Portland has some beautiful gardens, several of which theTravelsketcher and I have enjoyed visiting this spring. Here are the links to the ones we’ve seen so far:
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
My personal favorite is Leach Botanical Garden. This beautiful, sixteen acre property was originally the home of high school sweethearts, John and Lilla Leach, who purchased a 4 acre (1.6 hectare) portion of the plot in the early 1930s for just $10.00.
John attended Oregon Agricultural College where he earned a degree in pharmacology. Lila attended University of Oregon and earned a degree in botany. They completed most of the landscaping work themselves with the help of landscape architect, Wilbert Davies.
They named the property Sleepy Hollow and built this charming stone cottage there near Johnson Creek, where they enjoyed spending weekends.
They later built a larger house that was their home until the mid 1970s, when it became too difficult for them to maintain.
After their deaths, the property was acquired by the City of Portland and is currently open to the public. Additional acreage was added to the garden after the city acquired the property.
In 2021 an elevated tree walk, arbor and some interesting benches were added.
Life begins the day you start a garden. – Chinese Proverb
The gardens are located at 6704 SE 122nd Ave., Portland, OR 97236, and are open Wednesdays – Sundays from 10am – 4pm. There is a small admission fee. The Manor House is available to rent for special occasions.
Be sure to check out theTravelsketcher’s post which includes a little history of May Day, which is today!
As always, I would love to hear from you so leave a comment if you like.
Happy spring!
Tricia
Travels Through My Lens 
Hmm, I can see why this is your favourite garden in Portland. How incredible is that Giant Sequoia tree. I like elevated tree walks in botanical gardens – it gives a completely different impression of the garden when you view it from above. Love the absolute green but also splashes of colour in your photos.
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I love the Sequoia; it’s so magnificent, but a little on the small side compared to the ones in the Redwood Forest in Northern California. Thanks so much, Corna, I always appreciate your comments!
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What a stunning garden! Wonderful.
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It is a treasure. Thanks!
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Happy May Day, Tricia! That garden is a perfect way to honour it – so lovely. Cheers.
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Thank you, Lynette! Agreed; it’s a perfect day to visit a garden. I hope you have a lovely day too!
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Thank you, yes. Lovely weather.
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I can see why this is your favourite, dear Tricia. The gardens look like a wonderful place for relaxing walks. I love the charming stone cabin, well-maintained trails along the creek and the truly magnificent Giant Sequoia trees. University College Cork features multiple mature giant sequoias, and though not native to Ireland, the trees thrive in our mild temperatures and high rainfall. I only wish we had more of them. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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