This Memorial Day weekend 2009 our family chose to look for an activity where we could enjoy the great weather and drive a reasonably close distance from our home in Vancouver. The trip we selected was the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in nearby SE Portland Oregon (here's a map from Vancouver to the Garden), which is located just to the west of the Reed College Campus.
According to the Portland City Parks and Recreation department, the 9.49 acre Garden was acquired in 1923, and grows a wide variety of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Both plants are woody shrubs that can produce incredibly beautiful blooms in the month of May on the West (wet) side of the Cascade Mountains.
After paying the nominal entrance fee of $3 per adult, and free for 12 years old and younger, we made our way through the entrance gate, and a wonderful city retreat revealed itself to us. We quickly encountered a wide variety of azaleas and Rhodies still in bloom (although late in their season), inviting waterfalls and ponds, and also saw a large number of ducks and geese!
One of the attributes of these Rhodies you'll notice very soon is their tremendous size! Most of our common neighborhood rhodies in Vancouver and Portland are kept to a modest size (at least below the home's roof-line). The older rhodies at this garden are as large as a house!
With the close proximity to Vancouver WA, and to downtown Portland Oregon, this Garden is a fabulous member of the City of Portland's Parks, and well worth a trip most any time of the year to take a stroll and enjoy a fabulous garden experience. If you enjoy the flowering beauty of the springtime in the Pacific Northwest, the month of May is the prime-time to see the Crystal Springs Garden in Full Bloom!
Until our next trip!...
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Kathryn and John, I've never heard of this place! Thanks for the info, I'll have to get there next year when the blooms first start up. Hey, call and remind me, okay?!!
No problem Peg, I will give you a call! Another other cool place is the Cedar Creek Grist Mill in Woodland, very scenic but only running on Sundays from 1-4pm and that's all year long! Have a great week and stay cool!
In 1986 I used to work at the golf course that encases the Rhododendron garden. They used to use half of our leaves then for composting.
Have you ever been to the Garden of the Bishops Close?
On the other side of the river. Might be Military Lane if I recall. It overlooks the river and Waverly Country Club on the ohter side.
Cheers,
M. D. Vaden / Beaverton
Hello M.D., we have not been to the Garden of the Bishops Close - we'll check it out. Thanks! John