When asked why people would want their ornamental plants to be organic, Megan Twilegar, owner of Pistils Nursery in the Historic Mississippi District of north Portland, shot me a glance that said, "You're kidding me." After all, I had presented myself as someone who was "into" organic. "I mean, people want their food to be grown organically, but why would they want their landscape plants to be grown organically?" She didn't waver with her answer but quickly stated that the way plants are grown, whether for food or for ornamentals, has the same effect on the environment. The same pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers find their way into the air, the ground, the water, which affects the pollinators, the wildlife and the people regardless of what the "crop" was grown for. Bingo.

One mile from Pistils, Megan operates a wholesale nursery where she produces 100% organically grown ornamentals. About 20-25% of the plant material at Pistils comes from this organic wholesale operation. "It's still catching on," she says. "It's much easier to produce ornamentals conventionally - they get larger and fuller faster." In spite of the challenge and only moderate demand, Megan is true to her ideals. "It's definitely a labor of love," she says wistfully.

The remaining 75-80% of her plant material comes mostly from small growers. Megan likes to visit her suppliers' facilities - if they are too clean, with barely a blade of grass growing anywhere - she takes it as a sign that they use too many chemicals and she steers clear. Small growers tend to have greater diversity. The greater the diversity, the less chance for a disease or pest to take hold, therefore there is less need for chemicals. Another way Megan helps make sure your plants succeed without chemicals is by offering varieties that thrive in Portland's climate.

When you visit Pistils, now in its 6^th year, you'll discover a wide variety of lush, healthy plants on display - from easy to grow favorites like lavender for beginning gardeners to hard to find species like the Contorted Hawthorne for plant connoisseurs. If you visit between mid February and mid June you'll be greeted by the sweet peeps of baby Bantams the moment you enter the quaint, country-style historic building. Pistils Nursery was the first in the area to sell Bantam chicks, but they are no longer the only. Portland allows its residents to own up to three chickens without a permit and permits for more than three are easy to acquire.

If you want to learn more about chickenkeeping before buying one, you may take one of their educational workshop on the topic. Last year Pistils held workshops with topics like Chickenkeeping, Beekeeping, Vermicomposting (composting aided by Red Wigglers), Winter Veggie Gardening, and Creating Terrariums. The terrariums are a big hit at Pistils and Pistils has most every thing you need to create your own plus a large selection all ready to go.

In addition to everything else, the staff at Pistils happily dispenses advice and they have just what you need in the way of organic fertilizers and pest control. Plus, if you're looking to create some curb appeal and add value to your home or simply improve the aesthetics of your landscape, Pistils offers professional landscape design to help you do just that.

Pistils is a full service nursery with strong organic/sustainable priorities and country style. In fact, with a couple of sweet-natured Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix dogs for greeters, some resident adult Bantams, and old-fashioned down-home service, one of the best things you come away from Pistils with is the refreshing feeling of being in the country - without ever leaving the city!