*This event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Dear Friends, bring a friend and join us for our Annual Guest Speaker event and social. We haven’t seen you in a while and we can’t wait to catch up!
Date:
Thursday, December 4
Location:
St. John’s Community Center, 8427 N Central St, Portland, OR 97203
Agenda:
9:00 am: Doors Open/Reception (snacks and drinks provided)
9:30 am: Volunteer Business Meeting
10:00 am: Featuring Guest Speaker, Suzanne Bishop
11:00 am: Close and Raffle
Guest Speaker Topic:
He Paints with Lakes and Wooded Slopes - Frederick Law Olmsted and Landscape Design in the American Progressive Era.
Frederick Law Olmsted, who helped establish the field of landscape architecture, shaped how we experience nature within our cities. Best known for designing New York’s Central Park, Olmsted also created parks, campuses, and communities across the nation—each reflecting his belief that access to green space is essential to public well-being. To him, parks were not mere adornments but vital democratic spaces that nurtured the mental, physical, and social health of all citizens. Olmsted’s design tenets directly inspired the creation of many of Portland’s most beloved landscapes, including rugged Mount Tabor Park, the elongated Terwilliger Parkway, and Peninsula Park, with its elegant rose garden and formal design.
Today, Olmsted's visionary ideas about the restorative power of nature and the civic importance of public landscapes continue to shape our understanding of what makes communities thrive.
About the Speaker:
Suzanne Bishop is an admirer of Oregon’s gardens and landscapes. A former member of the Garden History and Design Committee of the Garden Club of America, she now serves on the boards of the Portland Parks Foundation, the Oregon Historical Society, and IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild. She is also an active member of the Portland Parks Alliance and the Portland Garden Club. Suzanne’s work reflects her deep interest in the history, design, and preservation of public spaces, and she looks forward to sharing the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and his enduring influence on American landscape design.