacificNorthwest #PNW #Fall #Winter #Spring #Summer #Oregon #Asia #Europe #Osmanthus #OsmanthusFragrans #FragrantOsmanthus

Plant of the Week - Colchicum autumnale Colchicum

Plant of the Week - Colchicum autumnale

Colchicum autumnale, also known as the autumn crocus, is a perennial plant native to southern Europe and is renowned for its beautiful fall blooms. Despite its common name, C. autumnale is not a crocus at all, as it belongs to the family Colchicaceae, while crocuses are more closely related to irises (Iridaceae).

Growing from an underground corm, C. autumnale produces leaves in the spring before going dormant again in mid-summer. It re-emerges in September and October to showcase gorgeous lavender-pink flowers. Colchicum is highly toxic as it produces the chemical Colchicine. Medically, Colchicine is used to treat conditions like gout and is also employed to double chromosomes in living cells. When controlled, this can be a valuable tool in plant breeding, but can be extremely harmful to animals when ingested.

📸: iNaturalist:
1: anitabubak
2-4: r-ziebarth

Plant of the Week - Gentiana asclepiadea Gentiana

Plant of the Week - Gentiana asclepiadea

Gentiana asclepiadea, commonly known as the willow gentian, is a species of gentian native to Europe and parts of western Asia. Primarily found in mountain woodlands, it produces strikingly blue to purple flowers in late summer and early fall.

A hardy species, G. asclepiadea thrives in moist, partly shady areas of the garden and is resistant to deer browsing, making it wonderful for late season color.

📸: iNaturalist: 1 & 2. wbettighofer 3. jgazz124

Plant of the Week - Cyanicula gemmata Cyanicula

Plant of the Week - Cyanicula gemmata

Cyanicula gemmata, also known as the blue China orchid, is a terrestrial orchid native to Southwestern Australia, which can be seen flowering between August and November.

While being seen flowering without wildfires, it flowers much more profusely in years following bushfires. A small leaf with pubescent hairs adorns the base of this lovely species.

📸: @the_humble_orchid_hunter

Join us for Portland Plant Strolls this weekend at

Join us for Portland Plant Strolls this weekend at Overlook Park and the Portland Memory Garden! We still have a handful of spots open for both Plant Strolls, so be sure to use the link in our bio to register while spots are available!

📍 Overlook Park Plant Walk 🗓️ August 26th, 10am - 12pm
📍 Portland Memory Garden Exploration 🗓️ August 27th, 10am - 12pm

We can’t wait to see you there!

📸: @embracesomeplace

Get ready for a weekend of natural wonder and gree

Get ready for a weekend of natural wonder and greenery galore in Portland! Join us for a botanical adventure this Saturday and Sunday!

📍 Overlook Park 🗓️ Saturday, August 26th, 10am - 12pm
📍 Portland Memory Garden 🗓️ Sunday, August 27th, 10am - 12pm

Led by our expert guides, these curated walks will unveil the mesmerizing world of plants that we have right here in Portland! Prepare to be amazed as you uncover the mysteries and stories behind each botanical wonder.

To reserve your spot and ensure you're part of this adventure, just tap the link in our bio. Hurry, spots are vanishing fast, and you won't want to miss out on spending a beautiful morning outside!

Feeling extra inspired? Extend your love for plants and PBG by adding an optional donation during registration. Your generosity will help us nurture the dream of the Portland Botanical Garden, making plant discovery accessible to all, regardless of financial barriers.

See you soon! 🌲🌼🌳

Plant of the Week - Welwitschia mirabilis Welwit

Plant of the Week - Welwitschia mirabilis

Welwitschia mirabilis, often just referred to as Welwitschia, is a living, yet ancient, species native to the Namib Desert of southwestern Africa. Growing from a deep taproot that can extend as deep as 30 meters (100 feet), Welwitschia produce only two leaves that elongate throughout its life. A slow grower, this living fossil has been found to live in the wild for nearly 2,000 years!

A diecious species, there are separate male and female Welwitschia plants. The female plants produce no flowers, but rather cones with papery seeds that can blow in the wind. While other cone-bearing plants are often wind pollinated, Welwitschia are pollinated primarily by insects, likely beetles or wasps.

📸: iNaturalist - 1. Chantibo 2. Ehreneksteen 3. Frank375 4. Annekevet

🌿 Mark your calendars, plant enthusiasts! 🌱

🌿 Mark your calendars, plant enthusiasts! 🌱 Join us for an enchanting botanical journey as we explore the captivating world of flora right here in Portland. Get ready to stroll through nature's wonders with us at two splendid locations this month:

📍 Overlook Park Plant Walk 🗓️ August 26th, 10am - 12pm
📍 Portland Memory Garden Exploration 🗓️ August 27th, 10am - 12pm

Immerse yourself in the beauty of these curated walks, led by our expert guides who will unravel the secrets of the plant kingdom. To secure your spot, simply tap the link in our bio and choose the plant stroll that speaks to your green soul. Hurry, spots are filling up fast, and you won't want to miss out on this botanical adventure!

If you're in a position to spread the plant love even further, consider contributing during registration. Your generosity helps us cultivate our vision for Portland Botanical Garden, ensuring that the magic of plant discovery is accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances.

Plant of the Week - Rhododendron macrophyllum Nat

Plant of the Week - Rhododendron macrophyllum

Native plant 🚨 ! Rhododendron macrophyllum, also known as the Pacific Rhododendron, is a Rhododendron species native to the Pacific Northwest. Its habitat stretches from British Columbia to northern California along the coastal foothills and Cascade Range. Gorgeous clusters of flowers burst with color in mid-spring to early summer. The color can vary from light pink to a rosy-purple and is rarely white.

Despite not yet having the right to vote, the women of Washington state chose Rhododendron macrophyllum to represent the state of Washington for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. In 1959, the State officially listed Rhododendron macrophyllum as its state flower.

📸: iNaturalist - 1. hawnzd 2. dduff 3. ctumer 4. kiemnec-tyburczy

Today is the final day to register for our Plant S

Today is the final day to register for our Plant Stroll tomorrow morning at 10 am! Make sure to visit the link in our bio to register before spots fill up!

Unable to make it tomorrow? No worries! We also have a Plant Stroll this Sunday at 10 am!

We will gather at Cathedral Park, near the "Drawing on the River" metal sculpture, a few minutes before 10 am for a brief orientation. The Strolls will last for two hours, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The route will be short, and our pace will be slow and conversational. Although we adore dogs, we kindly request that you leave your furry friends at home for this event. Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are welcome.

We can't wait to see you there!