Moss Appreciation Week

Portland Japanese Garden is joining Lewis & Clark College in the beloved annual tradition they started: Moss Appreciation Week. Here at the Garden, we are honoring moss and inviting visitors to experience its quiet magic.

Moss has been a beloved element of Japanese gardens since the Heian period (794-1185). Moss emerges where shade, moisture, soil, and stillness find their quiet balance. In Japanese gardens, moss is not typically planted or imposed upon the landscape. It is recognized as an existing presence, something already woven into the environment and then tended to. The presence of moss signals a successful harmony between human care and mother nature.

Visitors can enjoy a special display of moss at the Ellie M. Hill Bonsai Terrace with additional fun facts to help enhance your knowledge of this important plant. Nearby in the Lemelson Family Studio, explore the diversity of moss by participating in an interactive activity.

We also invite you to step into the Umami Café and try a moss yokan made by Yume Confections, offered exclusively during Moss Appreciation Week. Additionally, our Gift Shop will have a curated moss-themed display featuring books, candles, mini terrariums, and more!

Learn more: https://japanesegarden.org/events/moss-appreciation-week/

You may also like the following events from Portland Japanese Garden:

• Next month, 1st March, 10:00 am, Hina Matsuri, Doll's Day in Portland