WHERE CITY AND RURAL LIFE MERGE An intricate jigsaw puzzle - this describes the pattern of rural residential area with Oregon City to the southwest and Happy Valley / Damascus to the north. Numerous homes rest on large lots. Streams, creeks, forest, fields wend their way through peoples yards. Streams flow toward the Willamette River to the west of the city. The variety of scenary defies placing a photo gallery here, but a clip from Metro's map suggests the boundaries. The homes shown below are all on large lots, beginning at 20,000 sq ft. There are several dozens of these homes fpr sale. Deer and other wildlife wander through these neighborhoods. My client who bought a home there feels he is in heaven.

See Rural Homes for sale

Northeast of Oregon City - South of Happy Valley

Urban Ducks

The Marvel: a duck nesting on 14 eggs in a small planter. Got this pic with my cell phone just inches away.

Place: Tualatin's Martinazzi Plaza just outside the Cartridge World store.

Ecology: asphalt, concreate side walk, just a typical strip mall.

Questions: why would a duck pick such an unlikely place to nest. When chicks emerge will they safely cross the parking lot, past Shari's Restaurant Over to the greenspace along side Comfort Inn? Who is feeding the mamma duck meanwhile?

Paddle Oregon 2010

We had a great time doing Paddle Oregon 2009 as seen in this video which I filmed.

Paddle Oregon 2010 will be a repeat. It is a 5 day, 96 mile paddle on the Willametter River starting 12 miles north of Eugene and ending at Willamette Mission Park north of Salem. It is a delux paddling camping experience, sponsored by Willamette Riverkeeper. (Opening frame shows me back row, 4th from the right.)

Tigard & King City Golf Homes - Marverlous Setting for Senior Life

TIGARD & KING CITY OREGON - GOLF COURSES Summerfield and King City are communities built round two different public golf courses. A wonderful setting for senior life. Many residents drive around the communities in golf carts. Each community has about 2000 residents. These are modest homes built 1966 - 1975. Summerfield has 40 acres devoted to recreation including the 9-hole, 2,353 yard, 33 par golf course. Over 150 homes are directly next to the fairways, greens, and bunkers. It is an age 55+ community. See more……. King City was originally an age 55+ community built around a 9-hole, 2,284 yard public golf course. King City has grown beyond the original boundaries and has become more diversified. It has a substantial city center with shopping malls. There are approximately 140 homes adjacent to fairways. Far more that are members of the home owners association that owns the golf course other recreational facilities. See more including a video about King City. (See available homes along fairways.)

Views of Summerfield Golf Course

VIEWS OF KING CITY GOLF COURSE

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Portland-Beaverton-Vancouver No. 1 among "green cities"...

The Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton metro area ranked No. 1 among 43 U.S. metro areas in a report on America’s “green cities.”

The “Green Cities Index” ranks metro areas on a variety of environmental factors, including traffic congestion, transit use, water quality, carbon emissions, LEED-certified projects and number of “green” jobs..... (See More)

Portland's Forest Heights View Homes

FOREST HEIGHTS VIEW HOMES "Heights" is truly the emphasis here. It takes your breath away. View-homes are abundant. The view primarily looks from the northwest hills of Portland - past Beaverton and into the Tualatin River valley. The neighborhoods snake along the crest of ridges running down from Portland's Forest Park. Homes are perched above ravines forested with Alder trees. There are few trails accessing these groves on steep slopes. These beautiful homes have complete privacy in the back yards. Forest Heights Park is adjacent to the elementary school. Forest Park Elementary is rated Outstanding by the Oregon Department of Education. (See nearby homes for sale.)

Nearby homes for sale

Marquam Nature Park, Keller Woodlands, Council Crest Park

Marquam Nature Park, Keller Woodland, Council Crest RESTORED There is a wonderful system of trails through natural woodland in the hills west of Terwilliger Boulevard. (See Marquam Nature Park Trails). It includes Marquam Nature Park, Keller Woodlands, and Council Crest Park - part of the West Willamette Restoration Project. Over 300 acres of woodlands has been cleared of invasive plants. It is eye opening to hike from Forest Park near the Portland Zoo up to Council Crest Park; then to Marquam Nature Park and the hills surrounding Oregon Health Sciences University. The contrast of the area cleared of invasive ivy, blackberry, and holly is beautiful compared to that portion of Forest Park that has not yet been restored. This area is at the southern end of the “4 T” Trails - using Portland’s Trolley, Aerial Tram, Trails & MAX Train – a 4.4 mile trail (great photos from Oregonlive.com). Marquam Nature Park (297 acres) and 38 acres of Keller Woodland are owned by Portland Parks and Recreation. 40 acres of Keller Woodlands is owned by Three Rivers Land Conservancy. Many residential neighborhoods surround these greenspace parks. (See homes for sale.) See maps for Keller Woodland Marquam Nature Park Council Crest Park Before & After Photos With ivy and blackberry in the first; cleared trail next; and photos of volunteers doing the work.

This restoration is the three year collaborative work of over 8000 volunteer hours contributed by these organizations and officially completed in 2009: Three Rivers Land Conservancy Friends of Marquam Nature Park SW Trails Group Hillsdale Neighborhood Association Friends of Terwilliger The area gets further attention from the County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) so neighbors can be optimistic about continuing effort to keep it in natural state with trails maintained by several organizations. Here is some text from the CWMA website. "Keller Woodlands located along SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland, Oregon .... a 40-acre site inTerwilliger Heights in SW Portland provides a great success story for just 4 years of active weed management. The Three Rivers Land Conservancy owns the site, and in 2004 began aggressive English ivy control using integrated pest management techniques that included both manual and chemical removal with sensitivity given to infestations near native plants. The volunteer crews at the site even implemented an innovative approach to pile ivy in such a manner that it does not re-sprout and composts itself. Although English ivy was the targeted invasive weed, attention is also given to the removal of other invasive plants such as Himalayan blackberry, English holly, Garlic mustard, Herb Robert, and Shining geranium. The Three Rivers Land Conservancy obtained an OWEB grant for some of the treatment as well as native plantings. "In addition to Keller Woods already serving as a demonstration site for the West Willamette Restoration Partnership, its location along the Marquam Trail, a heavily used hiking trail, as well as signage along the heavily trafficked Terwilliger Blvd provides great outreach opportunities. Three Rivers Land Conservancy continues to monitor and maintain the site with monthly volunteer work parties. Four years of combined chemical and manual treatment, along with extensive volunteer work, makes the Keller Woodlands site an inspiration!” Homes for sale around West Willamette Corridor