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In my book, gardening is not a prerequisite for friendship, although it helps. Obviously, a lot of people I know don’t garden. Michael was one. He didn’t have much time for gardening. Michael was a hairdresser to the stars — Arlene Schnitzer, Eileen Ford (of the Ford Modeling Agency) and Faye Dunaway, to name a few. He always suspected he contracted AIDS from a tryst with Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.

The last time I saw Michael he was directing traffic, pointing hither and yon as movers hauled around all of his expensive French antique furniture in his final home at Our House. Maybe you’ve heard of Our House, on Southeast Alder Street. It’s the only organization of its kind in all of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

The angels there give 24-hour care to people dying of AIDS as well to as their families and friends. It’s beautiful, clean and dignified.
This year’s fund-raiser for Our House would surely get “two snaps up” from Michael. Heck, nobody threw a party like Michael. He once put together a catered event for 300 of his closest friends in the Benson Hotel ballroom, and he didn’t even show up. The party, held posthumously, was one of his best.

Anyway, I digress. Our House begins its signature event this weekend. A few of the most fabulous gardeners in and around Portland will feed you gourmet meals in their landscape as part of Dinner at My House for Our House. All of the money raised goes to the organization, and you get a remarkable dinner in one of 12 gardens you would otherwise never see.

For instance, take the Secret Garden of David Hopkins and Rick Younge.

Their garden of all-white flowers is tucked away in Northwest Portland behind a grand Victorian house. While you dine in candlelight on gourmet fare made by Portland’s White House Bed and Breakfast, you are intoxicated by the sweet smell of jasmine and big Casa Blanca lilies. Rick’s garden recently was featured in Better Homes and Gardens.

But wait … just listen to a couple of the other choices. How about dining poolside with former Gov. Barbara Roberts? Or having Cajun food and Pat O’Brien’s Original Hurricane cocktails while a live jazz band blows the lid off a garden party in Alameda? Not too shabby, huh?
With 12 garden parties on the list and more than 80 choices in the complete dinner series, it’s pretty darn easy to find something you’d pine for. Dinner at My House for Our House is one benefit we can all benefit from.

Michael would have loved it.

Call 503-736-9276 for reservations.

Here’s a look at the “to-do” menu for mid-August gardens:

• To delay bloom, cut 4 inches off the tops of asters and mums.
• Fertilize strawberry beds, cucumbers, squash and broccoli.
• Divide bearded iris and peonies.