Welcome to Maude’s Garden

A botanical oasis offering respite, social connection, and nature engagement to people living with dementia, caregivers, and the wider community.

Inspired by the continuing interest in nature and garden experiences in our community, the Memory and Brain Wellness Center created a therapeutic memory garden for people living with dementia. Named Maude's Garden in honor of our late community member and advocate Maude M. Ferry, this memory garden is uniquely designed to enhance the lives of people living with dementia and their families, as well as provide a relaxing, restorative space for all. The garden serves as a spot for drop-in exploration, socializing, and nature-based activities. This memory garden opened March 2022 at the Memory Hub, located beside the Frye Art Museum.

We applied and built on the key features of therapeutic landscape design in our process of creating a garden for people living with memory loss and their loved ones. The garden design process is ongoing and incorporates feedback from community members living with memory loss and care partners from a focus group in February of 2020, as well as lessons learned from the Garden Discovery Walks program of the MBWC/Seattle Parks and Recreation and a visit to our friends at the Portland Memory Garden.

Key Features of Maude's Garden

Contact the team

Garden Art Show Opportunity: You are invited to contribute nature-inspired artwork for our open-air exhibit in Maude’s Garden at the Memory Hub! The show on August 23, 2024 celebrates the creativity of the Memory Hub community. A collaboration between the Memory Hub, UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center, and Elderwise. Learn more.

What's Growing in the Garden

“Making memories with my brother”: December’s Garden Discovery Program
December 31, 2023

The December Garden Discovery program engaged participants in creating seasonal wreaths with evergreen branches (provided courtesy of Seattle Parks and Recreation), and winter accents such as eucalyptus, holly, and ivy.
The glow of November’s Garden Discovery Program
November 30, 2023

A warm and cozy November garden program
Garden of Inspiration Art Show - Reflections
November 30, 2023

This fall, the Memory Hub held an art exhibit in Maude’s Garden. Genevieve Wanucha, Maude’s Garden project lead, shares some memories.
“There is happiness between the flowers”: October’s Garden Discovery Program
October 31, 2023

"Perpetual flowers" are made of dried corncobs, corn husks, twine, and bamboo sticks.
When mental health therapy starts in the garden - in the Seattle Times
August 25, 2023

A new Seattle Times article spotlights Maude's Garden, the therapeutic memory garden at the Memory Hub community center. Hannah Furfaro interviews some of the garden's creators to communicate the benefits of gardens to people living with memory loss. The article features incredible photos of our unique green space. Take a peek!

Program and Activities Schedule

Art in the Garden: Collage Workshop

Monday, July 29, 2024 at 1:30pm

Collage Workshop with Elderwise facilitator Claire Bishop. Explore collage with natural themes. No experience necessary.
Garden Discovery Program - Summer

Friday, August 2, 2024 at 10:30am

Join us in the garden at the Memory Hub. Discover changes through the season, engage in horticultural activities, and learn what makes this public "memory garden" particularly accessible to people living with dementia and their families in this 3-part series (July 19, August 2, and September 6). Registration opening soon.
Art in the Garden: Photography Meet-Up

Friday, August 9, 2024 at 10:00am

Photography Meet-Up with UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center director Dr. Tom Grabowski. Calling photography enthusiasts! Bring your iPhone or camera and enjoy snapping nature shots together in Maude’s Garden.
Art in the Garden: Chalk Pastel Workshop

Monday, August 12, 2024 at 1:30pm

Photography Meet-Up with UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center director Dr. Tom Grabowski. Calling photography enthusiasts! Bring your iPhone or camera and enjoy snapping nature shots together in Maude’s Garden.
Garden of Inspiration Art Show

Friday, August 23, 2024 at 10:00am

You are invited to an open-air exhibit of art inspired by Maude's Garden at the Memory Hub! The show celebrates the creativity of the Memory Hub community.

View more events on our full Calendar

Visit Maude's Garden

Open to the public from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For garden gate access, simply stop by the Memory Hub front desk. View special events and programs on our calendar.

1021 Columbia St., Seattle, WA 98104

Our Supporters

Thank you to our donors and creators:

Philanthropy: Richard M. Ferry, Aaron and Gwen Colwell, Carl Westphal, Patricia Klingler

Plant and material donations: Karen and Rick McMichael, Bill Waldman, Mike & Lacy Gage of Blue Moose Farm in Salem, Oregon, Annika Noreen, Laura Westbrook, Jean Chen, Debbie Wheeler, Jesse Cohen, Caitlin Gilson, Peach Jack, Genevieve Wanucha, Dawn Robinson

Garden artistry:

Stone Soup Gardens - Maude’s Garden hardscape

Acoustic Arts, UK - Spiral acoustic sculture, with woodwork by Carl Westphal

Garden/Botanical Design - Genevieve Wanucha, Margaret ‘Peach’ Jack, and Laura Rumpf

Maude's Garden Logo - Cal Dobrzynski

Maude's Garden Sign - John Stepper II, with staining by Carl Westphal

Volunteering

All positions for garden maintenance volunteers are currently filled. You can always express your interest in Maude's Garden on this form.

I'm Interested!

To sign up for occasional updates about new and ongoing volunteer gardening and garden maintenance opportunities, please email Genevieve Wanucha at gwanucha@uw.edu.

Financial donations will help support the ongoing development of the healing garden. For donation inquiries, please contact mbecker1@uw.edu.

People

Genevieve Wanucha is the Memory Hub Green Space Project Lead and the UW MBWC Communications Lead. She aims to help make this dementia-friendly garden project successful and operational. She coordinates volunteers and helps with the design and planting. She promotes the garden and serves as the main contact person.

Marigrace Becker is UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center's Program Manager for Community Education and Impact and director of the new Memory Hub. She is passionate about building dementia-friendly communities and excited to see the way the Memory Hub will create new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

Margaret (Peach) Jack, MA, CC, GRS, HTS, served as the Landscape Designer in the development of Maude's Garden. She is the Therapeutic Horticulturalist for the Garden Discovery Program. She is a registered Horticultural Therapist, in accordance with the American Horticultural Therapy Association guidelines. Peach has long worked to create safe spaces for learning and personal growth, often using classrooms and outdoor settings to offer retreats and special learning environments for children and adults. She helps with garden design and planting, and coordinates the plant-based projects in the MBWC Garden Discovery Program. Learn more.

Laura Rumpf, HTR, is the Healing Garden Consultant for the Memory Garden. She is a registered Horticultural Therapist and serves on the board of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. She has served many populations including those living with dementia and their care partners, veterans, and those with brain injury, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Learn more.

Support the Memory Hub

Support the groundbreaking project of the Memory Hub! Donate today.