Portland’s nickname is the City of Roses, and this hillside in Washington Park is the reason why. The International Rose Test Garden, founded in 1917 as a refuge for European roses threatened by World War I, now grows more than 10,000 bushes across 610 varieties — and every June it explodes into the most fragrant landmark in Oregon.
Terraced rows cascade toward a postcard view: downtown Portland below and Mount Hood floating on the horizon on clear days. Gardeners from around the world send new rose varieties here to be tested for the Gold Medal awards, so a stroll doubles as a preview of tomorrow’s gardens.
The Shakespeare Garden, the Royal Rosarian Garden and the miniature rose beds each have their devotees, and the whole garden is free — maintained by the city and an army of volunteer pruners. Peak bloom runs June through October, with the first great flush in mid-June.
Bring someone you like and a picnic. In Portland, happiness smells like roses.
