by Alan K. Lee
The Connie Hansen Garden in Lincoln City, Oregon is one of the smallest botanical gardens in the Northwest, at just 1¼ acres, but don’t let the size fool you, it’s also one of the best.
Connie Hansen grew up in Oregon, but moved to California to attend the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a degree in botany. She moved back to Oregon late in her life, after her husband’s death and her retirement from the faculty of UC Berkeley.
She began creating her garden in 1973 and she tended and continually expanded it for the next 20 years. After her death in 1993 a group of neighbors and local gardeners formed the Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy to preserve the magnificent garden that she had created. The Conservancy is a not for profit corporation run by a dedicated group of volunteers.
The garden is located at 1931 NW 33rd Street in Lincoln City. It is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. The Garden House, Hansen’s former home, now houses a small gift shop where you can find gardening supplies, books, and souvenirs. There is also a small art gallery. It is open from 10:00 to 2:00 Tuesday and Friday through Sunday from March to mid-December.
The Conservancy conducts spring, summer, and fall plant sales, and there are usually plants for sale at other times as well. Garden memberships are available through the conservancy website for those that want to support the garden.
The Connie Hansen Garden is one of the hidden gems of the Oregon Coast. It is both a beautiful and tranquil oasis and a lasting tribute to the woman who spent 20 years of her life creating it. Pay the garden a visit the next time you’re in the Lincoln City area. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I do.
Originally posted June 17, 2021. Updated and re-posted April 27, 2022.
All photos © Alan K. Lee