Friends of Oaks Bottom Photo Contest “Take Your Best Shot”In the spring of 2024, The Friends of Oaks Bottom (FOOB) will be hosting a photo contest to raise awareness of our beautiful park, get people outside enjoying the park, learn about FOOB, and participate in making beautiful Art. Submit your photos that show the beauty …
On the morning of February 10th, Friends of Oaks Bottom joined forces with Portland Parks and Recreation to plant spirea, red flowering currant, willows and more to improve habitat for local wildlife. Some thirty volunteers of all ages, from the neighborhood and beyond, participated, and the weather cooperated wonderfully as you can see from the …
Article and photos by John Sparks Friends of Oaks Bottom volunteers working near the seasonal Aurora Lake in the North Meadow Three species of salamander call Oaks Bottom home. These amphibians breed, lay eggs, and live their lives in the various habitats that the Bottom offers. Two of the salamanders are terrestrial breeders, while the …
by John Sparks Thanks to all those who visited the Friends of Oaks Bottom tent at Sundae in the Park! The annual event, sponsored by the Sellwood Community House and SMILE (Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League), was held again this year at Sellwood Park on Sunday, August 6th, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Tables and canopies were …
by John Sparks Oaks Bottom’s North Meadow is off limits to the general public while efforts are underway to fully restore the natural wetland habitat. This 50-acre area of seasonal pools had been filled with rubble from the Stadium Freeway project by the Drake Company, which owned the land. Since the freeway, now known as …
By John Sparks Tom Nelson takes out his Canon 60D Digital SLR, augmented by a 70-300mm zoom, and begins his daily stroll. He’s been doing this morning constitutional for over 15 years now, at 7:00 a.m., rain or shine, ever since he and his wife moved to Portland to be near two of their three …
by John Sparks Walking the trails at Oaks Bottom, one cannot help but notice the dominance of English ivy and Himalayan blackberry in the understory. These are but two of a number of Eurasian species which have come to settle under the native canopy of cottonwood, alder, ash, maple, red-cedar and Douglas-fir. Here’s a sampling …
Unwanted Guests: A Few Invasive Plants at Oaks Bottom Read More »
The South Meadow of Oaks Bottom, which borders the Springwater Corridor Trail, is home to many nesting birds. Protecting the South Meadow is a priority for Portland Parks and Recreation and Friends of Oaks Bottom. Unfortunately, after Portland Parks and Recreation planted 6,5OO wildflowers in the South Meadow in the spring of 2021, the South …
In November 2020, Friends of Oaks Bottom co-founder Ezra Cohen talked with Barbara Bernstein on the Locus Focus radio show about the wildlife and habitats of Oaks Bottom and what makes Oaks Bottom special. The conversation included Ezra’s background, his vision for Friends of Oaks Bottom, and how he stayed connected with nature during the …
Between July and November 2018, The Bureau of Environmental Services, in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, replaced a culvert connecting the Willamette River with Oaks Bottom to restore the salmon habitat at Oaks Bottom. The existing culvert was too small for salmon to pass and blocked …