Documenting Community Resilience at Feast in the Garden 2025

A joyful group of four women sits on a wooden bench, smiling and laughing in a lush garden at the Feast in the Garden event in Portland, Oregon. The women are all looking at the camera, sharing a moment of genuine connection and happiness. The background is filled with tall grasses and yellow wildflowers, capturing the warmth and community spirit of the event.

Every single person I encountered at Feast in the Garden 2025 was talking about the exact same thing — what a truly special place the Leach Botanical Garden is. Over and over again, I heard them regard it as a gem in the heart of Southeast Portland, a place worth protecting and fawning over.

We are living in a time where the truly compassionate among us are anxious to come together and protect what’s most important to us. This is why we’ll emerge from this period stronger and more resilient. We’ll come together with our hearts, our dollars and our human ingenuity because that’s what this community is all about.

The Leach Botanical Garden is an incredible partner for Human Centric Media because of our shared values: inclusivity, harmony with the planet, and the importance of reflection and rest. From their pollinator garden to the aerial tree walk, they’ve crafted a space where Southeast Portlanders can reflect on the past and plan for the future; enjoy the sunshine, the autumn breeze and the changing of the seasons.

Their staff is also ridiculously sweet.

This 17-acre sanctuary was founded in 1936 by John and Lilla Leach, who lived in the manor house at the heart of the property for the rest of their years. Lilla was a botanist and John a pharmacist and civic leader, and they developed the property as their sanctuary, and eventually a gift to the city they loved so dearly.

In their will, they specifically stated that the property be gifted to the city and developed as a botanical garden and museum. In the 1980s, with the city about to relinquish control of the property, Commissioner of Parks Charles Jordan decided to visit the grounds himself before signing the paperwork.

It’s reported that upon visiting, he called the garden a “little jewel” and decided “we can’t let it go.”

Seeing the garden in its beautifully-developed state, and the painstaking efforts of the staff to bring the community together and preserve its natural wonder, is a stunning testament to John and Lilla’s love, hard work and vision. It’s a testament to the fact that if one tries, they can have a lasting and meaningful impact on their community.

The guests at Feast in the Garden 2025 spanned a wide range of ages and backgrounds. They arrived in flower print gowns and sporty rain coats, Pacific Northwest charm and fashion on full display.

Something that really struck me, photographing the garden, is how many spaces are designed for guests to gather, discuss and be neighbors. Spaces to sit, spaces to stand amongst trees, opportunities to learn the scientific name of your favorite flower. I came across a couple ferrying a caterpillar off the path and onto a nearby leaf. Everywhere you turn, you see a regard for life.

Beautiful food, itself bestowed with seasonal flowers and greenery, was served courtesy of Nostrana and its iconic Chef Cathy Whims. The inventiveness and history of their regional Italian cuisine made for a fitting pairing. Murmurs spread from table to table about how each dish was better than the last.

Over dinner, we heard from not just Cathy but Executive Director Renee Myers and Board President Bob Hyland about how much the garden has meant to their lives. They spoke to its function as a launching pad of community discussion. They trumpeted its programs to ensure equitable access, especially for its youngest neighbors. The garden is a place where people come together, and that resonated from every note, every word and every gesture.

Representatives from organizations like Portland Parks Foundation and the City of Portland, as well as generous sponsors — Olson Kundig, Pogo Pass, Winter Brook and Oatag — were there to celebrate what they’d all come together to build and develop.

The spirit of celebration was palpable and potent. It hung on the breeze like falling leaves.

During the live auction, everyone’s generous spirit was on full display.

With bellies full of delicious food, they raised their paddles with reckless abandon, getting into bidding wars over river cruises, private dinners and stays in beautiful McMenimins hotels around the state.

The auctioneer made everyone laugh, over and over and over again, proving that the stomach isn’t the only way to people’s hearts (or wallets) — a little charm and humor is just as convincing.

You could see the pride growing on the staff’s faces for what they’d put together, and how smoothly the evening was proceeding. Their pride was earned — Human Centric Media has photographed a lot of fundraising galas at this point but the warm, communal atmosphere of Feast truly stands out.

And as the sun set on such a successful evening, awareness shifted back to the beauty of our surroundings. The warm pink of a late summer sunset, and the unique framing of a Pacific Northwest sky. How lucky we all are to call this place home, and each other neighbors.

