Blooming Together
A temporary community art installation created from recycled materials, shared creativity, and many helping hands
Sometimes the best ideas grow from what's already around us.
Conceived by Newberg Public Art Council member Eric Hemmer, Blooming Together transforms reclaimed materials into a colorful community garden. The flowers began as donated wood pallets from local wineries, were carefully cut and drilled by volunteers from the Chehalem Valley Sawdusters Association, and were brought to life with leftover paint from the Camellia Trail community mural project.
Community members and volunteers painted every petal by hand, filling them with bright colors, playful patterns, and imaginative designs before the flowers were assembled during the Newberg Old Fashioned Festival. Together, they created a joyful temporary art installation that celebrates creativity, sustainability, and the power of working together.
(Or perhaps these flowers simply sprang up wherever Maestro's dancing paws touched the ground...)
The garden will brighten Butler Park through about Labor Day. As you wander through the garden, keep your eyes open for hidden surprises! Among the painted petals you'll find:
🐞 9 ladybugs
🐛 7 caterpillars
🐭 6 mice
🪰 6 dragonflies
🐟 3 fish
🦋 3 butterflies
🐱 1 cat
🪼 1 jellyfish
🐝 1 bee
🐌 1 snail
Thank You
This project wouldn't have been possible without the many volunteers who painted petals, assembled flowers, and shared their time and talents. Thank you for helping this garden bloom!
Special thanks to our community partners for their generous support:
