Holiday cheer abounds at Leach Garden’s ‘Winterfest’

INCLUDES FESTIVE VIDEO | Learn why so many came to outer East Portland and participated in the last big event of 2024, at Leach Botanical Garden …

Looking over Johnson Creek, in the distance through the trees is the Leach Manor House, the focal point of Leach Botanical Garden.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The dismal weather of a wintery Saturday didn’t hamper folks on December 7 from attending the Leach Botanical Garden Winterfest & Annual Wreath Sale for 2024.

Long ago, when the event began, people would come mainly to purchase evergreen branches and greenery to make Holiday swags and other decorations – or to purchase one of a few pre-made wreaths for sale behind the Manor House.

>> CLICK HERE to see our story about their 2010 event.

Near the Leach Botanical Garden upper parking lot, people shop for plants with Pond Hag Natives.

But in more recent years, it has expanded to become the Winterfest – featuring makers, crafters, and other vendors – which visitors would browse while they warmed up with mulled wine and hot apple cider.

Take a video tour of their Holiday event, in both the Upper and Lower gardens:

Wreath Sale in the Greenhouse

Showing off one of the wreaths for sale made by volunteers, it’s Gay Greger.

“This is the third year that we’ve held the wreath sale in our greenhouse,” pointed out Leach Garden Friends (LGF) Board Member Gay Greger. “In past years, when there was construction down below at the Manor House, we moved the wreath sale up here, to the greenhouse in the upper garden, next to the new parking lot. It was much easier to hold it here, instead of at the Carriage house.

Traveling all the way from Hillsboro to shop for a Holiday wreath in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, here’s the Moreno family.

“This year, we started with 162 Holiday wreaths; we think that’s maybe a all-time record,” Greger told East Portland News while waiting on shoppers. “That’s a lot of wreaths, considering they were made by a total of only nine LGF volunteers – and a core group of about six of us did a lot of it.”

Craft Sale in the Arbor

In the Leach Upper Garden’s Arbor, meet vendor Ron Gaines of Alpine Woodsman, selling his beautiful crafts.

About a half-dozen vendors were set up in the covered Arbor, in the Upper Garden, near the fire pit.

Those dressed for the weather took a tour along the Aerial Tree Walk, before heading down to the Lower Garden.

Artisan Sale in the Manor House

The Leach Manor House is a cozy place to shop amongst the vendors set up there for Winterfest.

“We’re really happy to host this type of thing – it features local craftspeople and small businesses, while it also helps support the Garden,” commented Leach Botanical Garden’s Volunteer Services Manager, Annie Winn.

“Visitors were really pleased with the selection of vendors at this Winterfest, and our unique hand-decorated wreaths have been as popular as ever, thanks to the care and creativity that volunteers put into them.”

Helping customers in the Leach Garden Gift Shop, here’s volunteer Marge Sokol.

The Garden benefits from Winterfest in three ways, Winn pointed out. “First, from people learning about the garden; then, with people coming for this event that may not even have visited before – and third, the revenues raised help support garden operations and community programming.”

About 550 people attended Winterfest this year. “We are thankful that so many people were willing to brave the elements to attend!” Winn exclaimed.

Learn more about Leach Botanical Garden by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

© 2024 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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