instepwithcolleen

One of the best places in Portland, Oregon to go to relax is the Portland Oregon Test Gardens. The gardens are located off SW Park Drive. They over look the city, and in the distance you can see Mt. Hood. I have gone to the gardens countless times over the years. As a matter of fact, my husband actually asked me to marry him right there; in the far distant past.
As I was doing some research for this article I found out just how ignorant I was concerning The Rose Gardens. Here are a few things I found out. First off, In 1888 Georgiana Pittock, who was the wife of Henry Pittock, a wealthy businessman invited her fiends and neighbors to exhibit their best roses in a tent set up in her garden. This event was so popular that it became an annual activity. It is recognized as the first rose show of the Portland Rose Society.
In 1905, 20 miles of streets were bordered with roses, in honor of the Centennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was at this time Portland became known as the “City of Roses”.
The annual Rose Festival activities includes a parade, which began in 1907. The first parade was reigned over by Queen Flora; Carrie Chamberlain. Carrie was the daughter of the governo of Oregon. From 1908 through 1913 instead of a Queen, the Rose Parade was reigned over by an upstanding male citizen known as Rex Orgonus. The Queens once again began reigning over ‘Rosaria’ in 1914.
Though the world was entrenched in The Great War during 1917, Jesse Currey who was the president of the Portland Rose Society, was able to convince the city fathers that Portland should establish a rose test garden. Hybridists throughout The world sent their roses to Portland. Many of the roses enjoyed on visits to the gardens now, are distant relatives of those earlier plants. Portland is the only test garden in North America that is allowed the privilege of granting a Gold Medal to those few roses that have passed the requirements to be honored as a gold medal winner.
In 1931 it was decided that each highschool would pick one representative, from these girls, one would become the Queen of ‘Rosaria’. Her name at the end of Rose Festival would placed upon a plaque, and find itself positioned on “The Queen’s Walk”, within the garden. In 1951, The Queen’s Walk was established within the test gardens to honor all those individuals who ruled since 1907 as the queen of Rosaria. I think of those six years when Rex Orgonus reigned, but was never remembered. I think they wonder the gardens with the queens of Rosaria. I think they compare the changes that occurred over the years.
Over the years the Rose Gardens have matured, and spread out. The oldest section is the Shakespearean Garden. Here you will find a cement bench brick paths to wonder down, tree lined walkways where the fragrance of the garden mingle with one another..
I go to the gardens in the early evening, and like all the photographers in the past set up my tripod and try to capture that one perfect shot of the essence of the rose. I go there to think and relax. I think of those other individuals who strolled and laughed, and enjoyed a picnic, as they listened to a Sunday concert. We are all alike in the sense that we want to set aside the concerns of the hustle of daily life.
Remember this, we each need to find a place to unwind. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have the Rose Gardens to enjoy, then find some place else. Like those long gone individuals, what is important is to unwind and relax, and reconnect with your inner self. Good luck in your quest. Until later… Colleen