graffiti

My name is Sandra Miller and I live in stunning Portland Oregon. I have been gardening for well over 40 years starting in the cold climate of Minnesota, USA.

What a zonal shock to move to Portland and zone 9 where I became like a kid in a candy store. This is absolute gardener’s paradise and also known officially as “Rose City” Portland boasts one of the largest Classical Chinese Gardens outside of China as well as it’s world reknowned Japanese Garden…not to forget the International Rose Test gardens…omg I get goose bumps even typing it!! LOL!

My husband Steve and I travel extensively around the globe as well as breed, judge and show AKC Chow Chows. Finding gardens in different areas of the world is fascinating and sometimes challenging. South Africa was one of our favorite places for all flora and fauna!

My own business is in jewelry design and professional photography. My jewelry website is http://graffitijewelry.com and my photography goes under Graffitimagery. My blog http://graffitigossip is visited by thousands weekly because of my work with the pandas in China which I discuss at my blog regularly. I am a self professed pandaholic and adopted a panda baby in Chengdu China in 2008. What a thrill to hold my little Bao Shi ( or “jewel” named for my jewelry business)

The garden is such therapy and inspiration for me and Steve. I am legally blind seeing only through a small straw sized tunnel in one eye now. I hired a helper for the “twiggy” stuff like garden cleanup in the spring and the fall to prevent an eye accident. I wear goggles ALL the time when tending the garden. The neighors surely think I am an odd duck !!