THE RHODODENDRON GARDEN IN EUGENE, OREGON Guest Post by Caroline Hatton at The Intrepid Tourist

The Rhododendron Garden in Eugene, Oregon

My friend Caroline Hatton, a frequent contributor to this blog, took these photos of the Eugene Rhododendron Garden in May 2022.

When a couple of friends visited my husband and me in Eugene in May 2022, our walk together through the Rhododendron Garden was a hit for those of us who love plants, as well as for those of us who love endless geek talk.

Hendricks Park in Eugene, Oregon, home of the Rhododendron Garden

The Rhododendron Garden is at the north end of Hendricks Park, a forested, hilly city park surrounded by curving residential streets, a few blocks above the University of Oregon campus.

Rhododendron Garden footpath

A sign identifies the garden, “established in 1951 in cooperation with the Eugene Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.” A maze of footpaths, under tall, native Oregon White Oaks and Douglas Firs and among native ferns, leads from some Rhododendrons the size of beach balls to others larger than garden sheds.

Rhododendron ‘Umpqua Chief’ x ‘Fawn’ hybrid

Some Rhododendrons originated in far-away countries, others as horticultural hybrids.

Rhododendron ‘Horizon Lakeside’ Hybrid

Different Rhododendron species blossom at different times in the Spring and produce flowers of different colors, with the peak blooming time in April and May.

Other flowers, planted or not, splash more color everywhere.  

Diverse shrubs, trees, and vines add layers and shades of green, and in some months, more flowers.

Tranquility is protected by limited parking. The volunteers who help care for the garden don’t manicure it, preserving its secret-garden charm. Twenty scattered benches are available for geeks to sit and chat nonstop while waiting for their respective plant lovers to take photos.

 

All text and photos, copyright Caroline Arnold. www.theintrepidtourist.blogspot.com