Colorful Gardens and Flower Farms in the Willamette Valley
For decades, Willamette Valley farmers have cultivated nutrient-rich soils along the Willamette River and in the shadow of two mountain ranges. We’re known the world over for our wines and hazelnuts, but flower farms and gardens are an essential—and vivid—piece of our agricultural puzzle.
Every spring and summer, family farms open their fields to visitors, welcoming them to peruse hundreds of acres of tulips, irises, dahlias, peonies, and other beautiful blooms. We’re even home to a world-class herb garden just outside Corvallis. So as you start planning your weekend getaways, here are a few farms and festivals to inspire a colorful detour.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival (March-April) and Summer Flowers (July-August)
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is perhaps the biggest and best-known flower festival in the Willamette Valley, and it’s easy to see why. Every spring, roughly between late March and the end of April, millions of tulips blossom throughout roughly 40 vibrant acres of fields near Woodburn and Wilsonville. Walk through the fields for picture-perfect photo ops, grab fresh-cut tulips at an on-site shop, savor fresh fare from local food vendors, take a hot air balloon ride up to 3,000 feet above the fields, and let the little ones enjoy a number of kid-friendly activities. Aim for a weekday visit to enjoy a bit more solitude.
In recent years, Wooden Shoe's Summer Flowers festival has joined the fray. In July and August, you're invited to walk among 30 acres of seasonal blooms, including cosmos, zinnias, and massive sunflowers. Each ticket includes a free hayride to and from the fields, as well as access to photo props for that perfect shot, hot air balloon rides at sunrise, an on-site market, and more.
The Thyme Garden (April-August)
For more than 30 years, the family-owned Thyme Garden has established itself as a premier purveyor of herbs in the Willamette Valley. Roughly 20 miles southwest of Corvallis, the garden grows more than 10,000 herb starts—many of which are sold on-site. Peruse more than 650 varieties of specialty herbs, one of the region's largest such collections, in more than 250 raised beds. Selections range from basil, mint, and parsley to medicinal herbs and even hops for home-brewing.
The Thyme Garden is a fun stop any time between April and August, but it never feels more alive than during seasonal events, including the Earth Day Jubilee in April, the Art in the Garden Mother's Day Festival every May, and the Fall Salmon Celebration in November. Learn more about visiting other farms near Corvallis.
Adelman Peony Gardens (April-June)
From about late April to mid-June, bask in the beautiful blooms at Adelman Peony Gardens just north of Salem. At the family-owned farm, roughly 250 peony varieties captivate visitors, with the farm’s 30 acres usually reaching peak bloom around Memorial Day. Other highlights include a two-acre display garden, indoor displays, and cut flowers for purchase.
Iris Blooms at Schreiner’s Gardens (May)
Between Salem and Woodburn, Schreiner’s Gardens heralds the arrival of spring every May with its annual Bloom Season Event—putting its intricate iris plants front and center.
As part of the festival, visitors are encouraged to walk among fields adorned in iris blooms of pink, purple, yellow, and myriad other splashy hues; the nursery, a Willamette Valley fixture since 1925, grows hundreds of varieties of the picturesque plant. Other highlights include fresh bouquets available for purchase, on-site food and beverage vendors, and inspirational display gardens.
Newberg Lavender Trail (July-August)
Around Newberg, lavender isn't just one of the many crops that farmers tend to throughout the year; it's a cause for celebration and a sure sign that summer is here.
To mark the flower’s fragrant arrival, the Newberg Lavender Trail brings together roughly two-dozen stops that celebrate the bright purple plant in a variety of creative ways. Throughout July, the fun includes u-pick lavender and hands-on wreath-making classes at Wayward Winds Lavender; fresh-cut bouquets at local markets; lavender-infused coffee, cookies, ice cream, and more at home-grown eateries; and the long-running Willamette Valley Lavender Festival & Plein Art Show—a two-day fair with art, food, crafts, and more.
The self-guided nature of the trail means you can pick and choose the stops that sound the most fun and which fit your time constraints. And while the trail itself wraps up in July, blooms may linger at local farms well into August. While you’re in the area, check out hip ideas for day trips around Newberg and McMinnville nearby.
Swan Island Dahlias (August-September)
No matter the variety, the dahlia is a beloved summer bloom, admired for the intricacy and size of its petals. Every August and September, that makes the Swan Island Dahlia Festival an essential stop near Canby.
Enjoy dazzling views of more than 370 varieties of dahlia across nearly 40 acres, grab a bite from a local food cart, listen to live music on weekends, purchase a pre-cut bouquet to liven up your home, and (with pre-registration) take classes on dahlia care, art, and other engaging topics. Visitors with red-green color blindness can even pick up a pair of loaner EnChroma glasses, designed to enhance color perception by filtering light and adjusting color wavelengths; that means visitors see more vibrant, accurate colors. Learn more about the festival and other fun stops on a day trip around Canby and Woodburn.
Please note: The dates for these seasonal gardens are estimates, as bloom season can be impacted by weather conditions; be sure to check with the organizers for current conditions and operating hours.
