Springtime Feast for the Eyes
For years, I had heard about the amazing burst of color that takes place every spring at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, located just outside of Woodburn near Salem.
So when I had a meeting at the nearby Oregon Garden Resort in mid-April, I decided to take advantage of the 80 degree weather and good timing to make a stop of a lifetime.
Heading out in the early morning sunshine, the blue skies shone done brightly, and I had my windows down welcoming in the warm breezes as I made my way past verdant Willamette Valley fields. Mt. Hood and the darker ridge line of the Cascade Mountains stood on the distant horizon to the east… and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to be exploring a new part of Oregon.
Arriving right at opening time, I rolled into the parking lot at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, and was greeted by a friendly older gentleman who took my admission fee. He gave me the overview of the place, and handed me a gorgeous catalog of their tulips. After thanking him, I peeked past out to the field, anxious to get out and get my camera clicking. I could just see a pastel of color in the near distance that looked dazzling.
Immediately, I hopped on the tram which trundled out towards the glittering fields. I couldn’t believe my eyes! As far as the eye could see, a riot of color competed for my attention as row after row of flowers representing virtually every color of the spectrum spread out across the fields. The sun was at the right angle, making the blooms radiant. Thankfully, I have a digital camera so I wasn’t in danger of running out of film!
The history of the tulip farm itself began in 1974, and the Iverson family has carefully cultivated the land and their floral wares, gradually introducing in new types to bring the total number 60 varieties. The official “Tulip Festival” runs from late March through April, but can vary depending on the weather. This year, I was visiting on April 21st, which was quite late for the flowers to be blooming, but we had a decidedly colder spring than usual, which delayed the opening of the buds. The festival brings in approximately 100,000 tourists to the farm in a five-week span, so getting there early before the crowds show up is a good idea. Visitors to the farm can not only enjoy the blooms, but purchase fresh tulips to take home, enjoy the gift shop and partake of the weekend crafts booths too.
Many photos later, I had to make my way to my meeting, and headed out. Nestled in the quaint town of Silverton, the Oregon Garden is the centerpiece to Oregon’s agricultural industry. A sprawling 15-acre estate, the garden is actually composed of over 20 different specialty gardens featuring native plant species and varieties grown in the state. An added delight to the entire attraction is the Gordon House, the only Oregon location of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, which was saved from demolition by preservationists and sited on the garden grounds.
Newly opened in 2008, the Oregon Garden Resort was the location of the meeting I was heading to, and a new place for me to visit as well. A well-appointed quiet haven adjacent to this stunning botanical enclave, the resort offers an on-site spa, bright, airy rooms, and an excellent restaurant, making this an ideal getaway!
After my work was done, I decided to take the scenic route on the way home, rather than hitting the freeway. Heading north on Hwy 99E, my route took me through the quaint town of Aurora, site of a former religious colony.
Today, it is known as the heart of the hazelnut country and also a delightful historic downtown crammed full of amazing antique stores. My first stop included the Pacific Hazelnut Candy Factory, which is in a rather non-descript building off of the highway, but houses an amazing abundance of hazelnut gifts and foodstuffs. Hazelnut (or filbert, depending on where you are from) brittle, syrups, candies and seasoning cram every corner off this cute gift shop.
My arms laden full of fun gifts for the family, I continued on to the Aurora town center, and spend a little time exploring the antique shops. Many of the buildings are the original town center structures, harkening back to the early days of the settlers. There’s the old Aurora Colony Museum that chronicles the history of the area, which is fascinating.
Arriving back in the Portland metro area in the town of Oregon City, I briefly stopped at Willamette Falls. Many people don’t realize that there are some sizable falls on the Willamette River which drop 40 feet, and is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest by water volume. In the early summer, Native Americans including members of the Warm Springs nation still come to the foot of the falls and harvest the fresh-water eels (Pacific lamprey) that can be found on the rocks at the foot of the falls… a very wet and slippery task!
My trip was complete; in the short span of one day, I was able to take a few hours seeing some amazing flowers, find a culinary treasure, experience a little history, and take in a spectacular waterfall. Oh, and also attend a meeting! That’s one of the best things about living in Oregon- you can do all of these things that might otherwise seem like entire vacations unto themselves- in just one day!
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