HISTORY

In 1888, Georgiana Burton Pittock, wife of pioneer publisher Henry Pittock, invited her friends and neighbors to exhibit their roses in a tent set up in her garden. Thus began the annual rose show for Portland Rose Society. Jesse A. Currey, a former Rose Society president, convinced city fathers to inaugurate a rose test garden in 1917 with the support of the American Rose Society, City officials, and civic –minded citizens. At that time, Portland had 20 miles of rose-bordered streets – a strategy to draw attention to the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. As a result, Portland was dubbed “City of Roses”. The garden was a perfect opportunity for enhancing that reputation.

Founded in 1917, Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. In the beginning, even though World War I was raging in Europe, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland’s garden for testing and to keep the new hybrids safe from being destroyed by the bombing in Europe.

THE GOLD MEDAL GARDEN
The primary purpose of this garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. The City of Portland Gold Medal Awards are issued annually to the best introductions. The first “Gold Medal” rose award was given in 1919, making it the oldest rose testing program of its kind in the United States. Portland is the only North American city to issue such awards. These award winning varieties are planted in the Gold Medal Garden.
The terrace above the Shakespeare garden was originally planted in old garden roses. By 1959, so many Gold Award roses had crept into the terrace that it became known as the Gold Award Garden and the old garden roses were moved to another area of the garden.

With the support of the Portland Rose Society, today’s Gold Medal Garden was constructed in 1969 commemorating 50 years of Gold Medal awards in the City of Roses. In 1991, the Portland Rose Society donated the gazebo to the Gold Medal Garden, a popular spot for weddings and a wonderful vantage point from which to view the award winning roses.
Click here for a PDF of Gold Medal roses

Portland Rose Society >>

INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN
The International Rose Test Garden is also one of 24 official testing sites for the internationally respected All-America Rose Selections (AARS). The All-American Rose Selections is a non-profit association of rose growers and introducers dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. Since 1938 the AARS seal of approval has graced outstanding new rose varieties that have performed the best in the test gardens located throughout the country and representing all climate zones. AARS testing began here in Portland in 1940.

Roses currently under test in the garden are not named but are designated only by a number. The new varieties are submitted by the hybridizers to the AARS, who then distributes them to the test gardens identified only by their code number. Four plants of each entry are evaluated for two years on 14 different characteristics consumers desire in a garden plant including plant habit, vigor, disease resistance, color, flower production, form, foliage, and fragrance. About 200 rose cultivars are under test each year.

MINIATURE ROSE GARDEN
The garden is also one of only six testing grounds for the American Rose Society miniature rose test program. The national annual winners from both ARS and AARS associations are displayed in the middle of the garden along the center aisle.

SHAKESPEARE GARDEN
A popular spot found within the garden is the Shakespeare Garden. Dedicated in 1945, this garden donated by the LaBarre Shakespeare Club was originally designed to include only herbs, trees and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. Some of the trees have done so well in this garden, that their extensive shade has made it impossible to grow many of those original sun-loving plant varieties. The garden continues to honor the Bard with roses named after characters in his plays.

The informal design features graceful trees, brick walks and hundreds of annuals and perennials besides roses. Over the years, this garden has been the site for hundreds of weddings. A favorite spot for picnics, its shady lawn quickly transports visitors to faraway lands.

The focal point of the garden is a brick wall with a plaque featuring Williams Shakespeare’s image and his quote, “Of all flowers methinks a rose is best.”

QUEEN’S WALK

At the foot of the Rose Garden is the Queen’s Walk. It was established in 1952 to honor all past, present and future Queens of Portland’s Rose Festival.

The Portland Rose Festival, Oregon’s premier civic celebration, has been a Northwest tradition since 1907. Carrie Lee Chamberlain, the governor’s daughter, reigned as Queen Flora over the Festival’s inaugural year. From 1908 to 1913 a king, Rex Oregonus, ruled over the festival. The identity of this king was kept secret until revealed at the festival’s annual ball. In 1914, Thelma Hollingsworth was the first elected Queen of Rosaria. Various methods and criteria were used to select the Queens through 1930.

