City: Portland, OR

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (503) 823-3636

Address: 400 Southwest Kingston in Washington Par

Description: For some residents and visitors, this park is what Portland is about. High above the city, offering an eastern view of the skyline, the Willamette River and its bridges, the snowcapped peaks of the Cascade Mountains (Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and even Mount Rainier on some days), the Rose Test Garden is an almost obligatory stop for visitors. These appealing gardens beckon you to linger awhile, offering many summer concerts, plays, and other outdoor events in addition to lovely views. This site has been a public rose garden since 1917—it’s the oldest public rose test garden in the nation. The five-acre gardens offer visitors the sight and scent of 8,000 plants representing some 500 varieties of roses, from those producing fragile miniatures to some with blossoms nearly 8 inches broad. The roses begin to bloom in May and usually reach their peak sometime in June, depending on the weather. But there will be flowers on the bushes until October, long after all but the most faithful rose fancier have gone home. There are no admission fees or formal operating hours, but there is a $500 fine for picking a flower. See the Portland’s Parks chapter for information on other public rose gardens in Portland.