Bicycles bloom in Portland spring

The recent, warm spring air has transformed Portland from dreary to delightful. Bicyclists are dusting off (or drying off) their steeds and taking to the flower-filled streets.

Visions of spring are everywhere.

The other day, while riding home from Alberta Street I spotted this great house, with a garden bed lined by bicycle wheels.

Notice the bicycle wheels near the curb.

I’ve come across many houses with bicycle-inspired garden art. From fences to sculptures, there is a quiet celebration of cycling going on in this city.

Spring in Alberta neighborhood

If you need inspiration to make your bike garden grow, there are two places you should look.

The bike art garden at Abernethy School (2421 SE Orange Ave), which I wrote about last summer), and the famous Alberta Street Clown House at NE 25th and Alberta.

Both places are full of inspiring examples of how to get more gears in your garden.

Albert Clown House

Bikes grow on trees at the Alberta St. Clown House
Abernethy Bike Art Garden

My kind of windchime, at Abernethy Elementary School.

Beth Hamon from Citybikes snapped a gorgeous photo of Waterfront Park on her ride home the other day. Last year I snapped these photos of the cherry blossoms:

Cherry Blossoms on the waterfront

Cherry Blossoms on the waterfront

Have you come across any bike gardens or other visions of spring lately?

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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John
John
17 years ago

My Friend Billy lives in the orange house above. He’s a real trekker!

gabrielamadeus
17 years ago

Check out this absolutely amazing pinhole capture of the waterfront blossoms:
http://flickr.com/photos/zebandrews/431026417/

bArbaroo
bArbaroo
17 years ago

This is such a nice antidote to the previous story about the devasting theft. Thanks for providing coverage of both. The reality is we live in a place that’s pretty cool – but it still has some very rough edges. After a dose of the ugly it’s nice to see flowers.

David
David
17 years ago

Biking around town last night I definitely noticed the smell of spring in the air! Does anyone else notice, with all the air rushing by their nostrils, their sense of smell is enhanced while riding a bike?

Emmon
12 years ago

Just seeing this now, a mere 5 years after you wrote it, thanks to an article in Treehugger. I was really captivated by the Abernathy “bike art”!