Rose Gardening - Portland Rose Test Garden

The international rose test garden in Portland is the best rose garden in the world. The place has been established over a hundred years ago and it has been flourishing ever since. If you are from the Oregon area, you must definitely have visited the place. There are great reasons to visit the international rose test garden, especially during spring since all the flowers are blooming and the park is at its best. Portlanders have been very committed in this garden that only 3 gardeners tend the 4.5 acre park together with tons of volunteers. The volunteers prune and tend the rose bushes all year round.

The garden is free for anyone and it is open everyday. People from all over America come here just to see the roses bloom at their best. To finally convince you, here are some of the garden's features and why you must see them.

Garden hours: 7:30am-9:00pm

Weekly Tours
From May 31 through September 20, free tours of the rose garden are led by trained volunteers at 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:00 PM on Tuesdays, and 1:00 PM on Saturdays & Sundays. Meet at the sign outside the Rose Garden Store. Donations gladly accepted.

Tour Groups
Guided tours for groups of 10 or more are available during the year for a nominal fee per person. Call 503-823-3664 to make arrangements.

The garden exhibits 10,000 pieces of 550 different kinds of roses. If that is not enough to convince you, the garden also creates hybrid roses that can only be seen in the garden. If you are a rose enthusiast, this is heaven for you. The garden does not sell rose plants but you can visit them all year round from 7 in the morning until 9 in the evening. The garden also has a store where you can buy souvenirs and bouquets of roses. And although the park does not ask for any entrance fee, donations are encouraged and you can donate to them by just dropping your contributions to boxes all around the park.

The garden is divided into several parks and each park has its own special variety of rose and landscape. The amphitheater within the garden holds free concerts and play throughout the year. One of the interesting parks the garden offers is the Shakespeare Garden. As the name implies, originally all the flowers and plants in this garden are the ones mentioned in the plays and stories of William Shakespeare.

One of the best gardens most beautiful parks is the Gold medal garden. This garden features award winning rose varieties all over the world. Their formal setting adds elegance and tranquility that's why most couples like to hold their wedding ceremonies in this park. There are also a central fountain, a gazebo and several walkways that add to the park's enigmatic landscape.

There are other parks and areas that feature special roses and plants so you can be sure that you will never get bored in walking around over the whole 4.5 acre garden.

The rose festival is conducted every June. A grand floral parade is held as part of the main events of the festival and floats roam around the key cities of Portland to exhibit the most beautiful roses all over the world. Aside from this, the festival includes free concerts, an arts festival and other events that will surely be enjoyed by the whole family. If you want to experience the best in the rose garden, be sure that you come to the rose festival.

As mentioned, the garden is a great place for weddings and other ceremonies that you would like. The place is far cheaper than exclusive and private pavilions and it even exceeds the beauty of others. If your partner is a rose enthusiast, marrying him or her in front of a thousand roses will surely be very memorable and exciting.

The best thing about the garden is you can visit it with or without occasions. If you want to take a rest and marvel at nature's most beautiful flowers, all you have to do is stroll down the garden. Many families spend their time in the garden playing and talking, bonding together while they are surrounded by the scent and beauty of thousands of roses.

Whether you are a rose lover or not, going to the international rose test garden in Portland will surely be a great experience. It shows the best roses that nature offers and it brings you closer to beauty and tranquility.