Roses are Red--These Gardens are "Drop Dead" (beautiful)!
Written: Feb 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful gardens in a serene setting with fabulous vistas of Portland and Mount Hood.
Cons: Can't think of any!
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| vickie's Full Review: Portland |
Portland, OR has 2 gardens that are across the street from one another and are definitely worth a visit. I try to get there every time I am in Portland-and that has been a lot of visits over the years! I am always pleased that I made the time for these visits!
The International Rose Test Garden is a perfect place to get a blossom-framed photo of Mount Hood. It sits high up on a hill and the view is fantastic! This garden (established in 1917) is the oldest continually operating test program in the US. There are over 500 varieties of roses here-over 10,000 bushes! The garden is 4 ½ acres and is covered with blooms from June through October. The roses are arranged in neatly manicure beds with grass-covered spaces for walking in between them. It seems that every type of rose on the face of the earth is here (although, intellectually I know that can't be true-this is the feeling that you get!). There are tiny half-inch miniature blooms to huge "over-the-top" 8-inch blossoms. There is a lovely little area of the gardens that is host to weddings, concerts and other special events in the summer. The garden remains open through almost all of these so it offers all sort of "special surprises" to the visitor. I just can't recommend this enough!
If you are a "rose person" (I'm not, but my husband has his own illusions!) you will be pleased to know that you can order plants for yourself here too! We carry a camera with us when we visit. Each of the rose bushes is identified by name and/or number. We photo the roses, with their identification, so that we can remember those that we really fell in love with. If the booth for placing orders is not open when you visit, you can contact them later and have a way to identify the ones you want. The garden is almost overwhelming in its beauty!
Across the street (and up the hill-a BIG hill!) is the Japanese Garden. I LOVE Japanese gardens, and this is one of my favorites! In 1998, the Japanese ambassador to the US pronounced this the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan!
There are actually 5 gardens contained in the Japanese Garden: the traditional Flat Garden, the secluded and flowing Strolling Pond Garden, the Tea Garden with a chashitsu (ceremonial teahouse), the stark Sand and Stone Garden and a miniature Natural Garden. In contrast with the intensely colorful rose blossoms across the street, this is lush greenery at its finest. There are beautiful winding paths and tranquil ponds with fish. Flowering cherries and azaleas blossom in spring. In summer, beautiful beds of Japanese iris come into bloom. They are arranged in lush beds along water and wood covered paths. It's spectacular! In autumn, the laceleaf maples provide a show in orange and red.
There is a perfectly maintained Japanese pavilion that frames the Flat Garden to the west and Mount Hood to the East. There is also a small, but tasteful gift shop which has books on gardening, Japanese flower arranging and traditional tea ceremonies. There are also kite kits, sake sets, and other gifts with a Japanese theme.
The Japanese Garden is peaceful and interesting. There are also some great "photo opps" here, with downtown Portland and Mount Hood as a backdrop. It's a nice break in a busy day!
International Rose Test Garden; 400 SW Kingston Ave.; Portland, OR (823-3636).
Free Admission.
Japanese Garden; 611 SW Kingston Ave.; Portland, OR (223-1321).
Admission: $5 for adults; $2.50 for seniors and children over 5.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
vickie
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Location: Waltham, MA
Reviews written: 75
Trusted by: 113 members
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