Beginning in 1931, the Queen has been a Portland high school senior. Each of 14 local high schools selects one ambassador (previously called princesses) who together comprises the Rose Festival Court. One court member is chosen to be the Portland Rose Festival Queen. The Queen reigns over all Rose Festival events and represents the City of Roses in her ambassadorial travels to communities near and far.

One of their greatest and longest lasting honors is when the plaque bearing her name and signature is installed in the Queen’s Walk. The reigning Queen gets a special place of honor, with her plaque being placed in the center of semi-circle of bricks which overlooks the City of Portland from the Rose Garden. Each year, at the end of her reign, the out-going Queen’s plaque is moved to the walkway to join the other monarchs who have gone before her, to make room in the overlook for the new Queen of Rosaria.

Click here for list of all Rose Festival Queens since 1907.

Click here for more information on the Portland Rose Festival and Portland Rose Festival Association.

FRANK L BEACH MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

Frank L. Beach, a rose enthusiast credited with dubbing Portland as the “City of “Roses” was honored in 1974 with the dedication of this Memorial Fountain in the rose garden.

The fountain was designed by artist Lee Kelly.

GENERAL TASKS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE

Beware treacherous late frosts and keep vulnerable plants and new shoots protected at night if frost is forecast. Don’t be tempted to put out tender bedding until the middle of the month and even then be prepared to cover it if necessary.

Continue with the spring cleaning. Hoe your borders to get rid of weeds before they take hold (ideally on a dry day to desiccate the victims) – annual weeds are enough of a nightmare without allowing them to go forth and multiply by seeding. If it’s dry, attack ground elder and the like with systemic weed killer. Remember these systemic weed killers are indiscriminate and will kill anything they contact. Dandelions are a monstrous nuisance at this time of year – if you don’t have time to deal with them terminally, at least chop their heads off before they set seed.

Water is a precious commodity – instigate good practices for watering, collect rainwater and investigate ways to recycle water for your irrigation. Automatic watering systems are economical with water, as well as convenient! The trick with watering is to water thoroughly once or twice a week rather than little and often (containers etc do need watering every day).

Mulch away while you can still see what you are doing and before the herbaceous growth really takes off. Use your own garden compost or leaf mould, well rotted manure, the contents of out-of-date grow bags or ready-made soil conditioner.

Now the soil is warming up and things are starting to grow, add general purpose fertiliser before covering with mulch especially in borders, the fruit and vegetable patch and containers. If you have already mulched, draw it back (if possible), tease the soil a little, add fertiliser and replace the mulch.

Carry on removing moss and weeds from paths, terraces and drives and keep an eye out for pests around the garden. Try to keep the use of chemical controls to a minimum – they may kill off pests, but they also kill off the beneficial insects that prey on them such as ladybirds and hoverfly larvae.

Now is the time to wage war on slugs and snails. They love tulips and delicacies such as the delicious young shoots of delphiniums and the like, so use pet-friendly slug pellets, drench the ground around hostas with liquid slug killer to exterminate slugs below the surface – all are available from the garden centre. Keep an eye out for snails and pick them off….what you do with them is up to you. Birds are your friends here – flat stones artfully located are useful accessories for birds to practise their snail bashing techniques.

Other unwelcome visitors on the move are lily beetles (bright red little darlings with black heads or their yellow larvae) and the black-spotted green caterpillars of the gooseberry sawfly. Squash meaningfully or spray with deadly chemicals.

BIRDS

Do keep putting out bird food – they quickly become accustomed to regular food supplies and it’s a real treat to see wild birds in the garden. To encourage our feathered friends to visit, provide one or two bird houses and feeding stations as well as bird food – a great for amateur and avid bird watchers alike.

