Great Weekend Getaway to Oregon

Oregon has a "best kept secret" and I want to blab all about it so that it is no longer a mystery.  The reason I want to brag about this spectacular weekend getaway is because it is breathtaking, beautiful, filled with adventure and an incredible place to take your entire family for a weekend of fun and education.

Nestled along the foothills of the Cascade Mountain range, in the small but truly quaint town of Silverton, you will find the amazing Oregon Gardens.  Larger than Buchardt Gardens in Victoria, BC and about the same distance away from Sumner/Bonney Lake, these gardens are filled with flowers, plants and trees native to the northwest.  Here will you find over 100 acres of water features, old oak groves, and fragrant flowers spread across the garden grounds.

The history and development of these gardens has been part of a long journey.  It is important for me to share part of that history in order for you to come to appreciate what we have so close to our own back yard. 

One of the main focal points is a 400 year old oak tree located in the Oak Grove; serving as the center piece of the Garden as it is firmly rooted into the hillside overlooking the Willamette Valley. In the 1940's, the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) began comtemplating the idea of a botanical garden. 

Sometimes, the best ideas require a longer gestation than expected, in order to become something grand and spectacular.  And, that is the journey the Oregon Gardens had to take.  It took another 40 years before the City of Salem contacted the OAN asking them to consider creating a botanical display garden.  Once again, the journey was extended until the OAN made the Oregon Botanical Gardens one of their first long term goals in 1990.  By 1993, a task force formed to create and conceptualize the plan.

In 1994, the newly founded Oregon Nurserymen's Garden Foundation held their first meeting.  One year later, the City of Silverton was selected as the new site for the future gardens.  The Garden Foundation formed the historic public/private agreement paving the way for the creation of The Oregon Garden. The partnership included the development of a wetland system to recycle the city's treated wastewater.  By 1996, the master plan was created and the ground breaking took place on my mother's birthday, June 27, 1997.  This was about the time I moved to this area and began volunteering my time at the Oregon Gardens.

Between 1999 and 2001, many new areas of the garden were developed and dedicated. These included:  J Frank Schmidt Jr. Pavillion, Native Oak Grove, Wetlands, Conifer Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden, Hughes Water Garden, Northwest Water Garden, Bosque, and the Chez Garden.  Finally on the weekend of June 29, 2001 The Oregon Garden held their grand opening which included the dedication of the Silverton Market Garden.

Over the course of the next few years, many more wonderful sections and features were added beginning with the Frank Lloyd Wright built Gordon House (there is quite a story as to how this home made its way to the Oregon Garden).  This was followed by the Rediscovery Forest, NREC Building dedication, the Pet Friendly Garden, Visitors Center, Sensory Garden, Honor Garden, and finally the Lewis and Clark Garden.

The Garden had a few paid employees at this time but was mostly supported by the many upon many dedicated volunteers who could see the promise of these Gardens.  Having been one of those people, I am so proud to be able to share my recommendation to all of you as I encourage you to pay a visit to this part of Oregon.

The Oregon Gardens boasts Forestry Programs, a Junior Garden Program, a Garden University, Education Programs and Green/Tour Guides.  Trams are available to take visitors to each garden location.  In addition, the Garden hosts weddings, flower shows, quilt shows and Santa's Workshop.  In the summer, you can enjoy an outdoor concert in the Amphitheater and this year they added movie nights in the Garden.

In 2006, Moonstone Garden Management assumed the running of the Oregon Gardens; breaking ground for the Oregon Garden Resort and Spa in 2007.  In 2008 the resort opened its doors to the public.  The resort has 103 rooms, is pet friendly and has internet access in each room. 

Depending upon how you book your reservation and when, room rates can start at about $90 which can include tickets into the Gardens (This was a recent special rate I received in an email).  When not visiting the Gardens, you can relax by taking one of the many spa treatments or simply enjoy the view of the Willamette Valley. 

While in Silverton, I highly recommend you take a tour of the downtown.  Known for their Normal Rockwell murals, First Fridays, Saturday Garden Market, incredible cuisine in the local restaurants and their unique shops, Silverton has no shortage on things to see and do.  Located just a short drive from Silverton are Silver Falls.  Here you can take a 10 mile hike to see 10 waterfalls; two of which you can walk behind.

Truly, if you desire a destination weekend getaway, Silverton and the Oregon Gardens are the places to check out.  To view more information on the Oregon Gardens, please go to http://www.oregongarden.org/Gardens.htm.  This is an experience you will long remember as even after 7 years away, I still pine to take a walk through Rediscovery Forest or the Oak Grove. Perhaps if given the chance to return to Oregon and the small town of Silverton, there would be no second thoughts whatsoever. 

Information and photographs provided courtesy of The Oregon Garden website.