Portland, Oregon -- Duniway Lilac Garden

I have been wanting to check out the lilac garden while it was in bloom since around 2012. Walking down Terwilliger Road to where it joins with Sam Jackson Parkway, I noticed this sign.

The garden dates back to 1935 and contains hundreds of lilacs. Even a utility box can look fancy in that setting.

I had been wondering about parking. Certainly TriMet is an option, with routes 8 and 68 both stopping nearby, but there is a lot across from the Shell station, on the opposite side of the street. I think the majority of the visitors were parking there.

I actually started from Barber (Route 12), going around Duniway Track and Park, which has a path connecting. There is more park, with several horseshoe pits. I would not recommend that route, except that the area is so beautiful.

Around the track there are many dogwood trees, and then as you come up more around Marquam Gulch there are taller, greener trees. Then, as you approach the lilacs themselves, even before you see them there is the heavenly scent.

Then you get there, and there are so many lilacs.

There are shrubs of different shades and heights and thicknesses.

They are clustered in small groupings, and in a large circle, and spread out.

I have no idea how carefully planned the arrangement was, but I found it very pleasing.

It is really a fairly small section of a larger green space. For most months of the year, it would just be more green space.

Sometimes timing is everything.

Other plants are around and add some nice accents, but you cannot forget the real star at this time of year.

There should be at least some blooms up through June. I used the Facebook page to check.

Actually there are two Facebook pages. Neither are great, but not a lot of information was needed.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Duniway%20Lilac%20Park/123640401048353/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The%20Lilac%20Garden%20at%20Duniway%20Park,%20Portland%20Oregon/218622388525645/ 

For more on the history, see https://www.portlandpf.org/the-lilac-garden-at-duniway-park.