10 Oregon flower festivals and garden events to visit this summer

While Oregon’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival ended a week early this year due to early blooms, and a couple other flower festivals are behind us (like the Camellia Festival and Run/Walk and the Florence Rhododendron Festival), there’s still plenty to see and smell through the rest of summer.

Adelman Peony Gardens in Salem expects peak blooms beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Lee Sunflower Festival in Tualatin offers sunrise and sunset yoga, picnic packages and butterfly releases in the field in August.

In June and July, the Southern Oregon Lavender Trail festival invites visitors to explore seven lavender farms, all within about a 45-minute drive from one another. Dos Mariposas Vineyard and Lavender Farm in Medford offers essential oil distillation demonstrations on select days.

So, dust off your selfie stick, macro lens or enjoy the flowers completely disconnected, while they last.

Here’s a guide to upcoming flower festivals, garden events and what will be in bloom (and when) this summer:

Iris Bloom Season Event at Shreiner’s Gardens

Shreiner’s Gardens bills itself as the largest iris farm in the United States and every year they host the Bloom Season Event. The event features expansive display gardens, iris fields, a cut flower show and a gift shop, according to their website. On weekends, there will be food trucks as well as vineyards offering wine tasting.

Where: Salem

Address: 3625 Quinaby Rd. N.E.

When: May 3-31

Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Early bird hours 7 a.m.-9 a.m. (the gift shop is not open during these hours).

Cost: Monday through Friday tickets are $5 online and $6 at the door. Weekend tickets are $8 online and $10 at the door. Early bird hours are $10. Children 12 and under are free.

Dogs allowed? Yes

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden offers 9.5 acres of woodland landscapes that contain a collection of rare species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas and other lesser-known ericaceous plants and unusual trees, according to its website.

Where: Portland

Address: 5801 S.E. 28th Ave.

When: The azaleas and rhododendrons are typically in full bloom April through June, but the garden is lovely to visit any time of the year.

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Cost: General admission is $8.95. Students (ages 6-21) is $5.95. Children 5 and younger are free.

Dogs allowed? Yes

Adelman Peony Gardens

Visiting Adelman Peony Gardens includes walking 30 acres of production fields, strolling through two acres of display garden, viewing indoor peony bloom displays and opportunities to purchase cut flowers or peonies in containers to take home, according to their event page. With no food or beverage available to purchase on site, the garden encourages packing a picnic to eat on premise.

Where: Salem

Address: 5690 Brooklake Rd. N.E.

When: Open to the public every year April 27-June 15. Peak bloom expected Memorial Day weekend.

Hours: Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

Cost: Free

Dogs allowed? Yes

Lavender Daze Festival

The annual Lavender Daze Festival at Hood River Lavender Farms typically occurs in July and brings thousands to celebrate the peak lavender bloom of the season. The event has live music, food (including lavender ice cream), art and activities vendors, according to the Hood River Lavender Farms event page.

Where: Hood River

Address: 3823 Fletcher Dr.

When: The festival is every Saturday and Sunday in July. The best time for U-pick lavender is July through September. The Hood River Lavender Farm is open all year.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6p.m.

Cost: Free

Dogs allowed? Yes, but the farm requests that pets stay on the grass and on a leash.

Southern Oregon Lavender Trail

The Southern Oregon Lavender Trail welcomes visitors to explore seven tranquil, family-run lavender fields in southern Oregon. Most farms offer U-pick lavender, lavender products and crafts, classes, essential oil distillation and lavender plants. Most farms are within about a 45-minute drive from one another.

Where: Medford, Jacksonville, Rogue River, Eagle Point, Williams, Applegate

Address: Various locations (check festival website for details)

When: June 21-23 and July 12-14

Hours/cost: Check festival website for specific farm hours and admission.

Dogs allowed? Check individual farm websites for pet policies.

Lee Farms Sunflower Festival

The Lee Sunflower Festival bills itself as Oregon’s largest sunflower festival. According to their website, the festival offers over 30 varieties of sunflowers to explore. It says you can cut your own (one bloom is included with your admission) and take a scenic hayride that takes you to and from their sunflower maze. There will be live local musicians, farm animals and food and beverage, including a bakery.

Where: Tualatin

Address: 21975 S.W. 65th Ave.

When: August 2-18, Fridays through Sundays only.

Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays.

Cost: General admission online is $22 (+$2 fee) online for adults. $25 onsite. Youth (ages 3-10) general admission online is $13 (+$2 fee). $15 onsite. Children ages 2 and younger are free. Additional passes and packages available online.

Dogs allowed? No

Swan Island Dahlias

Swan Island Dahlias event page invites visitors stroll through almost 40 acres of dahlias and a display garden featuring over 370 dahlia varieties. There will be food carts, live music and classes throughout the festival dates.

Where: Canby

Address: 995 N.W. 22nd Ave.

When: August-September

Hours: Wednesdays-Sundays, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Cost: Free admission and parking.

Dogs allowed? Yes

Portland International Test Rose Garden

The International Test Rose Garden is run by the city of Portland and has more than 10,000 individual rose bushes that bloom from late May through October, according to its website. The blooms represent over 610 different rose varieties and the primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. During World War I, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland’s garden for testing.

Where: Portland

Address: 400 S.W. Kingston Ave.

When: Roses bloom from late May to October, depending on the weather.

Hours: Open 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. Closed every other Wednesday May – August, 5 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Cost: Free. Public transportation or free seasonal shuttle is recommended as paid parking is limited.

Dogs allowed? Yes

Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is made up of eight unique garden spaces, from the lush greens in the Strolling Pond Garden to the empty space (or ma) of the Sand and Stone Garden, according to the website. While the garden is lovely to visit year round, there are many events over the summer, including cultural performances (like shinobue flute and piano performances), demonstrations (like tea ceremonies) and workshops (like maple pruning).

Where: Portland

Address: 611 S.W. Kingston Ave.

When: Check the gardens website for summer events. Open all year.

Hours: Wednesday-Monday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)

Cost: $21.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors (65+), $17.95 for students (with ID), $15.95 for youth (ages 6-17), children (5 and under) and members are free.

Dogs allowed? No

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Portland’s Lan Su Chinese garden offers weekly and monthly summer events, from weekly tai chi lessons to feng shui lectures to guided poetry tours in the garden, according to their summer events page.

Where: Portland

Address: 239 N.W. Everett St.

When: Summer special cultural performances include Portland Chinese Dance Troupe (June 1), Viet Hung Lion & Dragon Dance Team (July 20) and other events throughout the year. Open all year.

Hours: Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cost: Free for members. $14 for adult (ages 19-61), $13 for seniors (ages 62 and over) and student (18+ with I.D.), $11 for youth (ages 6-18) and free for children (5 and under).

Dogs allowed? No

Read more:

Source: oregonlive.com