I hope you can tell, dear reader, how much this gig meant to Human Centric Media. It was an ideal encapsulation of everything our event photography is about — warm emotionality, supportive community and the generosity of the human spirit.

As guests said their goodbyes and departed, my heart was filled with the knowledge that our city will get through this period not just okay, but closer than ever.

Event Photography that Believes in Its Neighbors 🌸

Leach Botanical Garden

September 14, 2025

$1800

Events

The welcoming entrance to Leach Botanical Garden in SE Portland, with signs and a private event booth, capturing the lush and intimate atmosphere of the Feast in the Garden.

Guests mingling under a modern wooden pavilion, nestled amongst the towering trees and lush greenery of Leach Botanical Garden during the Feast in the Garden event. The scene captures a peaceful moment of community and connection with nature.

A joyful woman smiles at the camera while holding a unique bouquet at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A peaceful stone pathway winds through a lush, green garden at Leach Botanical Garden in SE Portland. The path is bordered by a variety of plants and tall grasses, inviting a sense of quiet exploration and tranquility within the urban oasis.

A hilarious and candid moment between three women who are laughing and embracing, with one of them playfully lifting the other's leg. They are standing in a lush garden at the Feast in the Garden event, showcasing the genuine joy of the evening.

Guests mingle and laugh in a modern, wood-framed pavilion at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland. The gathering captures the social and celebratory atmosphere of the private event.

A woman in a floral dress and pink shawl smiles, radiating confidence at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland. She stands on a path surrounded by the lush greenery of Leach Botanical Garden.

A vibrant cluster of yellow Black-eyed Susan flowers in full bloom at Leach Botanical Garden, showcasing the natural beauty of the Portland event.

Guests walk up a grand staircase flanked by yellow flowers at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland, leading to the Tree Canopy Walk.

A joyful group of six women poses for a photo on an elevated deck, surrounded by lush trees. The friends are smiling and sharing a moment of genuine connection at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A joyful older woman with a vibrant smile sits on a bench, posing for a photo. She is wearing a black hoodie and a teal fanny pack. The woman's genuine happiness radiates from her face, capturing a serene moment at the Feast in the Garden event in PDX.

A couple poses together with their drinks, capturing a relaxed and intimate moment on an elevated deck. They are enjoying the Feast in the Garden event at Leach Botanical Garden in SE Portland.

A close-up of a dining table with a checkered tablecloth and flowers, capturing the intimate atmosphere of a meal at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A stylish couple sits in wooden chairs, smiling and holding drinks. The scene captures a relaxed and joyful moment at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland, with other guests mingling in the background.

A man with gray hair and a mustache smiles while speaking at a podium with a microphone. He is wearing a vibrant floral shirt, captivating the audience during a speech at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A lively group of guests at a round dining table covered with a blue and white checkered tablecloth. They are toasting with wine glasses, sharing a moment of collective celebration at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A woman with glasses and blonde hair speaks passionately at a white podium, gesturing with her hands. She is wearing a floral coat and standing on a grassy lawn, captivating the audience during a speech at the Feast in the Garden event.

A close-up of a beautifully plated meal, with slices of pork loin on a bed of red sauce, served at the Feast in the Garden event. The dish is on a blue and white checkered tablecloth, capturing the delicious food and elegant dining experience.

A guest's hands hold a plate with a meal of sliced pork loin and green chimichurri sauce. The plate is over a table with a blue and white checkered tablecloth, capturing the food and intimate dining atmosphere at the Feast in the Garden event in SE PDX.

A person holds a large bowl of a main course meal, with green beans and corn, at a dining table. The scene captures the elegant and communal dining experience at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A lively group of guests enjoys an auction at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland. A man at the table holds up a number card, smiling and participating in the fundraiser, as other guests laugh and share a moment of joy.

A woman holds up an auction number card, participating in the lively fundraiser at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland. She looks at the camera with a confident smile, surrounded by other guests enjoying the meal.

A smiling group of three women, two of whom appear to be event staff, pose for a photo. They are standing on a lush lawn, holding a clipboard, capturing a warm and collaborative moment at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland.

A peaceful table of four guests is seated under a white tent on a lawn, enjoying drinks and conversation. The scene captures an intimate moment at the Feast in the Garden event in SE Portland at dusk, with ambient light from the garden pathways.

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