Arts, Culture & Community

The x̣ə́w̕əs shəyí (New Life) Renaissance Garden

Renaissance Garden

The x̣ə́w̕əs shəyí (New Life Spirit) Renaissance Garden is on its way to completion at Heronswood Garden. With tree ferns from Tasmania and nearly 3000 native and exotic ferns planted, this new space will not only be luxuriant in green but will also have a story to tell. Members of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe were, for over a century, employed by the Port Gamble Lumber Mill across the bay from Little Boston. The new garden will interpret this relationship with the addition of elements that will evoke a logging camp that has been reclaimed by nature, while interpreting the traditional uses of the existing trees on the property, as well as many native plants that have been historically used by our tribe and others in the greater Puget Sound region. With both the story of the rich relationship S’Klallam people have historically held with our native trees as well as the exciting array of native and exotic plants that will ultimately be established in the New Life Spirit garden, we are excited to be bringing together two distinct communities–horticultural enthusiasts from around the globe and our own tribal communities wishing to look upon a reenactment of a small slice of their storied history in our region.

Thanks to donations from many individuals, grants from Humanities Washington and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation, Potlatch Fund, Tulalip Tribes Chairtable Conbutions Fund and Suquamish Foundation, in-kind contributions from Greg DeVault and the BlueBills, Denise Harris, Pope Resources, CasaFlora, Frankye Jones, Commitment Promise and countless hours donated by our stellar volunteers including leading volunteer efforts by John van den Meerendonk the x̣ə́w̕əs shəyí Renaissance Garden is coming to life.