by Alan K. Lee
The Oregon Garden, located in Silverton, Oregon, consists of more than 20 specialty gardens covering 80 acres. While it was created about 20 years ago primarily to promote the Oregon nursery industry, the Garden has grown into one of the premier botanical gardens of the Northwest.
The Oregon Garden is spectacularly beautiful in the spring, but it has plenty to offer in other seasons. The photos shown here were taken in September, for example, and there were a lot of plants still in bloom, as you can see. Even in winter, the garden is worth a visit.
Flowers take center stage here, but there’s much more to the Oregon Garden than just flowers. Wetlands that are the final stage of Silverton’s wastewater treatment process and a formal water garden are also part of the larger Garden. As are a conifer garden, oak grove, and a 15 acre working demonstration forest. You can also find many agricultural products, such as berries, hops, and grapes, growing in the garden in artful settings.
Throughout the Garden you will find art works by local artists.
The Gordon House, Oregon’s only surviving Frank Lloyd Wright designed house (and the only one in the Northwest open to the public) is located immediately adjacent to the Garden.
The Oregon Garden Resort, featuring 103 guest rooms, restaurant, and spa, is also located adjacent to the Garden.
Start your tour of the gardens at the Visitor Center, where you purchase your tickets. Pick up a free map of the gardens and check out the gift shop. The Visitor Center also houses the Little Leaf Cafe (soups, sandwiches, and other lunch items). And there is a retail nursery located adjacent to the Visitor Center where you can purchase plants grown by the garden staff and volunteers.
The Oregon Garden is open daily, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. Hours are 10-4 (10-3 in winter). Adult admission prices are $8 Nov-Feb and $12 Mar-Oct. There are discounts for seniors (60+), students (12-17), children (5-11), and veterans. Children under five are free. Go to the garden website for a schedule of events and other information.
The Garden is ADA compliant and all mobility devices are allowed in the Garden. There is a 1.4 mile paved path that runs through most of the 20+ specialty gardens. There is also a tram that takes guests on a 25 minute narrated tour of the Garden. Tickets are $3, sold on a first-come first-served basis.
Take your time and enjoy the beauty of the Garden. There are plenty of benches in the gardens to sit and relax. There’s enough here that it wouldn’t be hard to make a full day of it. And you can bring your dog. There’s even a pet friendly garden.
If you are making a day of it, dining options include the Little Leaf Cafe and the Garden View Restaurant and the Fireside Lounge at the Oregon Garden Resort. Or you can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it in one of the designated picnic areas. A variety of dining options are also available in downtown Silverton.
And if you’re visiting from outside the area, a trip to nearby Silver Falls State Park should also be on your itinerary. There aren’t many other places where you can see ten waterfalls on a single hike, and the trail will actually take you behind four of them. It’s one of Oregon’s premier attractions.
Originally posted October 6, 2019. Updated May 12, 2022.
All photos © Alan K. Lee, except as noted.