A welcoming green space designed to connect people living with dementia and caregivers with the restorative and healing effects of nature.
What is a therapeutic garden?
A therapeutic garden is an accessible green space designed to engage specific populations with the healing and restorative elements of nature. Therapeutic gardens offer rich sensory environments in which to hold gardening programs aimed at healing, rehabilitation, and emotional solace for individuals living with chronic diseases, psychiatric disorders, injury, or trauma, often led by trained professionals known as horticultural therapists.
What is the difference between a therapeutic garden and a memory garden?
We call Maude's Garden a "memory garden," a type of therapeutic garden that offers a protected botanical space for dementia-friendly programming and opportunities, as well as unique design features and accomodations for people living with memory loss. A memory garden is also defined by the participation of professionals who lead nature-based activities that encourage sensory exploration, social connection, and emotional well-being for people living with memory loss or dementia and their caregivers. Those who have worked in Maude's Garden programs include Laura Rumpf, HTR, and Margaret 'Peach' Jack, HTR, who are Registered Horticultural Therapists and Dawn Robinson, who is a Horticultural Therapy Practitioner. All of these passionate individuals have also collaborated with Genevieve Wanucha, Maude's Garden Project Lead, to contribute to the original garden plan, design, or ongoing development of the garden.
Maude's Garden at the Memory Hub is Washington State's first public memory garden and winner of the 2025 Therapeutic Design Award from the American Horticultural Therapy Association. This award is given in recognition of excellence in therapeutic design and programming within landscapes designed and maintained for therapeutic purposes.
Features of Maude's Garden
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An ADA-accessible, circular path
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Many seating options, a raised garden bed, a water feature, and a sheltered gathering area
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Easy access to restrooms and gated entry and exit
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A distinctive stone hardscape supporting seasonal plantings and works of art
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Birdsong, herbal scents, and textures that encourage gentle sensory engagement and reminiscence
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Enclosed within lush greenery, visitors often say the garden lends a feeling of safety and protection within one of the busiest urban environments of Seattle
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A space for dementia-friendly therapeutic horticulture, nature-based programs, garden care work parties, and tea workshops
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Covered Area (Pictured: Dawn Robinson and Peach Jack, HTR)
Therapeutic Horticulture / Nature-Based Activities
About Maude's Garden
A project of the Memory and Brain Wellness Center, Maude's Garden opened March 2022 at the Memory Hub, located beside the Frye Art Museum. Named Maude's Garden in honor of our late community member and advocate Maude M. Ferry, this therapeutic memory garden is designed to enhance the lives of people living with dementia and their families, as well as provide a relaxing, restorative space for all. Maude's Garden is the site of the Garden Discovery Program offered by the MBWC and Seattle Parks and Recreation. 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. We worked with Stone Soup Gardens as the contractor for Maude's Garden's hardscape. The garden's development and upkeep are ongoing and incorporate feedback from community members living with memory loss and caregivers.
“Maude’s Garden is one among many gardens that demonstrate excellence in therapeutic design and programming,” says Laura Rumpf, a registered horticultural therapist who consults on the development, design, and use of Maude’s Garden. "But what makes it stand out is its stunning model of collaboration in a small and challenging environment in the middle of a busy city. Maude’s Garden, intentionally designed for those with memory loss, welcomes partnerships to build a supportive community.”
What's Growing in the Garden
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Maude’s Garden wins a national award!August 20, 2025
Maude's Garden at the Memory Hub is the winner of the 2025 Therapeutic Design Award from the American Horticultural Therapy Association. This award is given in recognition of excellence in therapeutic design and programming within landscapes designed and maintained for therapeutic purposes.
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Study seeking participants for a pilot of a new garden experienceFebruary 20, 2025
You are invited to Maude’s Garden at the Memory Hub. We hope to enroll adults with memory loss and their care partners for a garden experience and focus group on March 19th.
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November Garden Discovery ProgramNovember 01, 2024
In today's November Garden Discovery Program, the group explored the fall garden full of flowers and seed heads, savored herbal tea, and shared thoughts about what they noticed and felt grateful for.
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September Garden Discovery ProgramSeptember 06, 2024
In today's September Garden Discovery Program, we explored the theme of "always alive," which is the translation of "Sempervivum" (Hens and Chicks plants). After the mother plant blooms, it dies; yet little plants growing around its base continue growing, reminding us of the enduring legacies we can all create during our lives.
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A Magical ‘Garden of Inspiration’ Art Show!September 03, 2024
On August 23rd we enjoyed an open-air exhibit of nature-inspired art that was a collaboration between the Memory Hub, UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center, and Elderwise, with support from Era Living Memory Care. The colorful, eclectic art show celebrated nature-inspired art created by the Memory Hub greater community and Elderwise participants, friends and family. The idea was originally inspired by how often Maude's Garden becomes the inspiration for artwork.
Program and Activities Schedule
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Ignite Aging 2025 Creative Arts and Healthy Aging
Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 9:00am
Mark your calendars for the UW School of Nursing de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 9th annual Ignite Aging symposium! This year’s event will highlight the connection between creativity and healthy aging. In addition to our usual lightning-quick talks, each talk will be followed by an interactive activity. Join us to learn how mindfulness, music, garden activities, and more can enhance our lives and health as we age.
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Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 2:30pm
Join us to see what's new with art at the Memory Hub this Fall!
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Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 4:00pm
Come celebrate summer together with people living with memory loss, family, friends, and others in the neighborhood! Concerts take place from 4-6 p.m. every last Thursday of the month in July, August, and September. Please sign up below for each event you would like to attend. Offered by UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center and Seattle Public Library at the Memory Hub. Questions: 206-543-2440, mbecker1@uw.edu.
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'Dancing Together' A Seated Movement Class
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 1:00pm
Come together to move to music, exploring various dance styles and having fun with familiar songs. Dancing Together is based on adaptive dance programs for people with cognitive impairment and is also appropriate for people with limited mobility. No dance experience necessary. Free and open to the public - just drop in!
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Garden Discovery Program - Fall
Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10:30am
Join us in the garden at the Memory Hub. Discover changes through the season, engage in nature-based projects, and learn about this public "memory garden," created for people living with dementia and their families in this 3-part series (October 3, November 7, December 5).
