PORTLAND, Ore. — Spring officially begins on Wednesday but the much-anticipated flower blooms to mark the season are a bit behind in Portland. While floral enthusiasts will have to wait a couple of weeks to see the full force of spring blossoms, there are still plenty of scents and scenery to take in right now.
Tuesday’s sunshine and warm temperatures had many Portlanders coming out of hibernation. Myrna Hasle and Dieter Schoene decided to soak up some sun at Washington Park.
“We couldn't stay inside on a day like this,” Hasle said. “It is so beautiful right now that we would just encourage everybody to experience it.”
“The park is such a gift to Portland and what a fascinating thing to have right outside your door,” Schoene said.
Kathy Greenberg took advantage of the warmest day of the year thus far by heading to Portland Nursery. She is an avid gardener who is ready to get planting.
“Very excited and happy to come out of such a crazy winter,” Greenberg said. “Just seeing the bulbs pop up and it’s a cheery time for us Northwesterners.”
Nothing welcomes in the new season like spring blossoms, but winter’s last bite has put the area’s flourishing florals behind schedule.
“It’s a big one. We had a late cold snap that really delayed blooming of a lot of plants. So, there’s a little bit of delay, but I have confidence that they will be blooming pretty soon” Parks Maintenance Supervisor for Portland Parks and Recreation Seth Menser said.
About two weeks away from the big bloom, but you can find flowers popping up all over the city and its parks right now.
“We're seeing a lot of rhododendrons coming out right now, we're seeing daffodils all over the place, we're seeing camellias, we're seeing a lot of witch hazels that are also in full bloom,” Menser said.
As for gardeners itching to flex their green thumb – there are some cold crops you can start putting in the ground now, such as peas. However, experts say you should wait on warm weather crops like tomatoes and basil.
“A little bit of caution goes a long way for us in Portland this time of year. It's not unheard of to have a frost Mother's Day weekend,” General Manager of Portland Nursery Suzy Hancock said.
The chance for another round of cold weather did not slow down business at the nursery. The parking lots were full Tuesday with smiling shoppers ready for their spring plants.
While you may want to use some discretion when planting outdoors this time of year, Hancock says there is plenty you can do to prepare your garden for warmer weather.
“Right now, I would say the most important thing to be doing in the garden is clearing away any leftover debris, cleaning out your garden from the winter,” Hancock said.
There are plenty of options to see and sniff bountiful bougets of beauty around Portland. Here are some of the top spots KGW viewers suggested.
- Tryon Creek State Park: 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland, OR 97219
- Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden: 5801 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
- Hoyt Arboretum: 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221
- Portland Rose Garden: 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
- Waterfront Park: 98 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
- Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm: 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071. Keep in mind Tulip Fest at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, begins Saturday, March 23 and runs through April 29.
Travel Portland has a list of other popular destinations to see the best blooms around Portland. For bonus points, they also have a great. For bonus points, they also have a great wildflower guide for those who are extra adventurous.