Autumn at Adytum
Warming Indian spices from dal and coconut rice traveling up the spiral staircase to the Star of the North Suite at Adytum, the first storm of the season and fresh snow on the road to Paradise, the Japanese maples in our gardens in brilliant fire and losing leaves fast now with each gust of wind that scatters the intricate tapestry of color on to the forest floor…this is my favorite time of year~ Autumn at Adytum.
We went to see more Japanese Maples at the Portland Japanese Garden last week, taking a lot of pictures to share.
This particular garden has been proclaimed as the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan.
Situated on 5 acres, they welcome 220,000 visitors a year. You can read more at www.japanesegarden.com.
We go every autumn and agree that it is a stunning representation of an authentic Japanese garden with bonsai, maples of every kind imaginable, lovely structural elements and statuary.
The peacefulness is enhanced by ancient fir trees and many waterfalls and streams.
All this beauty is only an hour and a half from Adytum, and is near some of our favorite restaurants to visit after an afternoon’s walk; PF Chang, Monsoon or was it Typhoon? Or both? Pizzacato,with gluten free crust and the City Grill with its territorial views from the 30th floor and the most amazing Happy Hour in Portland. And of course, Plainfields which is one of the top 22 Indian restaurants in the US. Coupled with the fun catalog shops that are all along 23rd Place, which is quite near the Japanese Gardens, there is plenty to do and see.
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| Pink Skyscraper in the Background is City Grill….Great Happy Hour & Views |
On the drive back to Adytum you can pick up your own Japanese Maples from a vast selection at Tsugawa Nursery – www.tsugawanursery.com. Most of the 30 Japanese Maples at Adytum have come from this fun nursery and now each is attached to a memory of a date in Portland. Enjoying the museums or gardens, relishing a nice meal and some shopping and stopping back by the nursery on the way back to create a romantic evening at Adytum makes a perfect date.
Once the leaves shed at the Japanese Garden, explore the other museums in the same area as the Portland Zoo- we like the gift shop in the Forestry Museum especially for gifts for children to teach them conservation and to love animals and nature. In the summer, the Portland Rose Garden is spectacular and we actually saw a lot of climbing roses opposite the Japanese Garden, climbing up a chain link fence in full bloom…in November. Portland is a little warmer and the season is extended and spring begins sooner there too.
So many who visit Adytum head to Mt. Rainier, White Pass or Mt. St. Helens, but when the weather turns, or if you’re not a skier, it’s fun to discover a new city. Portland’s vibe is laid back and it has a distinctive Pacific Northwest flavor. We love the architecture of the old homes there and the abundance of tall trees lining the streets. We’ve enjoyed a lot of great cultural events like concerts and plays there as well. So if you’re up for a day trip while staying at Adytum, put Portland on your list of potential options and we know you won’t be disappointed.