Washington Park: International Rose Test Garden

Portland's history as the City of Roses goes back at least as far as Georgina Pittock's start of a rose society in 1889. It is not just that she had the idea, but that so many people embraced it. (The name apparently came in 1905 with the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration where there were roses everywhere.)

That perhaps makes it less surprising that during WWI, Oregon Journal Sunday editor and rose hobbyist Jesse Currey proposed a "test garden" to preserve European (international?) hybrid roses. And thus the rose garden was born.

It is a scenic area anyway, with a nice lawn and amphitheater, and beautiful walkways.

One of the improvements that came with the 100th anniversary was increased attention to accessibility. This includes not just easier paths in some places, but also helpful information about grades.

Of course there are other flowers, and you can find beauty at any time of year.

You will still see a definite difference between when the roses are not in bloom...

... and when they are.

https://www.portland.gov/parks/washington-park-international-rose-test-garden