NORWAY – The Norway Rehabilitation and Living Center has opened a garden to keep alive the memories of former residents.

About 25 people, including residents, family and staff, celebrated the completion of the cozy flower garden during an English tea amid blue skies Tuesday. The memory garden was created in the space between two wings of the 67-bed nursing home, and includes landscaping, flowers and fencing.

Materials and labor for the first phase of the memory garden were donated by the Thomas and Hemingway families, both of which have ties to the nursing home.

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held next summer, when family members will be invited to bring a plant to include in the garden to honor residents who have died in the previous year, said Georgia Cram, activities director.