As the sun comes out, it beckons the flower buds to awaken from their slumber across Mt. Hood Territory. It's a beautiful sight to see when spring turns to summer and, over the course of those months, a plethora of fragrant flowers show off their colors.
Each August, acres of gorgeous sunflower fields in 32 different varieties burst to life at Yesteryear Farms in Wilsonville. Take advantage of 35 different photo ops for the entire family on the property and get a free bloom with your ticket purchase. Stafford Acres Sunflower Festival is another event with kids' activities and stations to view farm animals like chickens, peacocks and goats.
In August and September, vibrant colors appear as if a rainbow has bloomed from the ground at Swan Island Dahlias in Canby. Stroll through their fields, or even pack a picnic for a lunch with stunning views. They have virtually every kind of dahlia and new varieties they've cultivated themselves. Bonus: You can bring some of the beauty home with you, as they offer pre-cut flowers and bouquets. In Estacada, Mama's Dahlia Farm is a family run farm with u-pick dahlias for a buck a bloom until the first frost of the season. They also sell tubers.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, known for its breathtaking tulip displays, transforms into a haven of summer flowers, including sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias and more for a short time in late July and early August. Capture the magic of the flower fields during the golden hours of sunrise/sunset, or fill a glass jar with beautiful u-pick blooms. Fees apply.
In June and July one of the most beloved floral scents of them all, the tranquil notes of lavender, manifests in row after row after row of deep purple gloriousness. Fields at Barn Owl Nursery have extras like gift shops filled with lavender scented goodies and all sorts of other treasures. Whispering Lavender Farm offers u-pick lavender and a great farm store.
While these flowers are in bloom at the Rogerson Clematis Garden in Lake Oswego all year long, they extend their hours May through October, so there's more time to enjoy the real showstoppers of the warm season. Known as "Queen of the Vines," you can check out their What's In Bloom page to see which of your favorite majesties is in full color. They also offer special events and often have docent-led tours over holiday weekends, such as Mother's Day and Memorial Day.