common_nature | International Rose Test Garden

We were only in Portland for a day but we had enough time for a few hours in the International Rose Test Garden. In fact we didn't even spend that long because it was smaller than expected and some bushes hadn't even bloomed yet (despite what the website said as mid-May being an ideal viewing time). We took about half the time we were there trying to park. It was also the most overcast morning of the trip -- we had amazing weather the rest of the time.

Nonetheless what was in bloom was lovely.

While the flowers were pretty, the overall park area seemed like a real gem for the city. We drove to the top of the hill among giant trees, and it had a great view of the city below. The rose garden itself included an open air stage and hillside seating.

Some of these blooms were enormous. I asked my friend to put her hand up to one as a comparison shot.

Although the flowers there were almost entirely roses, there were a few others in the Shakespeare Garden. I was rather disappointed in that as I'd assumed it would be a garden replicating flowers likely to be found at Shakespeare's home, but apparently it was due to the group of people who funded it.