It's Everybody's Garden

Janet kneels to pull weeds from the cracks in a walking path leading to Pittock Mansion. Marilyn notices the edge of the parking lot near the grounds' entrance needs attention before visitors arrive. Cheryl wants to work in the sun, so she heads toward the sky border where roses take in the view of a city named for them.

On Tuesday mornings at Pittock Mansion, the work spreads quietly across the gardens.

Some volunteers are in their first season. For others, that first season turned into a long-term commitment. Six years, 10 years, 13. One lives in a house with a small garden, "but it's not enough." Another retired, moved to a condo and while hiking discovered a new place "to be in the dirt." And the newest member, a recent college graduate with an Environmental Studies degree, admits a newfound interest in horticulture.

Washington Park Horticulturist Jonah Bowron doesn't hand out assignments to the group. He makes suggestions, shares observations, and invites collaboration. Most volunteers know the gardens wellafter working hereyear-round. They notice changes from one week to the next.

View full size image of Back of Pittock Mansion. Gardens in the foreground and in the distance, on a beautiful summer day.

In some ways, the Pittock Gardens volunteers also serve as ambassadors for one of Portland's most visited attractions. People, some visiting the grounds for the first time, come with lots of questions. About plants. About the mansion. The view. The volunteers themselves. Locals are surprised to see plants that thrive in their own yards. Volunteers point out favorite spots, interrupt selfies to offer to take photos of visitors from around the world, and sometimes just exchange a smile with someone quietly passing through.

Before COVID-19 forced volunteer programs to shut down across the city, dozens of Master Gardeners worked at Pittock Gardens through a partnership with Oregon State University, earning program certification hours. Around 80 volunteers maintained the gardens while learning and teaching. But during the pandemic lull, the Master Gardener program reevaluated its commitment, deciding to leave Pittock Gardens and focus on food-producing gardens. The group nearly disappeared and now has eight regular weekly volunteers. "We are a very small group, and it's amazing what we get done," says Marilyn.

Each volunteer has their own reasons for being here. For Judy, it's simple. "Once you start being active up here, you just don't want to leave."

Larry admires the work most visitors miss. A tree is removed. Another takes its place. By the next week, it feels like it's always been there.

Janet believes Pittock Gardens are the most beautiful gardens in Portland.

Jean enjoys the history of the kitchen garden. Looking over the plants, she says, "Mrs. Pittock came to Oregon on a wagon train. They may have brought those heirloom seeds out here. I think that's pretty cool, kind of a way to honor her."

Cheryl comes to garden at a larger scale. "I have some of the same plants at home," she says. "But I don't have 10."

At Pittock, there's more than enough garden to go around. On Tuesday mornings, it's everybody's garden.