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Fort Vancouver Garden

I was not interested in watching the debate last week, so I decided to get out of the house. I've been wanting to visit the Fort Vancouver Garden for years and decided to go on the spur of the moment.  Once I got there, it occurred to me that this was not the peak time to see a vegetable garden but what I did see was interesting and there were quite a number for visitors milling about.  This garden once comprised eight acres and the food grown there fed the Hudson's Bay Company Fort's  residents. Today's garden is a smaller version and the vegetables and flowers grown there are some of the same varieties found in the fort's records. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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The Grotto, Portland, Oregon

We finally made it to Portland on October 23rd, the fifth day after we left home. We encountered the first rains as we drove across the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. It rained almost every day that we were in Portland but it usually cleared up and some days were even sunny. One of the wettest days was the day we visited The Grotto, The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother.

 I read about The Grotto on a traveler's website and thought it would be an interesting place to visit. Some of our friends from Alabama had arrived by then and they being Catholic, I thought they might enjoy it too. I am probably the LEAST religious person on earth but I thoroughly enjoyed this place and Michael says that he would list it as one of his favorite places in Portland. It was incredibly beautiful and peaceful. Of course, the entire time I was there I was thinking of Jennifer Jones in "The Song of Bernadette"!

 Giant fir trees line a pathway that lead to the shrine at the grotto. The grotto itself is nestled into the base of a 110-ft. tall cliff. A chapel is located near the grotto. Services are held here and sometimes, on good weather days, they are held directly in front of the grotto. 

 An elevator takes you to the top of the cliff where a meditation chapel, a monastery, religious artwork, shrines and an incredible 62-acre botanical garden awaits.  
The paths leading up to the grotto were lined with massive fir trees.

The grotto is carved into the base of a 110 ft. tall cliff.


An elevator takes you to the top of the cliff where an observation tower offers a great view as well as artworks.


The Meditation Chapel at the top of the cliff has a panoramic view of the Columbia River and Mt. St. Helens



The Monastery was built in 1936 and is home to the Servite Friars. The Monastery can accommodate up to twelve priests and brothers. The rock exterior is sandstone from Washington State.  The Monastery was condemned in 1985 and the interior structure was gutted and renovated.


Winding pathways weave through fir trees, mature shrubs (including many large rhododendrons) and water features.










The Grotto, Portland, Oregon
This is the statue at the top of the cliff. You can see the top of it in the previous photograph taken from below.
The Grotto, Portland, Oregon
Another view from the top.





The Grotto, Portland, Oregon
This area is called "The Peace Garden".






The Grotto, Portland, Oregon
The little red chapel honors St. Anne, the mother of Mary.  Built in 1934 to house the Blessed Sacrament during the first United States Marian Congress, it continued to serve as a chapel before the Chapel of Mary was built.  It now houses numerous Madonna paintings from many countries.


The Grotto, Portland, Oregon
Along the pathway are little display buildings that house wood carvings depicting events in the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The states are carved out of white pine and are the work of Professor Heider of Pietralba, Italy. The statues were recently restored.




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 21, 2014 at 10:57 AM

    Saying that this garden rivals the Japanese Garden is high praise. You have captured the feel of this place with your photos. It seems very serene.

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  2. Jean CampbellNovember 21, 2014 at 12:55 PM

    We visited here nearly 40 years ago. I thought the Grotto the best thing we saw in all our trip. The Stations of the Cross stand out in my memory and as best I remember, there was a Rose Garden close by. Your photos are outstanding.

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    1. Phillip OliverNovember 24, 2014 at 8:06 AM

      The Rose Garden was in front of the monastery but they were all bare.

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  3. danger gardenNovember 21, 2014 at 10:59 PM

    Glad you found this place. I visited a few years ago, I think it's time I go back.

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  4. NicNovember 22, 2014 at 6:41 AM

    Nice... The rainy weather actually makes the pictures all the more atmospheric!

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  5. LostRosesNovember 22, 2014 at 12:52 PM

    I can tell you aren't Catholic as you wrote, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. That would be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Lovely place, I had never heard of it.

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  6. organicgardendreamsNovember 22, 2014 at 8:15 PM

    Dear Phillip, I would wish I had known about The Grotto and the botanical garden when I visited Portland! What an amazing place! The Grotto is so beautiful and impressive and the botanical garden with its mature trees makes my heart sing. I am so glad that you found out about this place and got to see it. Thanks for sharing it here on your blog. It is for sure on my must-see list now as well! Warm regards,
    Christina

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    1. Phillip OliverNovember 24, 2014 at 8:05 AM

      Yeah, I think I first read about it on Trip Advisor, of all places.

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  7. Patricia CNovember 23, 2014 at 8:52 AM

    I have not been there in aeons, but when I was little, my parents took the six! of us kids there all the time. And my sister's high school graduation from Marycrest was held at the Grotto--not a bad venue. (I only made thru the first two years at that all-girl Catholic High School, and then transferred to public school. Boy was that a shock.) It does occur to me in thinking back, my parents did a pretty terrific job getting us out to most of the nearby gorgeous hotspots. When I drive up the Gorge these days, I realize we visited every single waterfall and park along the way, no small feat organizing picnics for all of us. We were always starving by the time we got 2 blocks from home. PDX is pretty good place to grow up--surrounded by all this natural beauty. Glad you found it and enjoyed it.

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  8. sweetbayNovember 24, 2014 at 6:13 PM

    What a beautiful and unique place. The Peace Garden looks very lovely.

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  9. debsgardenNovember 26, 2014 at 4:53 PM

    The Peace Garden is well named. The area around the Mary Chapel is amazing, lush and tranquil. I have been to Portland and visited a number of gardens but not this one. Next time I may seek it out.

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