Discover the Peaceful Gardens of Oregon

Oregon’s mild weather and abundant rainfall makes the state a gardener’s paradise, and there are tons of beautiful gardens and parks to stroll through. Don’t forget to pack a picnic!

In Portland, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a peaceful spot in Chinatown. It takes its inspiration from classical gardens in Suzhou, China – there are ponds, lush foliage, and quiet spots to relax or read a book. Nearby, the Leach Botanical Garden is home to more than 2,000 plant species – John and Lilla Leach were a businessman-botanist couple and their namesake park is an educational center for local gardeners and an environmental sustainability demonstration site.

In St. Helens, the Columbia Botanical Gardens feature pathways lined with trillium and bleeding hearts which lead to a fern-filled ravine that is a riparian and nesting area. In Dallas, in the Willamette Valley, the Delbert Hunter Arboretum showcases trees and plants native to the Northwest. The arboretum’s Lewisia Garden features plants commonly found in Oregon’s high deserts.

On the campus of Willamette University in Salem, the Martha Springer Botanical Garden and Rose Garden is a local favorite – here you can find native plants, historic and newer rose varieties, English perennials, and a Japanese garden.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Opened in 2000, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a popular destination in the Portland metro area. Often visited during the blooming season in spring, the garden is home to a number of plant species not seen anywhere else but at the garden and in China.

Inspired by Portland and the Chinese city of Suzhou becoming sister cities in 1988, the garden now features nearly 40,000 square feet of tranquil scenery. Many visitors to the Lan Su Chinese Garden enjoy the Lake Zither at the center of the complex.