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The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park just to the west of downtown Portland, Oregon. On clear days, the garden offers a good view of the Portland skyline with Mount Hood in the background.
The garden was established in 1917 and is operated by Portland Parks and Recreation. The garden includes a sidewalk which recognizes each Rose Festival queen with a bronze star. Portland's Japanese Garden is nearby and well known. Parking can be difficult on sunny days, but the park is easily reachable via TriMet.
Volunteers care for the roses that are planted there, which include a large number of varieties. The roses usually bloom in April when the weather starts to get sunnier and warmer.
History Portland's International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. In 1917, three prominent nurserymen met in Portland and decided that it was the perfect spot for an American Test Garden. Portland was fortunate in having a group of civic-minded citizens who took over the task of its establishment. Since it had 200 miles of rose-bordered streets, Portland had already been dubbed "City of Roses," and this was a perfect opportunity to enhance this reputation. Between Portland Parks & Recreation and the American Rose Society, the garden soon became a reality.
Jessie Currey, president of Portland's Rose Society at the time, petitioned for the city to serve as a safe haven for hybrid roses grown in Europe during World War I. Rose lovers feared that these unique plants could be destroyed in the bombing. Foreign hybridists sent roses for test from many countries and the garden was an immediate success. Today, Portland is the only North American city that can issue its awards to roses of merit throughout the world.
The park is quite large and includes an amphitheater, which is used for many events throughout the year. In addition, there are two noteable areas within the park of interest to locals and tourists:
Shakespeare Garden Located in the southeast corner of the International Rose Test Garden and containing botanicals mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare, this garden features a formal walkway, a raised sitting area, and immaculately tended flora.
Gold Medal Garden Located in the International Rose Test Garden, this formal garden features award-winning roses, walkways, a central fountain, and a raised, covered area.
See also
External links - Portland Rose Society (http://portlandrosesociety.org/)
- Portland Parks and Recreation (http://www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/)
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