View full sizeCrystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is one you could visit on National Public Gardens Day.Today, Friday May 11, is
. Held every year on the Friday before Mother's Day, its purpose is to draw folks to the more than 500 public botanic gardens and arboretums around the country. If you visit one of the public gardens today (or any day), take a minute to think of the ways in which these places have been instrumental in promoting conservation, education and environmental preservation.
The National Public Gardens Day website has lots of information, including
the
.
The website says "more than 500 botanic gardens, arboreta, educational gardens, farm gardens, historical landscapes, zoos, museum gardens, and other members of the
(APGA) will be celebrating National Public Gardens Day each in their own way. To locate a garden near you, go to the APGA website's
."
One of the gardens planning special events locally is Leach Botanical Garden. Celebrate
, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, May 11. Garden curator Courtney Vengarick will lead guided garden tours at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Stories about founders, John and Lilla Leach, will be told in the stone manor house. A draft landscape design for the new upper garden will be on display.
Other local gardens you might visit:
CONNIE HANSEN GARDEN CONSERVANCY: 541-994-6338
CRYSTAL SPRINGS RHODODENDRON GARDEN: 503-771-8386
ELK ROCK GARDENS OF THE BISHOP'S CLOSE: 503-636-5613
HOYT ARBORETUM: 503-865-8733
INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN: 503-823-3636
LAKEWOLD GARDENS: 253-584-4106
THE OREGON GARDEN: 503-874-8100, 877-674-2733
PORTLAND CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN: 503-228-8131
PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN: 503-223-1321
-- Homes & Gardens of the Northwest staff