Bridgeport Village Blooms & Bugs Springtime Scavenger Hunt (through April 5th)

There is another Mike Bennett scavenger hunt at Bridgeport Village:

https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2025/10/bridgeport-village-mike-bennett-studios.html 

This one is a lot like the Spooktacular one in October, but with a different theme. 

The twelve items involve flowers, insects, and gastropods, including one very familiar snail.

Participation is free, and there are once again prizes that you can get at the security office.

You can also pick up your initial form at the office or print one online. 

The gift bag includes stickers, a craft kit, and a couple of coupons.

One thing I have been reluctant to detail is the location of the items, taking away the "hunt" part. However, it can be hard to know if you are in the right area.

I am just going to note that the coupons are for La Frenchie and California Pizza Kitchen. If you walk from one to the other, looking around and taking a few detours but staying in that area, you should be fine.

Once again we found ourselves talking with people and having a good time. Bennett really is a joy-maker.

COVID: You do not have to enter any of the stores; this can be done all outside. Okay, if you want the prize you need to go into the security office.

Accessibility: The mall is pretty accessible in general. There are some areas where there are steps, but there was also always access without steps. 

https://www.bridgeport-village.com/event/37561-spring-scavenger-hunt              

  

NE Portland: Clyde's Prime Rib

Back when inclement weather meant it took me two attempts to see the Christmas lights at the Grotto, Clyde's caught my attention on the way back both times.

This was partly due to the somewhat castle-like architecture, but also the promise of prime rib.

Eight years later, I made it!

The food is all right. The prime rib was good, but happily there are multiple good options for prime rib and lots of those places have a somewhat more diverse menu. 

Part of it taking eight years to go there is that my frequent dining companions are not nearly as carnivorous as I am.

The atmosphere cannot be beat.

If you want to enter a Mad Men episode, I am not sure that you can do better (especially since Henry Ford's closed).

 The tableware has a weight that speaks to the bygone era.

 Also speaking that language is the upholstery.

 Soul singers adorn the wall, from the past but also representing live music on weekends in the present.

Staff was very friendly and prices were reasonable, especially considering how generous the portions were.

Part of the mood relates to the lighting; if you can see some of these details clearly, I probably used my flash.

 That's all part of it. Sometimes it's fun to step into the Way-Back machine and try something different.

 Even my more herbivorous companions were glad we went.

COVID: As a restaurant, it is not practical to stay masked. We went during lunch hours and it was not crowded so distancing was possible. Use your best judgement.

Accessibility: Clyde's is over sixty years old, so it would not have been surprising if there were stairs or narrow passages. It was very navigable. Sliding into the booths might not be easy, but the chair sides of the tables should be workable. 

They're waiting for you.

https://www.clydesprimerib.com/ 

Cedar Mill: Heritage trees at Young House

Way back in September, when I wrote about the Dosch Yellow Bellflower Apple, I mentioned that three trees at the Young House in Beaverton were getting a marker.

https://beavertonvalleytimes.com/2025/04/24/3-cedar-mill-fruit-trees-added-to-state-heritage-tree-list/ 

We have seen the marker now! 

I admit that I thought there would be one marker per tree, so you would know which was which.

I am pretty sure that the tallest one is the Shellbark Hickory, but I think it was the Bartlett Pear that had a stash of possibly hickory nuts in its hollow.

Probably squirrel-related hi-jinks.

As it is, there is not a lot of information about them. One article from 2023 says the only remnants of the late 19th century orchard are the apple and the pear.

https://cedarmillnews.com/article/0623-history-news/ 

The article is about using scion wood from those two trees to clone new saplings. Apparently they did not do this with the hickory, but whether that was because there would be less demand or the tree was not suitable, they do not say; they just pretend the hickory tree doesn't exist. 

Well it got mentioned in the article, so there! 

Really, something like 150 years later, all of these trees are survivors.

COVID: This is very outdoors and I can't imagine it ever getting that crowded.

Accessibility: The area around the house and trees is not paved, and is a little bumpy and prone to mud. There are some very nice trails nearby, though, I believe associated with Cedar Mill Creek Overlook Park, and you could view the house and trees from those trails, or from the parking lot of the Cedar Mill Bible Church.

https://oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees/jqa-young-house-fruit-trees/ 

Portland: Leach Botanical Garden

We visited Leach Botanical Garden for the first time on a chilly but sunny day in January.

We like botanical gardens in general, but we were especially interested in the aerial tree walk.

While boardwalks are a common feature for many gardens and wetlands, this one stands out due to its position on the hillside terrain.

Most of the garden is on one level, then down a relatively steep hill there is the Manor House and East Terrace. (Then if you cross the Back 5 and the creek, there is an outdoor kitchen and stone cabin.) 

Trees grow everywhere, and the walkway gives you a view of the garden level, the house level, and the trees all around.

There were also many interesting and inventive resting spots.

This included some more sheltered areas and areas where you might be able to get warm.

There are rental and event options available.

There is an emphasis on education, largely with school programs but also with signs and labels. 

Being there in winter is a different experience than we might have in spring or summer, but there were still some blooms.

There can be the option to go back, but there have been some funding issues, a common problem for many institutions lately.

Information on donating and volunteering is available on the web site. 

Some of those volunteering opportunities relate to the "Back 5" project, focusing on ecosystem restoration and habitat enhancement.

There are always plenty of good things to do.

Also, this dinosaur may seem kind of random, but I like it.

COVID:This was very much outside for us, as we did not visit inside the Manor House. 

Accessibility: This is mostly pretty good. Paths are smooth and navigable up top. 

However, if there is an interest in going to another level, that is probably best done by driving. Even though there are switchbacks and short steps to keep it from being too steep, that makes it longer. Then you would need to get back up.

There is limited parking below, so the web site recommends letting them know at the Visitor Services Booth. They were very friendly and should be able to make sure that there is a spot available. 

https://www.leachgarden.org/