Stop And Smell The Flowers In Salem And The Mid-Willamette Valley

If you find it impossible to walk by a blooming pink peony, purple iris or yellow rose without stopping to give it some love, you’re in the right place. April is National Garden Month and the Salem region is home to 17 spectacular display gardens where you can spend the entire afternoon wandering through fragrant and colorful blooms, gleaning inspiration for your own garden.

4/9/2024

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Here are a few public gardens where you can witness the flower power of the Mid-Willamette Valley firsthand.

DEEPWOOD MUSEUM AND GARDENS

Deepwood is situated in a 5-acre public park that’s meticulously maintained by volunteers. The park includes a historic Victorian house, which is also a museum, plus a nature trail and a greenhouse, but Deepwood’s crown jewel for green thumbs is its formal gardens. Designed by Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, the first women in the Pacific Northwest to own their own landscape architecture firm, the formal gardens include several “rooms” defined by hedges and walks and embellished by seasonal blooms. Early spring is gorgeous here, as the yellow and white native lilies take over the estate. The grounds are free and open to the public year round.

GAIETY HOLLOW

The home garden of historic landscapers Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver (see above), Salem’s Gaiety Hollow is a magnificent example of what a creative gardener can accomplish on a small property. The garden embodies the architectural principles that Lord & Schryver was famous for and its blooms are seasonal, so anytime is the right time to visit. Pop by in spring and the colorful camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas will take your breath away. In summer, the roses unleash their heady scent in the afternoon heat. Hit up the free open gardens on select Saturdays, April through September.

SCHREINER’S IRIS GARDENS IN MAY

Schreiner’s Gardens is located in North Salem and their 10-acre display garden has over 500 variations of pink, purple and yellow iris, along with other perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. The garden is quite literally a feast for the senses and you can purchase potted irises, daylilies and alliums to take home with you. The display gardens are open to visitors May 10 through May 31. Check the website to purchase tickets and learn about bloom-season events.

MAY AND JUNE IS PEONY PARADISE

Peonies thrive in the Willamette Valley and, every May and June, peony fans flock from all over to admire the blooming fields. At the friendly Brooks Gardens, located just north of Salem, you’ll be mesmerized by the multitude of herbaceous (bush) and Itoh (a cross between a bush and a tree) peony styles, colors and fragrances. Visit the garden during bloom season, from May 2 through June 9. The nearby Adelman Peony Gardens has been awarded Best of Show for 11 of the last 20 years by the American Peony Society and is another must-visit. Here, you can walk along spacious grass walkways in the stunning 2-acre display garden and experience the colors and fragrances of over 500 named peonies. Be sure to check out the flower truck and cart and take a fresh bouquet or potted flowers home with you, May 1 to June 15.

BUSH’S PASTURE PARK ROSE GARDEN

Sprawling across 90 acres in the heart of Salem, Bush’s Pasture Park is blanketed with peppy native wildflowers, camas and rhododendrons every spring. In early summer, visitors will want to follow their noses into the park’s northwest corner and take in the spectacularly romantic rose garden. Hundreds of varieties of hybrid tea, floribunda and old roses dating from the late 1950s through 2017 are on display here and labeled so that you can plan for your own garden. The rose garden is free and open year round from sunrise to sunset.

PÉPINIÈRE ET JARDINS DANCING OAKS

Nestled in the coastal foothills about 40 minutes southwest of Salem, Dancing Oaks Nursery and Gardens is a must-visit for lovers of rare plants and flowers — and the nursery’s 4-acre display garden is another rare treat. Peruse the flowering pink and white currents, fields of multi-colored manzanitas, daffodils, primula, blue and yellow Pacific Coast iris and whatever else is showing off its colors. Give yourself a few hours to explore the garden and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the patio.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival showcases acres of breathtaking tulip fields in bloom. Located in Woodburn, this festival attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe who come to stroll through the millions of colorful flowers. Insider’s Tip: Plan your visit for a Tuesday or Wednesday when it’s less crowded.

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