5 Fun Gardens
Springtime Gardens are Impressive in Portland Oregon.
“Spring is natures way of saying, ‘Let’s Party’ ”
Next to taking a trip to some far off land, gardening is another great joy in my life. When home, I’m often found in the yard and gardening. Though not in the winter, Portland can be a bit brutal in the wintertime, lets be honest. As soon as Spring arrives though, the Pacific Northwest wakes out of its winter slumber. This past year with COVID restrictions and staying-in, spring seems more sweet than years past. I work in health care, have received my immunizations, I have my mask and I’m ready to get back out into the world. With a spot of sunshine outside, off I go to explore my fine city. I am purposefully looking at this city with a deep gratefulness and as a rebirth from the hectic pandemic that seems to never end. The Gardens may not be in full bloom as I start this journey but I’m not waiting for the best time or for the best pictures. If this pandemic has taught me only one thing, it’s to never pass up on life and experiences. At my age you have to take in all the beauty of this world. Safely. Today. Stop waiting for the perfect picture moment. I may not be getting on an airplane to travel but there is plenty to explore right under my nose.
Spring is an astonishing time of year, plants and bushes start to show off. Colors of the new blooms always seem more vibrant on first bloom than the following blossom. The City of Portland is known as “Rose City”. With that as a nickname, it’s no wonder that this city is home to many different types of beautiful gardens. My 5 fun gardens are not the only gardens in the “Rose City”. This list is variety pack, one Garden you need to purchase tickets, the next is free on a certain day, another one you can walk by and miss, there is even a garden on Church grounds, then finally there’s a garden 40 minutes south of Portland proper if you’d like to see a garden in the Willamette Valley Wine Region. See what I mean? It’s just a small sampling of the grand Gardens this City has to offer you on your next visit. Hell, maybe you live in Portland and have forgotten how lovely this City is. Whenever it is safe for you, get outside. Actually take the time to stop and smell the roses.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
On the corner of NW Everett and NW Third Avenue you will find the Lan Su Chinese Garden. This garden is one of Portland’s greatest gems and an interesting spot to visit while you're in Portland. Chinese gardens aren’t planned in a way that you can’t see the entire garden all at once, small scenes are set up so that you wander through the entire garden.
The collaboration between Portland and it’s sister city of Suzhou, China, has created one of the most authentic gardens outside of China. Looking up over the walls of this garden you can see a few of Portland's skyscrapers but if you keep your eyes in the garden you will feel like you have been transported to another part of the world.
“Lan Su Chinese Garden is your window into Chinese culture, history, and philosophy. We welcome you to walk into a living Chinese landscape art and spiritual utopia. This is a garden where nature, cultures and people intermingle”
The Tao of Tea House
COVID details:
The Tao of Tea house is open, everything is served ‘to-go’ and they have set up a one way-direction visiting path that is easy to follow through the entire garden.
Lan Su Chinese Garden $$
239 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209
Japanese American History Plaza
In the Spring Portland’s Cherry Blossoms bring people out by the droves to the Japanese American History Plaza. I mean who doesn’t want to see these babies when they are blooming? They’re absolutely stunning. Yet I believe that very few of these visitors (I was one) know why these trees were ever even planted here.
This particular collection of Cherry trees was planted in 1990 on the northern edge of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. These trees are to serve as a reminder of the World War II incarceration of many Japanese Americans and to acknowledge that the ‘Bill of Rights’ applies to all Americans no matter their culture.
If you are walking along the river’s edge and simply following along the path you may miss this important reminder of the past. The plaza has several rocks with poems on them as well as boulders with the names of the internment camps. Not only is this garden area beautiful, it is an important reminder that some things of our country’s past should not ever be repeated.
Japanese American Historical Plaza Free
Naito Parkway, Portland, OR 97209
The Grotto
The Grotto is a church sanctuary garden that sits on 62 acres and has a Plaza Level garden as well as an Upper Level garden. The Upper Level area sits atop a 110 foot cliff, and you will need to purchase a token from the gift shop to ride the elevator to the Upper Level. I felt an overwhelming peace wash over me as I walked along the paths here.
Elevator to Upper Level
This land was purchased in September 1923 then held its first mass service in May 1924. The garden is part of the The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, Catholic Church. Yes, a Catholic Church, but do not skip this garden just because you may not follow this faith, there are not people following you around asking you to convert or to donate money. The Grotto has a simple motto, “A place of peace, prayer, and natural beauty.”
“The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there”
On the Upper level of the garden sits the Marilyn Moyer Meditation Chapel. This meditation room rises on the north face of the rock cliff and overlooks the eastside of Portland. From this view you can take in sites of the Columbia River Gorge, Cascade Mountain Range and Mount Saint Helen. On a crystal clear day you are also able to view Mount Rainier in the distance. This meditation room has won many national and international awards for its architecture design. I can see myself returning to The Grotto just to sit in this room again.
The Grotto $
8840 NE Skidmore St, Portland, OR 97220
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
I went to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in early spring. Though the garden wasn’t in complete bloom, I didn’t care, this place was spectacular. The garden sits on a little over 9 acres with well groomed paths, many water features, tons of mature trees, ducks, nesting geese and early blooming Rhododendrons.
More than 2,500 Rhododendrons and plants have been donated to this garden, and this early spring trip I’ve made already shows the magnificent blooms eagerly waiting to open up and show their true colors.
As I explored the grounds I noticed many families with strollers and young children, then I realized, duh, this is a super easy garden to explore with kids. The countless benches give visitors a place to just sit back and relax. What a nice way to spend a few hours.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden $ Free on Mondays
5801 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
The Allison Inn & Spa
Let me start off with complete honesty…………I've been wanting to visit The Allison Inn & Spa for a few years now. So since this is ‘my’ blog, I have to remind myself from time to time, that I can go wherever the hell I want and blog about whatever I enjoy. Sooooo, long story short, I invited my travel besties (see my Maui Girls Trip blog) out for lunch and a nice garden walk to follow.
The Allison sits in the Willamette Valley, approximately a 40 minute drive from downtown Portland. This is a luxury resort nestled in the wine country of Oregon with hotel accommodations, spa services, and wine tasting, just to mention a few things. Before walking the grounds we stopped by Jory for lunch.
“JORY is proud to serve farm to table dishes that focus on the best ingredients grown in Oregon, including the world-class wines created amongst our Willamette Valley vineyards.”
After our lovely lunch we walked along some of the 35 acres of paths that connect the gardens, vineyards, as well as some picnic areas. The Allison has some large open areas for seating as well as some more private seating spots if you want a more romantic feel. Around every corner of the garden walk there is something new to see. The plants and flowers are meticulously well maintained and the art work along the way is such a treat. Most, if not all, of the art you see is available for purchase and it is brought in by many local artists.
This was a special day for me, I had a deep need to reconnect and to have some fun with my friends. The Allison was the perfect place to treat ourselves to lunch and to treat ourselves with a lovely stroll through the garden.
Selfie Time
The Allison Inn & Spa Garden Free Lunch $$$
2525 Allison Ln, Newberg, OR 97132
As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, this is only a small sampling of the many many gardens one can visit while in Portland. I do have an Honorable Mention to include here, because this list would be incomplete without me mentioning the Portland Japanese Garden. The Portland Japanese Garden is extremely popular and a stunning site for your eyes to behold, I visit this garden every fall.
Gardens are special places to me. I can spend an entire day simply relaxing and examining all the foliage. Even a garden that is overrun with weeds and neglect is a place to be admired.
“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece”
