Oregon Garden
Encyclopedia
Oregon Garden is an 80 acres (32.4 ha) botanical garden
and tourist attraction in Silverton
, Oregon
, United States
. Opened in 1999, the garden includes a variety of plant species and habitats and the only Frank Lloyd Wright
home in Oregon. The garden is owned by the non-profit Oregon Garden Foundation, with the facility open every day. Additionally, it hosts community events and four to eight annual concerts while providing educational outreach programs and award-winning environmental impacts.
A public showcase garden had been conceived since at least the 1940s. Work towards the realization of the concept began in earnest around 1990, with land dedicated in 1995. A partnership between the Oregon Association of Nurserymen and the city of Silverton created the garden, with other support coming from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute
, the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps, The American Conifer Society, and the Oregon timber industry. In April 1996, a master plan was created for the garden which includes ultimately developing all 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of the site. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred June 27, 1997 and featured high-ranking Oregon politicians. The garden opened to the public during a dedication on April 17, 1999. Attendance at the garden totaled 250,000 visitors the first year. Subsequent ceremonies dedicated additional features such as Gordon House on March 2, 2002, and the Rediscovery Forest and Natural Resources Center on June 7, 2002.
In 2002, the water garden won an award from the American Society of Landscape Architects
for environmental friendliness.
The Oregon Garden struggles to survive financially, and has since inception. Proceeds from admissions have been below management expectations. Funds from the Oregon Lottery
, City of Silverton, and Marion County
have helped keep it functioning.
The early years saw a relatively ambitious series of garden expansion. Since 2003, the addition of new features has slowed substantially. Attendance continues to decline, but compared favorably until 2003 with other Oregon gardens such as the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden
with 153,748 and 165,504 (respectively) visitors in 2002.
In 2005, Marion County
issued $5 million in bonds to support the attraction. In 2005, the Oregon Garden Foundation placed the garden in receivership
as attendance had declined to 40,000 people that year with a delinquent debt of $8 million. For 2006, the Garden lost $1.1 million with a revenue of less than $275,000.
The garden nearly closed due to its financial obligations.
To ensure financial solvency, a deal was struck with Moonstone Garden Management Incorporated in 2006 in which the company would take over operations of the garden, with the Oregon Garden Foundation retaining ownership. Moonstone purchased 11.1 acres (4.5 ha) from the City of Silverton to build a 103-room resort hotel on undeveloped land adjacent to the garden's water feature. The deal—set to last as long as 75 years—has Moonstone progressively repaying the $5 million bond from garden and resort revenue.
The 11 acres (4 ha) resort opened September 1, 2008.
Plans to develop adjacent land to expand the Oregon Garden appear to be abandoned with a proposal to develop the 80 acres (32.4 ha) property southwest of the site into an urban park called Pettit Natural Area Demonstration Urban Natural Area.
As of 2005, the Oregon Garden includes more than twenty specialty gardens and features such as the Bosque, Children's Garden, Conifer Garden (one of the largest collections of dwarf and miniature conifers in the United States), Honor Garden, Hughes Water Garden, Jackson & Perkins Rose
Garden, Lewis & Clark
Garden, Northwest Garden, Pet Friendly Garden, and Sensory Garden. The water garden is a maze-like area with numerous paths and bridges. A 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) native Oregon white oak
grove includes the 400-year-old, 100 feet (30.5 m) Signature Oak, which is one of Oregon's Heritage Trees. The garden holds an annual festival each autumn. Also on the grounds is the Teufel
Amphitheater which hosts concerts and other events; Sam Bush
played in the Amphitheater in 2006.
Gordon House
, the only house Frank Lloyd Wright
designed in Oregon, is now on the grounds of Oregon Garden. The house, designed in 1957, is one of Wright's Usonia
n houses, and the only Wright house open to the public in the Pacific Northwest
. Completed in 1964, the home was moved from Wilsonville, Oregon
, to the garden in 2001.
On each Earth Day
since 1999, the Garden hosts a celebration which attracts environmental supporters and organizations with demonstrations, exhibitions, and workshops. Garden admission is free for this event.
Using treated wastewater from the city, the garden is one of only a few installations in the United States that reuses wastewater for a water feature. Even in the summer months, the garden does not draw on drinking water supplies, instead relying entirely on wastewater treatment plant effluent
, which additionally irrigates 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of farmland. Until recently, such use was prohibited by state law, but the law was revised partly due to this water reclamation project. The garden also provides wetland mitigation for a nearby industrial park to provide waterfowl and amphibian habitat, and offloads Silver Creek
from water it would not naturally carry during low-flow months in the summer to address an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
requirement. The wastewater receives final treatment on about 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) of the Oregon Garden where a series of 25 ponds perform three final filtering functions. The end result is extremely high quality treated water.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
and tourist attraction in Silverton
Silverton, Oregon
Silverton is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Opened in 1999, the garden includes a variety of plant species and habitats and the only Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
home in Oregon. The garden is owned by the non-profit Oregon Garden Foundation, with the facility open every day. Additionally, it hosts community events and four to eight annual concerts while providing educational outreach programs and award-winning environmental impacts.
History
Oregon Forest Resources Institute
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute is an educational organization based in the U.S. state of Oregon dedicated to forestry issues, including improving public understanding of the state's forest resources and encouraging environmentally sound forest management. It provides education, training...
, the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps, The American Conifer Society, and the Oregon timber industry. In April 1996, a master plan was created for the garden which includes ultimately developing all 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of the site. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred June 27, 1997 and featured high-ranking Oregon politicians. The garden opened to the public during a dedication on April 17, 1999. Attendance at the garden totaled 250,000 visitors the first year. Subsequent ceremonies dedicated additional features such as Gordon House on March 2, 2002, and the Rediscovery Forest and Natural Resources Center on June 7, 2002.
