Drake’s 7 Dees Landscaping Contributes to

 Adventist Medical Center Healing Garden

Portland based, Drake’s 7 Dees Landscaping was a major contributor to Adventist Medical Center’s hospital-based outdoor Behavioral Therapy Garden.  Exclusively intended for the hospital’s mental health patients, the $500,000 philanthropic project was made possible solely by the donations of businesses and individuals in the local Portland community.  Drake’s contribution included reduced costs on installation and materials, and a $10,000 cash donation.  “We believe in gardens as a therapy, and wanted to help make the behavioral therapy garden at Adventist - the best it can be,” said Drake Snodgrass.

The Behavioral Therapy Garden, opening this summer, is intended to offer in-patients access to the outdoors and increase their freedom in a safe environment while providing additional therapeutic benefits through horticultural therapy.

Drake’s involvement includes a complete design build approach, from concrete walkways, water features, masonry work, seating walls, and plant life.  Drake’s architect, Jeff Lang, designed the garden as a sustainable eco-system, using organically balanced soil, foregoing the common practice of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. The decision to create a sustainable garden where the ecosystem can develop holistically and sustain itself as time passes, is an important core value of Drake’s Landscaping professionals.  In fact, they are the leaders in soil conservation and restorative garden practices.

 Other features of the garden include:

·        raised garden beds for horticultural therapy

·        20’ gazebo

·        Northwest native plants

·        Alpine garden

·        butterfly garden

·        perennial flower garden

·        pathways for walking

·        trees and ground cover plants  

Working with Adventist Medical Center for more than 10 years, Drake’s 7 Dees frequently participates in local community projects. As part of their ongoing community outreach, Drake’s has supported such organizations as Salvation Army, Good News Clinic, and Mount Hood Habitat for Humanity, among others.