Welcome to a Very Special Place
When you’re thinking about leaving your child in someone else’s care, you want to know that they have experience. Well, no one in the Portland area has more experience caring for children than Fruit & Flower. In fact, we’ve been doing it since 1906. That’s just one of the reasons why we’re one of the most respected child development centers in the area.

Located in Northwest Portland, Fruit & Flower cares for children ranging from six weeks to five years old. Our play-based curriculum is built around the needs and interests of the kids and is designed to change as they do. We believe in nurturing the growth of the whole child — emotional, social, physical and intellectual. So, Fruit & Flower kids are placed in groups based on their individual stage of development rather than their biological age. Years of experience has shown us that this approach results in a well-rounded child who is ready to excel in kindergarten and beyond.
The 15th annual Fruit & Flower Auction was held May 15 at Wieden+Kennedy
More than 175 guests raised $65,000 for the Center, with more than $7,800 earmarked for classroom projects and additional net of more than $40,000. Jen Keesey led a determined committee which included grandparents, parents, and friends of Fruit & Flower. Special thanks to KeyBank for its challenge grant of $5,000 to spur on Scholarship bidding, and generous support from The Standard, Don Rasmussen Co., Dana Rierson, Flair Plastics, The Center for Psychology & Health, Bergstrom Wines, Widmer Brothers, and Wieden+Kennedy for adding value to the event.

Wieden+Kennedy was decked out with crepe paper, oversized flowers, and archways. Parents Anne Talcott and Lucas Newman were elected Prom Queen and King, and Naomi Seeger, Teacher in Room 5, and Joe Baxley, Early Morning Float, were elected Princess and Prince.

Adam Wilson, a parent, served as the event emcee, and Paul Schultz from Sykes Auction Group coaxed attendees into spirited bidding on items including a quilt commemorating children in Room 4, an art piece created by children in Room 1, and the Ultimate Date Night for parents of babies in the Infant Center. Other popular live auction items included Pat O'Brien's "behind the scenes and rafters" tour of Yamhill County wineries built by O'Brien Constructors LLC, dinner for ten catered by Balanced Table and Et Fille Wines, and a Blazers night out donated by the Rembold and Bader families.

Naming rights were purchased by Giovanni and Anne Bencomo, friends of Fruit & Flower; they want to name the circle after children here on Scholarship. Giovanni has a sister in Tucson who is a single, professional, hard working mother of two, who makes responsible financial decisions, yet child care remains beyond her reach. He believes the cost of child care is a significant obstacle that prevents a number of parents, single or couples, from staying employed, consequently being denied the progress opportunities that come with their real earning ability. "We were impressed and moved that Fruit & Flower affords such an option to families in Portland," he said, "and we would like to share in this opportunity."

Curious about photos? Find them on our Facebook page.
Fruit & Flower Centennial Video
In celebration of our recent 100-year anniversary, we asked Bill Aylward of Fred + Ethel to produce a video for us. Bill created a wonderful piece infused with the wildly infectious spirit of Fruit & Flower. Please take the time to take a look. It requires the Quicktime Player 6, a free download which is available here. With a file size of 20M it is pretty hefty for those of you on dial-up modems. But believe us, it is well worth the wait.

Click to view the centennial video.
Fruit & Flower News
Enrollment Information We enroll children in our program throughout the year and may have openings in your child's age group. Please click on this link to download the Waitlist Application Form.
Call Rhonda McDowall at (503) 228-8349 for information, or to sign up for our monthly tours.

Emergency Closure Information Click here for current information in case of weather closures or other emergencies.

Footsteps: The Fruit & Flower seasonal newsletter Winter 2009 Newsletter
Fall 2008 Newsletter
Spring 2008 Newsletter
Winter 2007 Newsletter
Spring 2006 Newsletter
Summer 2005 Newsletter
Spring 2005 Newsletter

Happenings: The Fruit & Flower monthly newsletter January 2010
December 2009
October/November 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009

Fruit & Flower Calendar Download 2010 calendar