Garden Memories

I have lived in Oregon for 6 years, but never taken the time to visit the garden. When I took my tour around the beautifully laid out garden, it really struck me why Portland is the City of Roses. The smell and sights were intoxicatingly wonderful!


Tracy D
Hood River, OR

My now Husband and I were visiting the Garden on October 14, 2002 when he popped the question. I remember the exact moment as if it were yesterday. We were walking through the garden when he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. The rose that he knelt beside was named Chivalry, and I remember thinking how perfectly the name of that rose described the wonderful man I would marry. We will be returning to the Garden this June, just after we celebrate our first Wedding Anniversary. The Rose Garden will always be such a magical place for us both.


Julie S
Tampa, FL

I planted a rose as Jr. Rose Queen in 1970. It was a very special day because I knighted my father, who died only months later. So, somewhere in the garden my Mary Poppins rose is growing (I hope) in memory of a lovely and special day in my life!


Susan A
Abbotsford, WA

I am a native of Portland now living in England. A few years ago on a trip home I visited the International Rose Test Garden to pick out a rose for my English garden. I fell in love with Just Joey. When it blooms I remember that lovely sunny day in the Rose Test Gardens. I am quick to inform my English friends of our wonderful Rose Gardens in Portland, the Rose City.


Kathleen B
Halesowen, West Midlands, OR

We first visited the Rose Gardens when we moved to Portland a year ago... I fell in love with the roses AND the lovely gift shop. This last September 29th, I took my favorite person in the whole world to the Rose Gardens once again and we became engaged amongst the beauty and sweet smells of the roses.


Carrie W
Portland, OR

Living in Iowa for 28 years now--out on the high prairie I do love it here, but I DO love the memories I have of the gentle air and the beautiful garden you maintain there in Portland. I think that I can remember picnics when I was four or five years old and then about every other year until I grew up--we LOVED the year we grew as tall as the roses but last year I saw some that were taller still!


Lou B
Churdan, IA

My most fond memory of the rose gardens were always going to them with my grandmother and my family in the summer and have picnics in the shakespeare garden and just walking around and looking at all the roses. This memory is one I hold close because of the fact that in Spring of 2004, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. She lived a very long life and got to see many great things. But I will always remember going to the rose gardens because that was one of her favorite things to do with me.
Thank you for helping me make wonderful memories:)


Emily S
Hillsboro, OR

My memory and first trip to the Rose Garden in Portland was the result of a picture from a travel magazine. Having lost my husband, I felt abandoned and alone and had to "find myself". Travel was always something people spoke of so I looked through travel magazines and Chamber of Commerce brochures. I came across a picture of Mr. Hood, taken from the Portland Rose Garden. Not having the funds, nor the inclination to travel alone, I kept that picture in my kitchen with the thought that "one day" I would stand in that very spot to view Mt. Hood. Lo and behold, my second love came along eventually. I related my desire to


wendy s
Houston, TX

My memories of the rose garden date back to 1974. I lived one block away and felt as if it were in my backyard. Everyday the children in my neighborhood would go to peninsula park to play in the rose gardens, wade in the fountain, or just play hide and seek. I believe my love of roses came from being around them so much as a child. As I grew older I started to appreciate the beauty of each rose. I moved away in 1986, but I will never forget my childhood in those rose gardens. Whenever I'm in Portland, I always take a stroll through the gardens, and make time to smell the roses.


marcie f
maui, HI

As a new airline pilot fresh out of the military in 1987 I looked forward to my first Portland layover specifically so I could see the gardens (I'd seen something about them on TV). The experience was life altering, since it inspired me to become a rosarian. I wasn't much of a gardener at that time, but after seeing the fabulous gardens and taking copious notes (even talking to one of the keepers) I was hooked on roses. I'm now a Consulting Rosarian for the ARS and have grown over 600 varieties! Thanks for the inspiration!


