In mid-April we visited the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. It’s my third visit and the first two were not while the rhododendrons were blooming. The park is always beautiful, but I was missing the main event, and finally I can say I’ve been there in the proper season.
Entrance to the park is $8.95, and I find that to be a reasonable price to experience this 9.5 acre garden established in 1950. There seem to be equal numbers of rhododendrons and azaleas, with a satisfying variety of species. There are also many additional kinds of interesting trees, plants, and shrubs, three waterfalls and a large lake with ducks and geese.
I will not write much in this one, and let the photos do the talking. (You’re welcome Bushboy 😉 )
This is a rhododendron.This is an azalea. One of the bridges at the park.One of the waterfalls.The scene we are standing in front of, at the top of the post.RichSo many colours!A pink magnolia above some basalt columns.Crystal Springs Lake is large and meandering, so there are different lake views.Like this one: same spot, different direction.Spring is baby seasonNot a baby, but we still enjoyed seeing the nutria.More than one spring feeds the lake.Here, a young person engages with the creek.The perfect green of Springtime.Massive lavender and white azaleas!Gorgeous flamboyant blossomsThe weight of the blossoms seem in danger of breaking branches.I love the deep purple magnolia blossoms up in the canopy.The less common yellows and oranges caught my eye.Another view of the lake, from the other side of the peninsula.
This park is next to Portland’s famous Reed College, which has a beautiful campus, as most colleges and universities do. We walked back to our car through the campus.
Reed College campusSee the trees casting shadows on the left? We walked past them and I spotted something fluttering in the breeze, tied to the branches of a rhododendron in the shade:It was true. ❤
7 thoughts on “Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden”
Beautiful, Crystal. And boy are we on the same page. On Thursday we will be featuring azaleas from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Loved the photo of you and Pedro.
It’s the season where rhodies and azaleas splash rainbows everywhere! It’s hard to resist a post. I look forward to seeing yours. I have been traveling a lot, and find myself behind on everyone’s posts again. But I’d rather be exploring than reading blogs, ha ha!
Gorgeous! There is a rhodie garden less than 20 minutes from me that I’ve never explored. Thanks for the inspiration! My own in the front yard are exploding!
Conscious Engagement 
Beautiful, Crystal. And boy are we on the same page. On Thursday we will be featuring azaleas from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Loved the photo of you and Pedro.
It’s the season where rhodies and azaleas splash rainbows everywhere! It’s hard to resist a post. I look forward to seeing yours. I have been traveling a lot, and find myself behind on everyone’s posts again. But I’d rather be exploring than reading blogs, ha ha!
“But I’d rather be exploring than reading blogs, ha ha!” Me too, with a triple ha.
Splendid photographs. Just the time to visit
Yes! Finally, after three tries in three different years.
Gorgeous! There is a rhodie garden less than 20 minutes from me that I’ve never explored. Thanks for the inspiration! My own in the front yard are exploding!
Oh I love that your front yard is filled with flowers. Ours too, and it makes us smile every time we look outside or go outside. 🙂