Journalist By Nature: Our Oregon Garden

Vista from The Oregon Garden

Tucked snuggly and unobtrusively into the foothills of the Cascade Range just south of Silverton, Oregon grows an 80 acre botanical garden, the creative and ultimate solution to a sewage problem. At its pre-opening in 1999 it was barely the three-dimensional reality of a paper map. Only the most basic bare bones structure of pathways and intended plant displays were evident as my children raced along the open walkways, visiting the Survival Oak, an ancient tree sacred to local Indians of centuries ago. The garden necessitated a vivid imagination to foresee its future structure. For the background story, see this link, here and here.

Today the garden is a young adult in plant years, not yet fully developed in scope but certainly well on its way. Mature trees and shrubbery sit in packed residence, surrounded by little paths that allow visitors to view the plants from all sides and stimulate takeaway ideas for their own properties or projects. Volunteers, pruners in hand, are knowledgeable to answer questions about the displays. The original bare 16-tiered sewage treatment experiment is now successfully camouflaged by lush filtering plants that turn waste water into a clean irrigation source.

the Rain Curtain

Water features such as the Rain Curtain, the Axis garden, the Bosque and the Rose Petal Fountain as well as strategically placed drinking fountains, pools and ponds provide that liquid sight and sound so necessary in a garden. Fish, fowl and thirsty foot traffic take advantage of these spots. The Silverton Market Garden highlights many of the Willamette Valley's commercial crops such as wine and table grapes, hops, berries of all sorts, hazelnuts, figs, fruit trees and row crops. A chicken coop in the center of the raised bed area lends a gentleman farmer touch to the scene.

View to the orchard

Although primarily a perennial garden with seasonal blooming, the colorful massed annual plantings add that blast of summer exuberance that only they can provide. Think patio pots on steroids. Statuary large and small, ironwork tables and chairs, Monet garden benches, boulders and arches fit discreetly into the landscape for decor and resting. Picnics and dogs are encouraged throughout the garden. A free tram runs frequently throughout this plant paradise hauling passengers through the exhibits while a driver/narrator dishes out interesting tidbits of history, humor and plant highlights. If you're there for the hike you can put several miles on your shoes by exploring every pathway!

Educational exhibits and events furnish opportunities for students of any age to learn more about forest management, 147 Oregon commercial crop varieties, cultivation techniques and conservation awareness. Scheduled entertainment such as nightly music gigs, holiday fireworks, a Christmas ice skating rink, the Brewfest and special days for seniors, kids and professionals pull in over 90,000 visitors a year, not an insignificant number but far behind that of other Oregon tourist destinations. This makes for uncrowded visits and a feeling of broad personal space. Nonetheless, the marketing side of the garden keeps a fully stocked event calendar busy 365 days a year. The J. Frank Schmidt Jr. Pavillion, a 20,000 square foot event facility, is available for rent.

Oriental poppy field along the route

Whether a professional landscape designer or a populist tourist, the Oregon Garden is a destination for plant lovers everywhere. It is Our Garden in that it showcases, in a compact area, so much of what contributes to the Pacific Northwest's verdant and enticing ambiance. Take a morning and a picnic, the kids, your dogs, out-of-town guests and relatives or a neighbor and tour the Oregon Garden. You won't be disappointed and you might just pick up a plant or two at the sale table. Take the back roads to Silverton for a pastoral junket through rolling hills and vast stretches of multi-cropped farmland. Many of the Garden's exhibits can be viewed in acreage settings this way. Happy exploring!