As spring turns to summer, the yard at Weston Miller’s house is “in transition.” The Oregon State University horticulturist just built a fence and is now in the process of selecting plants for a large bed that will attract beneficial insects and birds to his yard, and also will require minimal maintenance or pesticides.

The typical American household spent 8.4 percent of their income, or $4,155, buying gasoline this year. According to The Oregonian, that's the highest it has been since 1981. The average American family now works one month each year to buy fuel for the car, SUV or pickup.

What's all this buzz about TriMet's new trip tool, the Portland Regional Trip Planner? Unlike existing tools, the new Trip Planner lets you to plan trips combining transit, bike and walking in a single itinerary.

Every September for the past three years, volunteers have gathered along the Intertwine – the Portland metropolitan area's system of trails, parks and natural areas – to count and survey people walking and biking. The count is part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project’s ongoing effort to gather accurate trail use data to help decided where and when to build new trails and respond the needs of trail users.

Across the Portland metropolitan area this month, efforts to protect nature in neighborhoods are taking root

Salmon habitat is being restored along Johnson Creek. A park will be dedicated in Cedar Mill. The new Cornelius Wellness Center, which will transform a concrete alley into a green parkway, is breaking ground. A dinner concert will raise money to expand and restore West Linn's White Oak Savanna. The Equity Bike Ride will highlight a partnership to green the Interstate 205 path for cyclists and pedestrians. And West Linn will celebrate new nature trails, playgrounds and more.

The common denominator: support from Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program.

Through a combination of land use planning and a strong regional transit network, the Portland metropolitan region is fighting long commutes, congestion and urban sprawl more successfully than other urban areas. Metro, local agencies and community leaders are also improving air quality, protecting farms, forests and natural areas, and helping people live closer to work. Thanks to careful transportation planning and management, high-capacity public transit and regional freight lines, our region has successfully employed investments and strategies that keep people and commodities moving without ignoring the reasons people live here: safe, reliable and affordable public transit, clean air and water, and vibrant, livable communities. Read on to learn how Metro's regional planning saves you time and money and reduces harmful environmental impacts like greenhouse gas emissions.

With gas prices going up and up, many drivers are crying, “Uncle!” At a luncheon on Wednesday, May 18, Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder and other officials, including U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, will showcase efforts that save transit riders, cyclists and other commuters money. During the event, Blumenauer will discuss the Commuter Relief Act. The proposed legislation will help reduce the number of drive-alone car trips, which creates a healthier environment and community by cutting down on road congestion and reducing air pollution.

Metro Councilor Robert Liberty announced today that he is resigning his position on the Metro Council effective Jan. 15 to become executive director of the Sustainable Cities Initiative at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Liberty was first elected to the Metro Council to represent District 6 in 2004, and was re-elected for a second term in 2008. District 6 includes portions of Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Portland. While serving on the Metro Council, Liberty's priorities included protecting productive farms, forest lands and natural areas in and outside the urban growth boundary, reinvesting in existing communities, increasing transportation and housing choices, and giving citizens a stronger role in regional planning decisions. Because less than two years remain in Liberty's term, the Metro Council will make an appointment to fill his seat, which runs through January 2013. The Council must advertise the vacancy for at least four weeks and provide for at least one week of public comment prior to making an appointment.