10/12/2026
Progress is taking root at the Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum!
Our ongoing landscape transformation is focused on three key goals:
•Restoring and celebrating the native plants and ecology of the Mt. Hood area
•Creating a fire-conscious and resilient landscape around the museum grounds
•Developing an educational garden space where visitors can connect with local flora
This initiative has truly become a community effort. Local residents, museum volunteers, small businesses, nurseries, and regional partners have generously contributed plants, equipment, materials, and hands-on help. By sourcing materials as locally as possible, the garden remains deeply tied to Government Camp and the surrounding mountain environment.
Work kicked off earlier this summer with a community cleanup day, followed by a period of observation to study existing growth on the site. This fall, volunteers reassembled for another cleanup session and completed our first round of native planting.
Special thanks to Hannah Booth, a landscape designer with G&G in Portland, who has been leading design and coordination alongside Sally, Dave, Cheryl, the museum board, and community members. Her focus on biophilic design and native planting, guided by the knowledge of locals who know this terrain best, has helped set a thoughtful direction for the grounds.
Because a garden is a living space, this project will unfold in phases rather than all at once. Over the coming winter, efforts will focus on continued research, native plant sourcing, community input, and planning for the next planting phase in spring.
Stay tuned for more updates as the grounds continue to evolve!
