gardens & greenhouses

The Salem area is one of the top places in Oregon to tour vibrant gardens and intriguing greenhouses. Here’s how to soak up the region’s botanical beauty all year long.

Don’t miss the blooming cherry blossoms in State Capitol State Park each spring. They’re conveniently adjacent to Willson Park, which features fountains, plants and an Oregon World War II memorial in the form of a 33-foot-tall obelisk.

The volcanic soil of the MidWillamette Valley feeds Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, 8 miles north of downtown Salem. Here 500 varieties of irises bloom on 10 acres — not just purple but white, red, blue, copper and even black. Visitors can see the award-winning bounty for themselves between Mother’s Day Weekend and May 31 — typically the high season for iris blooms. Stop by the gift shop and take a bit of color home with you or browse gifts for your favorite gardener.

The 80-acre Oregon Garden in Silverton is a must-see for visitors with a green thumb. The gentle hills are landscaped with a series of distinct gardens, as well as art, water features, and a children’s garden with a hobbit house and tree fort. Pop into the lovely cafe and restaurant for lunch. The garden is open year-round and each season is wonderful.

With 220 varieties of colorful dahlias growing on two and a half acres just 30 minutes south of Salem, family-owned Frey’s Dahlias in Turner is one of the largest dahlia gardens in Oregon and a must-stop for tubers, cut flowers and plants. The field is open for self-guided wanderings from August to midOctober. Go ahead, pick a bouquet for yourself.

Greens Bridge Gardens in Jefferson, a stone’s throw from Frey’s, is famous for its U-pick produce — but the small town is also known as the “Mint Capital of the World.” A scenic drive alongside the rolling mint fields is a fragrant treat.

West of Salem, Delbert Hunter Arboretum in Dallas offers visitors a unique opportunity to see a living museum of native plants. The arboretum is home to Oregon flora and fauna ranging from wetlands to rock gardens and rare shrubs and flowers. Benches are scattered throughout the arboretum so you can sit and enjoy the splendor.

The Schreiner Family

When siblings Bob, Connie and Gus Schreiner moved to Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 1947, they knew it offered the ideal soil and climate to grow their budding family flower business. Within six years, Schreiner’s Iris Gardens began receiving awards for its cultivated irises. By the 1970s, Schreiner’s 15-acre plot had grown to 200 acres. When the siblings passed, the next generation of Schreiners entered the business, and Gus’ grandson Ben became the latest Schreiner to join the farm in 2016. Although the Schreiner torch has been passed for four generations, the farm’s 10-acre display garden sits atop the original Schreiner parcel purchased in 1947. (SchreinersGardens.com)

Tour These Historic Greenhouses

BUSH HOUSE

Tour the historic house and grounds while steeping yourself in 19th-century life. The 1882 conservatory is the second oldest in the West, and the rose garden explodes with color every June and July.

GAIETY HOLLOW

Check out the impeccable garden of Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, who founded the first women-owned landscape architecture firm in the Pacific Northwest in 1929. From May through September, the garden blooms with an ever-changing array of color, from azaleas to zinnias.

DEEPWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS

After touring the historic mansion, walk the nature trails, discover the exotic plants in the greenhouse, and marvel at the Lord and Schryver-designed formal gardens.

farms & markets

The world knows the Willamette Valley is famous for growing wine grapes, but locals know the fertile soil grows so much more. Nearly any day of the week, you can gather a bounty of just-picked fruits and vegetables at one of the area’s thriving farmers markets. Every Saturday from April through October, the Salem Saturday Market bursts with more than 150 vendors just one block from the Salem Capitol Mall. Load up on local berries, artisan nut butters, and handmade goods like goat-milk soap and jewelry. Smaller versions of the market pop up around town every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you’re out wine tasting in the country, you can stop by the Independence Farmers Market in Independence for picnic provisions and handmade gifts.

Farm Stands

At the area’s family-run farm stands, you can go straight to the source and take a tour, pick up produce grown just yards away, and maybe grab a milkshake or fresh pastry to take along for the ride. In Gervais, Bauman’s Farm and Garden is a must-visit. Going strong since 1895, it also operates a plant nursery, cidery and bakery. Snack on apple-cider doughnuts, pick up a hanging basket of flowers and try a new bottle of hard cider for your next picnic. EZ Orchards in Salem is a summer favorite thanks to its thick milkshakes and smoothies, but the decadent shortcakes heaped with berries are the biggest draw. The market also sells fresh produce and gourmet items.

Farm Tours

The self-guided Marion Farm Loop showcases 24 area farms that are perfect for family and friend outings any time of year. Along the loop, Minto Island Growers offers U-pick organic carrots and strawberries, plus salads and pizzas from their food cart. Rooted in tradition and steeped in sustainable practices, the farms, restaurants, wineries and distilleries along the Great Oaks Food Trail showcase opportunities to meet the farmers, tour the grounds and take home their delicious treats.

Home to ice cream cones, snacks and cute farm animals, Fir Point Farms in Aurora is always a big hit with kids. Plus, the market is stocked with locally made jams and syrups. Taste more than a dozen types of honey at Flying Bee Ranch in Salem, including varieties like pumpkin, star thistle and meadowfoam. How about some tea with that honey? Minto Island Tea Company in South Salem, one of the only farm-scale organic tea growers in the country, offers occasional open-house visits and private tours for groups of at least 10 people.