Catherine H
Chattanooga, TN

I visited the Portland Rose Garden, on my first trip to Oregon. I live in Louisiana, and came out to see my brother, whom I haven't seen in years. I have 14 roses of my own, so it was an honor to be surrounded by such beauty, elegance and grace. I will always treasure that day, in the Rose Garden.


Cathi P
Pineville, LA

I was born in and grew up in Ladd's addition, on Ladd street. I was so lucky to have grown up in this neighborhood. I used to roam through these rose gardens as a young boy. I can remember late in the summer when the roses were tall, my friends an I would play hide and seek in them. I remember crawling down the paths and occsionally getting pricked by a thorn. In my best childhood memories these roses are present...they always will be!


Peter H
Portland, OR

My family is originally from wisconsin but I lived in Eugene, Oregon with my parents when I was 13, for a year due to my father's job. We visited the rose garden several times and it was one of my father's favorite places, as he loved roses and always planted a beautiful rose garden of his own wherever we lived. My father passed away in 1999. Last year my 3 teenage children and I were able to take a trip out west (via Amtrak) from where we currently live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While in Portland, we originally were going to take the Columbia river gorge trip but because of connections and timing we opted to take


Patti W
Green Bay, WI

On June 20, 2008 my mom and I, just the two of us, began our first vacation/trip together ever. (All others in the past were family trips) That day we stumbled upon this beautiful Rose Garden. We just had to stop and see it, even though we were behind schedule in our trips plans. We both love roses and my middle name is Rose. It was so worth it to stop. Unfortunately I don't know when I will be there again. Thank you to the people of Portland for this beautiful garden that now has made some very special memories for me and my mom.


Anna Rose T
Broomfield, CO

I go to college in Pensacola, Florida. I always miss the Northwest so much when I'm at school. When people ask me what Portland is like I tell them about our beautiful Rose Garden first. I tell them how it sits on top of a hill over looking our gorgeous city sky line and in the distance you can see Mount Hood with its snow cap. I love it! I always visit at the end of every summer right before I go back to school. To me it is a picture of home in my mind...


Katie M
McMinnville, OR

My first date with my husband was to the Rose Gardens... a year later, we had a picnic in the Shakespeare Garden & he proposed. Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful spot for a great memory.


Jennifer A
Madison, WI

I am a Native of Portland now residing in Maryland and I continue to celebrate the Rose Festival from afar. I love the Rose Gardens and remember as a young girl my dance recitals which took place in the garden every year as we danced barefoot in the soft green grass to the music as people watched us. Everyone should experience the tranquil, gentle, and beautiful Portland Rose Gardens as it will take your breath away and it will be an experience you will never forget.


Sherry S
Abingdon, MD

It was my first visit to Portland to visit my son. He took me to the Rose Garden and all I kept saying was, this is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. He just smiled and said he agreed. He didn't want me to miss this beautiful site. The beauty is forever embedded in my memory. " Beautiful roses and my wonderful son".


Susan D
Farmington Hills, MI

I lived on East Maple St. as a young girl and walked passed one of the rose gardens each day on my way to St. Philip Neri School. My first memory of living there was attending the public kindergarten class at Abernathy school and then 1st thru 4th grade at St. Philip Neri. During this time, I learned habits that I still use today. Never pick the roses, never walk on the grass, pick up any trash and never walk through the foilage (which at the time early 70's) located at the garden circle where cars drove around the garden in a circle formation turning off to the right at various streets.


Miliss O
Madera, CA

I have loved the Rose Gardens for as long as I can remember. Every summer my husband and I visit. So when my daughter, Roselyn was born, we decided her first outing should be to the Rose Gardens. We captured so many beautiful photos of our tiny "Rose" among the roses. We decided we will make it an annual trip to record her changes through the years. Thanks for a beautiful day!!


Valerie H
Olympia, WA

I had just buried my Dad the day before I took a drive. Just to go somewhere. I didnt know where I was going but I ended up at the Rose Garden. I am a photographer as well. I had my two pups with me and my camera. It was so peaceful there. There came a lady who had a huge harp and was playing the most beautiful music. It was wonderful. Just what I needed. Then I entered one of my rose photos to BetterPhoto.com and I came in 2nd place with it out of 17,000 plus entries from around the world!


