GO GARDEN-HOPPING IN THE SALEM REGION

If you’re the type of person who stops to smell the roses—and admire the red tulips and yellow peonies—you’re in luck. April is National Garden Month and the Salem region is home to almost 20 public display gardens bursting with blooms in all colors, sizes, and scents. Here’s a roundup of Salem-area gardens you don’t want to miss this spring and summer.

4/11/25

ROSES AND TRADITIONAL ENGLISH GARDENS IN THE CITY

A ROMANTIC ROSE GARDEN IN BUSH’S PASTURE PARK
In the heart of Salem, the 90-acre Bush's Pasture Park bursts with native wildflowers, camasand rhododendrons every spring, and in summer, the rose garden on the north side blooms with hundreds of varieties of labeled hybrid tea, floribunda and old roses dating from the late 1950s through 2017. Sit in the pretty gazebo and soak up the beauty.

WOMEN-DESIGNED GARDENS AT GAIETY HOLLOW
Located across from Bush's Pasture Park, this 1932 Colonial Revival house and its gardensbelonged to Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, the first women in the Pacific Northwest to own a landscape architecture firm. Lord and Schryver designed over 200 gardens in the region between 1929 and 1969, and an Open Garden tour of their restored personal gardens is a must.

A TRADITIONAL ENGLISH GARDEN AT DEEPWOOD
Deepwood is a five-acre Salem park designed by Lord and Schryver that includes a historic Victorian home, which is also a museum, a greenhouse with orchids and exotics, and meticulously maintained formal gardens that include several “rooms” defined by hedges and walks and embellished by seasonal blooms. In spring, the native yellow and white lilies are breathtaking.

TULIPS, IRISES AND PEONIES AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE

WOODBURN’S WOODEN SHOE TULIP FESTIVAL
From late March to early May, the family-owned Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm welcomes visitors from all over the world to behold millions of colorful tulips across 40 acres of fields. Stroll along the pathways and feel like you’re swimming through the endless blooms. Food vendors, estate wine, shopping and hot-air balloon rides make the festival fun for all.

IRISES AND MORE IRISES AT SCHREINER’S GARDENS
In May, the Annual Bloom Season Event at family-owned Schreiner’s Gardens has over 500 variations of pink, purple and yellow iris, along with other perennials such as lupine, allium and delphinium. Stroll through the 10-acre display gardens, catch a cut flower show and, if you’re visiting on a weekend, enjoy food trucks and wine tastings.

PEONY FEVER IN MAY AND JUNE
Late April to mid-June, peony fans flock to the Salem area’s blooming fields. Visit Brooks Gardens, located just north of Salem, and admire a mind-boggling array of peony styles, colors and fragrances. Nearby Adelman Peony Gardens has been awarded Best of Show for 11 of the last 20 years by the American Peony Society. Soak up the lush, vibrant blooms of over 500 named peonies, then stop by the flower truck for a fresh bouquet to take home.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BOUNTY AT SILVERTON’S OREGON GARDEN
Sprawling over 80 acres, the Oregon Garden features more than 20 specialty gardens showcasing the botanical bounty of the Willamette Valley, the hills are buzzing with bees and butterflies, and the ADA-friendly paths and narrated tram make exploring easy. The kiddos will love the tree fort and the cute café is ideal for lunch.

RHODIES GALORE AT THE CECIL AND MOLLY SMITH GARDEN
North of Salem, this three-acre garden is tucked away in a mossy woodland setting and has over600 rhododendrons and azaleas in a wonder-filled array of sizes and colors. Wander alongserene pathways riddled with narcissus, erythronium and trillium and visit the shady fern garden. Open weekends in April and May.

NATIVE BLOOMS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

DELBERT HUNTER ARBORETUM IS A NATIVE PLANT WONDERLAND
Located near Dallas City Park, this arboretum and botanical garden is a living museum for botany enthusiasts. Spend the afternoon admiring native perennials, conifers, wetland species and succulents, and the gently flowing Rickreall Creek creates a rich riparian biome for ferns, lilies, poppies and lupine. Bring your scope and birdwatch.

RARE PLANTS AND FLOWERS AT DANCING OAKS NURSERY
This off-the-beaten-path nursery and display garden is nestled in the coastal foothills about 40 minutes southwest of Salem. Peruse the flowering pink and white currents, multi-colored manzanitas, daffodils, blue and yellow Pacific Coast iris and whatever else is showing off its colors. Give yourself a few hours to explore and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the patio.

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