TREES, SHRUBS, CLIMBERS

Ensure trees or shrubs planted in the last couple of years on lawns or in areas of rough grass have a circle of clear earth around them – this MUST be kept clear or grass will prevent essential moisture getting through. Mulching with bark or compost will help.

Hard pruned clematis should now be growing vigorously – tying the new stems in regularly will prevent a haphazard tangle of new shoots which can break easily.

Cut wispy dead wood on Japanese maples back to healthy wood – do not leave any pegs or snags.

Twist off the spent flower heads of rhododendrons and azaleas and mulch with composted bark, garden compost or leaf mold after watering if the ground is dry. Feed with an acid feed.

Feed acid loving plants such as camellias and rhododendrons with ericaceous feed if you are on neutral or alkaline soil. A dose of sequestered iron also helps prevent the leaves turning yellow. (Tip – mulch regularly with fresh or composted pine needles. This can acidify the ground slightly.)

Spray roses with fungicide to ward against black spot and mildew. Repeat every fortnight until the autumn. Remember that if an infection sets in, all the stricken leaves must be burnt – do not leave them on the compost heap as this will become the perfect incubation site. Feed with a foliar feed and beware greenfly – treat immediately if an infestation occurs – ask in the garden centre for advice as to what to use if you are unsure.

BULBS, FLOWERS, & CONTAINERS

Protect new spring shoots from frosts and slugs….

Thin annuals to prevent them becoming spindly and leggy – a gap of 6 inches between seedlings is usually about right.

Tidy up spring flowering perennials – cut off the old foliage, lift and divide large clumps and replant with plenty of water and organic fertilizer.

Deadhead narcissi and tulips as they go over and sprinkle with bonemeal or liquid foliar feed. If you can bear it, allow them to die down naturally before clearing away the foliage and lifting and splitting towards the end of the month.

Cut back spreading and trailing plants such as alyssum and aubrieta to encourage fresh growth.

If you haven’t already done so erect supports for herbaceous plants such as peonies, delphiniums and oriental poppies prone to undignified collapse. As the Horti Expert points out it’s a bit late now but better late than never – make your own supports using hazel or birch twigs for a natural look that will fade into the border as your plants grow.

Sow hardy annuals such as nasturtium, calendula and poppies in drifts – clashing colours just don’t matter in a garden, but remember to plant taller plants behind shorter ones. Sow cornflowers and larkspurs when the soil is warmer.

Tie in sweet peas using sweet pea rings or soft twine. Removing tendrils and sideshoots will result in longer stemmed flowers.

Summer bedding is now available in the centres as young plants for you to grow on – much easier than growing from seed or cuttings. Remember though, do not be beguiled by warm days – a late spring frost will wreak havoc with these plants unless protected and slowly hardened off.

Make sure pots and containers don’t dry out, especially if they are near a wall and in a sheltered position.

Plant up tubs, containers and hanging baskets for a blaze of colour throughout the summer – remember to harden tender plants off properly before exposing them to the elements.

In wheat country in the Columbia River basin, they gathered to celebrate dryland farming

MORO — The rolling hills of the Columbia Basin, the expanse just east of the Cascade Range, must have looked all right to the homesteaders who arrived in the 1870s. The lush land along the rivers and in the Willamette Valley was snapped up decades earlier by Oregon Trail pioneers, but here was wide open.

The lack of trees should have been a clue. In return for passage, the Cascades force clouds sailing in from the Pacific Ocean to dump their moisture on the west side. The new farmers would have to get by with nine to 12 inches of rain a year, less than a third of the rainfall enjoyed by their cohorts in the valley.

That fact has shaped life ever since in Sherman, Gilliam and Morrow counties, part of Wasco County and in Klickitat County across the Columbia in Washington. Farming out here is largely done dryland style, without irrigation.

