Bunny Grove
To begin to model how to open up land toward communal use, we have decided to allow passersby to come into our little Bunny Grove and visit our many trees. With a small picnic circle of logs, a burgeoning garden, and community activity boxes, we hope to bring joy and peacefulness to anyone who stops by.
Bunny Grove is off Terwilliger Blvd. in SW Portland (Northern Willamette Valley). The outdoor grove is open to foot traffic from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you have questions or would like to contact Bunny Grove, please email WILLAMETTEBUNNYGROVE -at- gmail.com.
History
At the end of 2020, Andra and Emily adopted Hermes and Iphigenia (Genie for short), two white Satin-German Angora rabbits. In part, this was inspired by Andra's yarn-making journey! What started as a small habitat in one corner of a large garage quickly grew into a shed converted into a temperature-controlled barn complete with a large bunny run.
Sweet Hermes passed away in 2023 of a respiratory infection while Genie carried on happy and healthy, and at the beginning of 2026, we adopted a new bunny - Athena! Read more about that journey on Andra's substack.
Unfortunately in late July of 2026, Genie went missing. With no signs of struggle or escape, we imagine that a bird of prey most likely caught her. It was a risk we knew we were taking with the open-air expanse the bunnies were allowed to explore, and Genie enjoyed a rich life of frolicking among plants, building burrows in stick-forts, befriending local squirrels and juncos, and playing hide-and-seek with neighbors before her loss.
With a heavy heart, we decided to return Athena to Rose City Rabbit Rescue, as with our own little baby human now in the mix we did not have the bandwidth to bond Athena to a new companion and did not want her to go lonely. We hope we gave her a sweet adventurous change from rescue colony life, and that she enjoys her return to loving hands and bunny speed dates before fiding a new loving home.
The legacy of the bunnies will live on in the land for years to come. The soil now homes many plants that it could not have sustained without the bunnies' nourishment over the years, and the joy the bunnies brought to caretakers and visitors alike will live on in our hearts. We are keeping the name Bunny Grove to honor the memories of these sweet creatures as we focus on building community and turning the space into a place where neighbors can gather, play, relax, and enjoy the land.
Wildlife in Bunny Grove
We have a small collection of Douglas firs and deodar cedars. We also have Italian plum trees, a cherry tree, a peach tree, a blueberry bush, and raspberry bushes. We also have some wild roses, an herb garden, and a Japanese maple.
We hope to propagate and grow more native berries over time.
You might see squirrels or mice in the yard, and there are many birds who spend time in the area. Once, the grove was home to a Polyphemus moth.
Activities in Bunny Grove
Visitors are welcome to hang out and have fun in the space! Small mailboxes are hung around the area containing activities for visitors to enjoy. For instance, a Trinket Exchange hangs on the outside fence where passerby can take and leave trinkets, and just inside Bunny Grove hangs a Community Notes box welcoming visitors to leave messages for one another. The mailboxes contain mint and rosemary to gently deter spiders from hanging out within.
Bunny Grove Events
Occasionally, we throw public events in Bunny Grove to help neighbors meet each other and enjoy time in the space together. Typically a flier will be hung on the fence to be visible to passerby. If you would like to be informed of upcoming events by email, contact WILLAMETTEBUNNYGROVE -at- gmail.com.