Summer is in full bloom in the Pacific Northwest and there’s no better place to take in that beauty than Portland’s International Test Rose Garden, where you can find 7,000 varieties of roses in every shape, size, and color of the rainbow.
There are four official gardens cultivated in the 4.5-acre park. The Shakespeare Garden was originally home to varieties mentioned in the sixteenth century playwright’s work, and today, you’ll also find sun-loving plants thriving next to them.
The Gold Medal Garden, with its collection of award-winning roses, is a formal garden with walkways and a central fountain and gazebo that is often the site of many beautiful weddings. So keep your eye out for happy brides while you’re there!
The Miniature Rose Garden is one of only six American Rose Society test gardens dedicated specifically to the petite varieties, and when we visited their bushes were filled with fragrant blooms.
The Royal Rosarian Garden has honored the garden’s goodwill ambassadors and official greeters since 1924, and a number of rose varieties can be found only in this garden and are not commercially available.
The north end of the Rose Garden is home to an amphitheater that features events throughout the year, most often-classical music concerts and a few plays.
Photographers from around the world who visit the Rose Garden come away with beautiful images of the blossoms as souvenirs of their trip to the Rose City.
And, the 4.5-acre park, with it’s amazing overlook, is one of the best places to photograph Portland with Mt. Hood in the background.
Portland’s International Test Rose Garden is a must-see for anyone interested in gardens, photography, or spending the day in one of the most beautiful and lovely scented landscapes in all of Portland.
Things to know before you go:
The Rose Garden is open year-round from 7:30am-9:00pm. Free public tours are offered every day at 1:00pm between Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (meet at the Rose Garden store 10 minutes prior to the tour).
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