They’ve tried about everything but there’s still just one crop and one method that thrives in the basin: winter wheat on summer fallow. They plant wheat in the fall and leave it to tough it out during the winter months, when the scant rain or snow falls. That’s the moisture it draws on all spring and summer, until harvest in July. The fields harvested each summer are left bare, or fallow, the next season. The rotational break allows the fields to store extra water for when it’s their turn again, and results in a patchwork landscape, vast acres of alternating brown and bright green.

It works because wheat is a “tough and very forgiving crop” and a most efficient water user, says Bill Schillinger, who’s written about it for Washington State University’s dryland research station across the river.

Despite the lack of water, the sparsely populated basin produces 60 percent of the Pacific Northwest’s wheat crop. Almost all of it is soft white wheat, exported to Japan and elsewhere in Asia and made into noodles, cookies and crackers. For all Portland’s sophistication and romance with high-tech, wheat is the leading product shipped out of the city’s port. Sherman County alone, with 1,700 people, grew 4.8 million  bushels of wheat last year — a bushel is about 60 pounds of wheat, enough to fill a five-gallon bucket.

But it’s a style of farming that requires tenacity, optimism and perspective from those who practice it, like the six generations of Thompsons who have raised wheat just outside of Moro for the past 130 years.

“I can’t say I’ve made a lot of money, but I didn’t go broke,” says a grinning Ron Thompson, 57, who farms 1,300 acres. “I’ve been farming since I was 20. I tell people that I’ve spent most of my life going three miles per hour, by myself,” driving lumbering farm equipment.

He doesn’t regret it.

“I love the growing part,” he says. “Can you imagine a 2,000 acre garden?

“It’s a family tradition,” Thompson adds with a shrug. “They made it through, and the neighbors aren’t any different.”

It’s a region that doesn’t tolerate complainers, says Steve Petrie, superintendent of Oregon State University’s Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center in Moro. “It’s people who are more resilient, more independent, more hardy and self-reliant. When you live in the middle of Sherman County, it’s a 45 minute drive to the hardware store. You don’t hop to the store to get a loaf of bread.”

That’s what they celebrated last week in Moro, although technically, it was the 100th anniversary of the research center’s founding. The event drew OSU President Ed Ray, College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Sonny Ramaswamy  and more than 100 farmers and state and federal researchers. They watched draft horse exhibitions, nodded at old wheat varieties growing in demonstration plots, looked at antique farm implements in the county’s museum and sat down for speeches and a gigantic harvest-style lunch at the high school.

It was an audience that appreciated the shared history of a hardscrabble place. Ramaswamy said it reflected the pioneer spirit. “This is what the American farmer is all about,” he said.

Petrie, the research station superintendent, displayed the first annual report filed in 1910.

The 1909 Oregon Legislature appropriated $2,500 annually for an experiment station that would “demonstrate the conditions under which useful plants may be grown on dry, arid or non-irrigated lands.” Something in addition to wheat.

The station opened the following year in Moro, chosen because the railroad passed through town and, as the county seat, it was “most likely to be visited at least once a year by practically every farmer and businessman in the county.”

The station’s mission was clear: Secure seeds of plants from around the world that might be “suitable for growth on dry lands.” Observe and record their growth, yield and composition. Furthermore, investigate and determine the “methods of soil treatment” that best conserve water.

Over the years they tried flax, sorghum, soybeans, field peas and chickpeas. Barley, mustard and spelt. They continue looking for something that will work in a planting rotation with wheat. The latest contender is camelina, which produces oil-rich seeds that can be used to make biodiesel.

Outside of Moro, heading north on Oregon 97, another alternative has sprouted in the rolling hills: line after line of towering wind turbines, blades spinning to generate electricity.

But what still works in the basin is one crop and one method. Beneath the towers, the land is bright green with the spring’s growth. Stalks rustle in the chill wind, thick heads bend with the weight of developing kernels.

Winter wheat on summer fallow.

–Eric Mortenson, The Oregonian