Did you know that the Portland Memory Garden has been in operation for 23 years? That’s right! We celebrated 23 years of tending to this beautiful and accessible garden in the heart of Portland, OR over the summer. Our 23rd Anniversary Celebration at Portland Memory Garden was a festive way to share the results of the year’s successful restorative garden refresh by Friends of Portland Memory Garden (FPMG) and to re-introduce the garden’s qualities and features to the audiences it was built to support.
Dedicated in May 2002, Portland Memory Garden was designed to meet the needs of older adults, including people coping with memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and their caregivers. For 23 years, the garden has operated as a peaceful oasis to spark fond memories of the past and create new memories with loved ones. It has offered sensory stimulation, respite, and a peaceful oasis of beauty, all accessible with walkers and wheelchairs.
Graceful trees provide ample shade. Raised beds and plentiful seating provide frequent spots to rest, gaze at the garden and even touch the plantings. The Garden has been a popular destination for groups from senior living facilities, individuals with memory or physical issues, caregivers, and families from around the region.
During the early years of the Covid pandemic, the garden accrued some deferred maintenance while parks were closed, and residents at senior living facilities were not allowed to travel in buses for activities. Habits changed, staffing at senior living facilities changed, and we needed to reintroduce the garden to the people who benefit most from its specialized features.
FPMG Board Members Pam Baker, Eunice Noell-Waggoner, and Tara Hicks, along with Meghan McKiernan and Becky Pierce from the Legacy Health team, welcomed attendees on the day of our celebration. Becky, an intern with the Legacy Health Horticultural Therapy Program, designed the plant mix and placement for our Spring garden refresh, and was particularly delighted to hear the positive comments from the community members who expressed appreciation for all of the recent garden improvements.
A diverse group of more than 40 guests joined in the celebration, including neighbors and their children, caregivers accompanying people with memory issues, senior living activity directors, horticultural therapy interns, new contacts from related organizations, and garden volunteers. Everyone expressed delight with the Garden, its plants, features and assets, and the sheer beauty of the garden environment. The weather was a “10”! A perfect sunny and comfortable day!
La Provence & Petite Provence donated delicious treats for the event, which were appreciated by all. Throughout the celebration, raffle prizes of garden-related items were won by attendees who had put their names in the basket. Gifts of garden tools, bird feeders, and gardening books were given out to our lucky winners, culminating in the grand prize of a pair of high quality binoculars donated by Leupold+Stevens Family Foundation. The OSU Master Gardener™ Program hosted a garden care education table in preparation for our Master Gardener™ Program workshop series, and of course, everyone’s visit was enhanced by beautiful live harp music by Maureen Briare that complemented and enriched the natural beauty of the setting.
Profound thanks to Tara, our Garden Coordinator, and her team of contractors and volunteers who made the garden look so great. Many thanks to Meghan and Becky for their contributions with hosting a nature table activity and managing the raffle. Thanks to our marketing team for creating a new banner with our new logo, and providing a new one-pager about PMG for distribution. We enjoyed reintroducing Portland Memory Garden to our community and celebrating with everyone who attended. Thank you all for making our 23rd anniversary an event to remember.