Portland is known as the "city of roses" because they grow so perfectly in this are where gardening is one of the top local interests. Located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, the water supply here is plentiful enough to support vast cropland in the Willamette Valley where soils are incredibly fertile. Warm, dry summers and cool wet winters are ideal for outdoor living much of the year, so homes feature versatile landscapes with spaces for relaxation, dining and recreation.

Just seven miles west of Portland is Beaverton, a bedroom community that provides quiet upscale communities for those who commute into the city center. Here views in every direction include mountains, rivers, forests and fields, making elevated homes with expansive decks and terraces highly coveted.

Beyond that lies the high tech enclave of Hillsboro anchored by the Intel corporation and other technology firms that earn this region the title "Silicon Forest". Here homes reflect the modern industrial character of engineers and the high prices of newfound wealth. More rustic cedar residences of the environmentally aware residents are pervasive in Oregon woodlands. Some of the most innovative landscapes and materials applications can be found here, so both designers and contractors serving the area are cutting edge.

To the north across the Columbia River is the once sleepy town of Vancouver, Oregon, not to be confused with that famous city of the same name in Canada. As growth efforts in Portland failed to step up, developers shifted to Vancouver where expansive subdivisions of newish homes provide affordable places to live. Away from urban influence, this is one of the fastest growing counties in America where families create expansive backyard landscapes with vegetable gardens, sports lawns and grilling/dining patios among the essentials.

Much further south lies the state capitol of Salem, which flanks both sides of the Willamette River. Older homes in downtown make wonderful urban residences that can be augmented with roof gardens, small back gardens and spas. As the neighborhoods spread out into the Willamette Valley, there's room for truly beautiful landscapes with all the amenities for growing families. Salem is beloved for it's a small town atmosphere which generates a big love of plants and gardens.