Healing Garden
The Healing Garden at Hospice of the Gorge is intended as a retreat, a contemplative place where garden visitors can find an opportunity to reflect, spend quiet time, remember and heal.
DESIGN: The long, narrow garden site stretching along the north side of the Hospice building was designed by Marion McNew of Mount Hood Gardens, as a metaphor for life’s journey. A low stucco wall envelops the garden, to afford privacy and induce inward reflection. It also gives structure to the garden and furnishes its framework. Four different garden rooms, connected by a continuous, sweeping path, invites the visitor to explore the garden, a journey akin to walking along the path of life.
The memory garden consists of four different garden rooms. Each garden room evokes different feelings and reactions, and the inner stucco wall colors correspond to each room’s theme.
DESCRIPTION OF GARDEN ROOMS: Upon entering the cheery, sunlit ROSE GARDEN room, the trickling birdbath fountain, curved benches and sheltering arbors invite slowing down and pausing. Further exploration will take the garden visitor through a doorway to the GALLERY GARDEN, sporting a Bamboo Forest mural by Mark Nilsson, two large vessels and blue glass mimicking a dry creek bed. The adjacent DISCOVERY GARDEN displays a Japanese-style garden theme and a soft purple wall color, evoking a thought-provoking mood. Large boulders and several small trees and conifers give the illusion of a larger space and encourage the visitor to explore the garden. The wooden benches are private and create cozy seating nooks. Flowing water from the tiered water feature transcends everyday sounds. Finally, an open gate draws the visitor into the small, intimate ZEN GARDEN, a place for quiet contemplation. The circular sphere fountain in the center of the room provides the focal point, and the soothing sound of slowly cascading water. Simple bench seats, verdant small trees, misty blue walls and garden art combine to form a calming, uncluttered space.
Additional information about this garden design and Hospice of the Gorge can be found in the following articles:
BEFORE PHOTOS
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The site of the future Memory Garden, February 2006
Imagine the future Rose Garden Room here! February 2006
The inviting design for the future Rose Garden Room
The stucco wall construction has begun, July 2006
AFTER PHOTOS
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Come on in! The completed Rose Garden Room, October 2007
The inviting design for the future Rose Garden Room
The actual Gallery Garden, with a Bamboo Forest mural by Mark Nilsson, October 2007
Design of the Discovery Garden, which displays a Japanese garden style
The finished Discovery Garden Room, October 2007
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