In the midst of the hustle and bussel of downtown Portland is an island of quiet beauty. The Garden of the Awakening Orchid is a classical Suzhou garden located in Portland's Chinatown. Fourteen years in the making, the Garden is the result of a colaborative effort by The Classical Chinese Garden Society, the City of Portland, the City of Suzhou, and the Classical Chinese Garden Trust. It is the largest Suzhou garden outside of China.
My grandmother and I ventured out on a cold January afternoon to visit the garden. I have to digress a bit at this point. This is the first time in thirteen years that I've visited Portand in the winter and a) there was no snow, b) there was no rain, and c) it was actually sunny all three days. I consider this a minor miracle and a very good omen. This did not mean, however, that is was not chilly.
The Garden opened on September 14, 2000. Many of the plants were dormant, and the Garden did not have that "filled-in" look of an established garden. Come spring, I'm sure that will change. And maybe I'll actually see an orchid!
To the left is a map of the Garden (no copyright infringment intended!). Move your mouse over the map to see the names of various gardens within the Garden and photos. Or go directly to the photos page.
The Garden of the Awakening Orchid Official Website
