By Lisa Albert, Sunset guest blogger

Speaking of cool things in backyards, check out Portland’s Brooklyn neighborhood nursery, Small World Plants, uncommon plants for small spaces. Lee Kamrass, friend and outstanding plantswoman, has a fondness for small stature plants and Japanese maples, in part because they allow her to pack more plants into her small garden. A few years ago, Lee looked around and realized that there was a growing (pardon the pun) need for small-scale plants. So in May 2007, armed with hope, faith, skill, and vision, Lee opened Small World Plants, offering an assortment of Japanese maples, dwarf shrubs, tiny conifers, perennials, and groundcovers.

Lee's second annual Miniature Living Christmas Tree event is currently in progress.  They make fabulous hostess gifts and holiday centerpieces, and great garden or container plants after the holidays are over. Featured in the photo are Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Red Star’, Picea abies ‘Krnak’ and Juniper communis ‘Little Prince’.

Normally a place you can visit by appointment only, Small World Plants will be open every Saturday from 11 to 4:30 until Christmas. You can email Lee at lee@smallworldplants.com or call 503 504-6235.