9 Beautiful Botanical Gardens in Oregon!
Oregon is full of stunning botanical gardens, arboretums and estate grounds. From the sleepy hollow estate of John and Lilla Leach, to an 80-acre garden with specialty demonstration gardens, there is something for everyone! Dive in and explore some of the top botanical gardens and arboretums in Oregon.
Nestled in the heart of Portland, Leach Botanical Garden is a lovingly crafted masterpiece. This stunning botanical garden is home to a Sleepy Hollow estate created and tended by John and Lilla Leach for over thirty-six incredible years. Visitors can enjoy its historical significance and natural wonder.
Over 80 acres of botanical beauty from all over the Willamette Valley and Pacific Northwest. This pet-friendly garden offers a unique selection of specialty gardens, such as the Sensory Garden, Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and Medicinal Garden, all crafted to give visitors the best understanding of the region’s flora. And don’t forget to hop onto the daily narrated tram tour!
Here, you’ll discover and admire many native northwest plants and trees as you stroll along the gently flowing Rickreall Creek. Take a seat on one of the many benches around the arboretum, and take a moment to appreciate the park’s natural setting.
The perfect retreat for nature lovers and sightseers alike. The 13-acre estate was developed in 1916, come and take in the garden’s rich history and stunning natural beauty. With various varieties of plant life and native flowers as far as the eye can see, it’s no wonder Portland locals can’t get enough.
Donated to the city by George E. Owen in 1951, this 5-acre site is the first of a series of riverfront parks hugging the edge of the river and eventually connecting to the Greenway bike bridge at Valley River Center. Take a leisurely stroll amongst the roses while looking out across the river, and instantly feel refreshed and calm.
At this St. Helens gem, you’ll be treated to a unique landscape unlike any other. Developed from an old rock quarry, the park has little soil, with swampy areas, higher elevated grounds and moss-covered boulders. See many species of evergreen and deciduous trees, wild shrubs, and swamp plants as you take a stroll down the gravel-covered nature trail.
Step back in time and let Portland’s own Lan Su Chinese Garden transport you to ancient China. A combination of sounds from both Portland and Suzhou make up its name, with “Lan” (蘭) meaning “Orchid” and “Su” (蘇) meaning “Arise” or “Awaken”. A composition of exquisite pavilions, koi-filled ponds, meandering pathways and lush landscapes, a trip to the Garden of Awakening Orchids is sure to delight you.
In 2013, the Polk County chapter of OSU Master Gardeners took on the task of bringing the Inspiration Garden to life. From acres of neglected and overgrown land, volunteers have created a series of garden areas for visitors to appreciate, learn from and be inspired by. And the city has paved the main path, making it easily accessible for all.
Peavy Arboretum has been a living laboratory for generations of visitors, being a welcoming and revelatory place. Learn about the Kalapuya people, the Oregon State Forest Nursery, and the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Arboretum as you take a picnic by the pond or a hike in the mountains. The Arboretum also houses the George Brown Logging Sports Arena, and is entirely funded by timber harvested on the OSU Research Forests.
This text was created by the author with the assistance of GPT-3, a large-scale language generation model developed by OpenAI. The author reviewed, edited, and revised the draft language to their satisfaction and is fully responsible for the content of this publication.