Sheri C
Reno, NV

We moved to Portland in 1979 and found out about the concerts in the Rose Gardens soon after. We have so many memories of meeting with family and friends for our Rose Garden picnics and wonderful performances. The season ended each year with the Woody Hite Big Band concert. Those were the days.

My husband and I spent many Sundays with our picnic breakfast and our books sitting in front of the Rhodies looking out over the Gardens. Something we plan on doing again soon!


Sandi H
Beaverton, OR

I went to Portland in June to visit a friend. I stayed a week and we had a great time. On the last day right before he took me to the airport, he took me to the Rose Gardens. It was absolutely breathtaking, so beautiful. As we were getting ready to leave, we walked to the top of the stairs, he stopped and pulled me into a hug. When I pulled away to start walking back to the car he told me he was not done then he kissed me....our first kiss!!! What a great place for a first kiss with an amazing man!!!


Denise L
Lyman, WY

My husband, mom, and I visited the garden the week of July 18th. It is truly a beautiful place and we so enjoyed the tour we were priviledged to take while enjoying the many beautiful roses! My husband thinks that he may have lost his sunglasses while taking pictures in the garden; have you gotten any turned in, in a case with a band around it to keep the case from opening? Hard shell glass case; black or dark blue I believe. Glass lenses. If so, please let me know! Again, we sure enjoyed our visit. We've been on several trips since visiting Portland and this was the first opportunity I've had to ask about the


Joan S
Albuquerque, NM

The Portland's Rose Gardens are the most beautiful roses with the most fragrance in all the world. In the 70's my Mother and Father would take my Sister and I here to smell the Roses and select which one we would like to plant in our on garden. JUST JOEY!!! is my wonder!! forty years and still my favorite.


Nicole L
Portland, OR

I lived in Oregon for 8 years, and I got to say I miss Penninsula Park more than anything!<3 It was amazing! Well, I'm a senior this year and when I graduate I'm coming back! I can't wait to see it again.


Christina F
Knoxville, TN

My mother, Pauline Schellhouse, attended her grandson's wedding and the bridal couple took us all there to take their pictures. She loved the roses and her favorite was the one which was scented of chocolate!!!


Lynn N
Vallejo, CA

My boyfriend and I have been together for 15 years. And on July 29, 2012 @7pm our family & friends came together in the Rose Garden to witness us taking our vowels to become husband & wife.


Leanna C
Portland, OR

I was being touristy and visited Portland for the first time a few weeks ago. I wandered the garden alone, taking pictures and smelling the flowers. I sat on the benches and used all the water fountains, even making a wish in the fountain/ structure near the entrance. Although it was quite interesting and very beautiful, I became a little bored. Then I saw the amphitheater. I was immediately in love.
"I'm gonna hold my wedding reception here some day," I breathed, and hurried to sit down. I spent the next hour looking at the extreme beauty and planning.
I will always love the amphitheater, even though liv


Audrey G
Shippensburg, PA

It's a breathtakingly stunning place... Every rose has a different scent which makes each one unique. I could spend all day long just sitting there literally "smelling the roses".


Norma R
Mexico City, ME

This Memory is for one that hasn't occurred yet . . . I will be visiting the Garden for the first time today, and I don't 'expect' anything . . . I just know this will be a special moment in time in my life ! Peace, Love, and Blessings !


Joel G
Beaverton, OR

I will never forget my first visit to the Rose Garden. I believe I was in Kindergarten. I remember feeling like I was a princess on the set of a Disney movie. I loved having the flowers surround me in every imaginable color and the scent of the garden was amazing.


Amy M
Hood River, OR

I Love photography and visited the pennincela garden with my mom. We both loved the garden and said we would come back! Unfortunatly my mom passed away quite suddenly. I did go back to the garden and was able to reflect and take in all the beauty. Thank You Portland for the gardens and the memory


Carol C
Portland, OR