In 2002, the water garden won an award from the American Society of Landscape Architects
American Society of Landscape Architects
The American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects, with more than 17,000 members in 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 42 countries around the world, plus 68 student chapters...
for environmental friendliness.
Funding
| year | attendance | notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 238,000 | begins charging admission |
| 2002 | 181,000 | |
| 2003 | 100,000–158,000 | |
| 2004 | 130,000 | |
| 2005 | 40,000 |
The Oregon Garden struggles to survive financially, and has since inception. Proceeds from admissions have been below management expectations. Funds from the Oregon Lottery
Oregon Lottery
The Oregon Lottery is run by the government of Oregon. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association .- History :The Oregon Lottery was enabled by an amendment to the Oregon Constitution, approved by voters in the 1984 general election. The Lottery began the next year, eventually offering...
, City of Silverton, and Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
have helped keep it functioning.
The early years saw a relatively ambitious series of garden expansion. Since 2003, the addition of new features has slowed substantially. Attendance continues to decline, but compared favorably until 2003 with other Oregon gardens such as the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
The Portland Japanese Garden is a traditional Japanese garden occupying 5.5 acres , located within Washington Park in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, USA.- Design :...
with 153,748 and 165,504 (respectively) visitors in 2002.
In 2005, Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
issued $5 million in bonds to support the attraction. In 2005, the Oregon Garden Foundation placed the garden in receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
as attendance had declined to 40,000 people that year with a delinquent debt of $8 million. For 2006, the Garden lost $1.1 million with a revenue of less than $275,000.
The garden nearly closed due to its financial obligations.
To ensure financial solvency, a deal was struck with Moonstone Garden Management Incorporated in 2006 in which the company would take over operations of the garden, with the Oregon Garden Foundation retaining ownership. Moonstone purchased 11.1 acres (4.5 ha) from the City of Silverton to build a 103-room resort hotel on undeveloped land adjacent to the garden's water feature. The deal—set to last as long as 75 years—has Moonstone progressively repaying the $5 million bond from garden and resort revenue.
The 11 acres (4 ha) resort opened September 1, 2008.
Plans to develop adjacent land to expand the Oregon Garden appear to be abandoned with a proposal to develop the 80 acres (32.4 ha) property southwest of the site into an urban park called Pettit Natural Area Demonstration Urban Natural Area.
Features
As of 2005, the Oregon Garden includes more than twenty specialty gardens and features such as the Bosque, Children's Garden, Conifer Garden (one of the largest collections of dwarf and miniature conifers in the United States), Honor Garden, Hughes Water Garden, Jackson & Perkins Rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
Garden, Lewis & Clark
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
Garden, Northwest Garden, Pet Friendly Garden, and Sensory Garden. The water garden is a maze-like area with numerous paths and bridges. A 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) native Oregon white oak
Garry Oak
Quercus garryana, the Garry Oak, Oregon White Oak or Oregon Oak, has a range from southern California to extreme southwestern British Columbia, particularly southeastern Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands. It grows from sea level to 210 m altitude in the northern part of its range, and...
grove includes the 400-year-old, 100 feet (30.5 m) Signature Oak, which is one of Oregon's Heritage Trees. The garden holds an annual festival each autumn. Also on the grounds is the Teufel
Teufel Nursery
Teufel Nursery is a family-owned landscaping company based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1890, the company maintains existing and installs new landscaping for commercial, government, and residential customers. The company has about 200 employees.-History:Gustav Teufel founded the...
Amphitheater which hosts concerts and other events; Sam Bush
Sam Bush
Sam Bush is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.- History :...
played in the Amphitheater in 2006.
Gordon House
Gordon House (Oregon)
Gordon House is a residential house designed by influential architect Frank Lloyd Wright as part of his Usonian vision for America.It is one of the last of the series designed for working-class U.S. consumers, which—in 1939—was considered $5,000–6,000 per year...
, the only house Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
designed in Oregon, is now on the grounds of Oregon Garden. The house, designed in 1957, is one of Wright's Usonia
Usonia
Usonia was a word used by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright to refer to his vision for the landscape of the United States, including the planning of cities and the architecture of buildings...
n houses, and the only Wright house open to the public in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. Completed in 1964, the home was moved from Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
, to the garden in 2001.
On each Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
since 1999, the Garden hosts a celebration which attracts environmental supporters and organizations with demonstrations, exhibitions, and workshops. Garden admission is free for this event.
Using treated wastewater from the city, the garden is one of only a few installations in the United States that reuses wastewater for a water feature. Even in the summer months, the garden does not draw on drinking water supplies, instead relying entirely on wastewater treatment plant effluent
Effluent
Effluent is an outflowing of water or gas from a natural body of water, or from a human-made structure.Effluent is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as “wastewater - treated or untreated - that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. Generally refers...
, which additionally irrigates 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of farmland. Until recently, such use was prohibited by state law, but the law was revised partly due to this water reclamation project. The garden also provides wetland mitigation for a nearby industrial park to provide waterfowl and amphibian habitat, and offloads Silver Creek
Silver Creek (Marion County, Oregon)
Silver Creek is a stream in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It is a tributary of the Pudding River and originates in Silver Falls State Park in the Cascade foothills above the cities Silverton and Stayton.-Course:...
from water it would not naturally carry during low-flow months in the summer to address an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the chief regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources and managing sanitary and toxic waste disposal. The agency employs approximately 700 scientists,...
requirement. The wastewater receives final treatment on about 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) of the Oregon Garden where a series of 25 ponds perform three final filtering functions. The end result is extremely high quality treated water.
External links