I got an early start from Tukwila on Thursday morning, knowing that I had two places to spend time in Portland, Oregon. In keeping with my theme of spending time outside (for the most part, anyway), first stop was the International Rose Test Garden.
The garden is located in Washington park. There are more than 600 different rose varieties represented by 10,000-plus rose bushes that bloom from late May through October. The primary purpose of the garden is as a testing ground for new rose varieties, and over the years hybridists have sent roses from around the world.
The scope of the place was amazing, and the sheer number of different varieties (colors, shapes, sizes, smells) was almost overwhelming. I can't do it justice at all with the few pictures I post here, but it's definitely worth a visit!
Also located in Washington Park (and just across the street from the Rose Test Garden is Portland Japanese Garden. The spot on which the Japanese Garden sits was the site of the former Portland Zoo. During the late 1950s, the Portland community decided to create this Japanese Garden space for two main reasons: providing the citizens with a garden of serenity and beauty while also creating a healing connection to Japan in the aftermath of WWII - inspired by growing cultural ties between Oregon and Japan. Gardens of this type were founded in many areas of the country as a way to allow Americans to experience Japanese ideals and values as communicated through nature.
Unlike most gardens in Japan, which typically follow one style, this one was designed to included five different garden styles on the site's 5.5 acres. It opened to the public (officially) in 1967 The Kashintei Tea House was constructed in Japan, shipped in pieces, and reassembled in the Garden. Other structures were also added as the five gardens evolved.
In 1981/1982 the garden began to be kept open year-round. The Cultural Village was opened in 2017. Parts of the garden sit on the side of a very steep hill, while there are flat areas as well.
"Throughout the Garden’s history, it has been acclaimed by a number of visiting Japanese dignitaries as one of the most beautiful and authentic Japanese gardens in the world outside of the island nation, as well as one of the foremost Japanese cultural organizations in North America." {website}
And finally, some last pictures:
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