When we first visited the Oregon iris gardens, I was struck by the memory of the irises that appeared on our doorstep many years ago.
Bryan and I lived in an apartment then, and we really wanted a garden. Eventually we worked up the nerve to ask our landlord if we could dig up the grass in the sidewalk median and plant flowers there.
He said yes!
We went to work with enthusiasm, and the brown grass gave way to an eclectic garden of flowers and succulents.
One day, we opened our door to find a pile of dug-up plants on the front step. A note tucked among the stems read, “For your garden.”
That afternoon we began planting the new flowers from our mysterious well-wisher, adding patches of irises and geraniums to the growing flower bed.
The irises seemed to thrive on their own, unperturbed by disease or the long, dry summer. Every year when the purple blooms opened, I remembered the pile of stems on our doorstep and wondered about our anonymous iris friend.
Now we’ve been away from the apartment for many years, but the irises probably continue to bloom.
The sight of irises conjures up these happy memories, so I love visiting Schreiner’s Iris Gardens when they open their display gardens to the public in the spring. Schreiner’s are the top Oregon iris gardens, with row upon row bursting with irises of every color. I usually think of irises as purple, but they come in the whole spectrum. After all, the Greek goddess of the rainbow is their namesake.
In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of visiting these Oregon iris gardens and everything you need to know to visit them yourself. If you’d like a video tour of the iris gardens, stay tuned for our video at the end of this post.
When and How to Visit the Oregon Iris Gardens
The good news about timing your visit for the peak iris bloom is that it isn’t difficult. Schreiner’s display gardens aren’t open any other time of year. In 2022, the open season was May 6 – May 31. Check the website for updated open house dates each year.
Visiting the iris gardens requires tickets, which in 2022 were $5/person and were required to be booked online in advance.
These Oregon iris gardens are near Salem, about an hour south of Portland.
Navigating Schreiner’s Iris Gardens and Iris Fields
Like many other Oregon flower farms and gardens, Schreiner’s Iris Gardens are quite popular. On the sunny weekend morning we stopped by, the gardens were full of visitors. But just as we’ve found for waterfalls and other natural wonders, the key to a less busy experience is to walk a bit beyond the entrance.
At Schreiner’s, look out for the pathway at the back of the main iris garden, which leads to a second iris garden that’s tucked out of sight. You’ll still find others in the second garden, but it’s more peaceful. The display gardens are a great place to bring a good book or a picnic, and settle in for a couple hours in one of the many seating areas among the flowers.
To really avoid the crowds, grab a map at the entrance and follow the walking route from the parking lot away from the display gardens to the iris fields. Here you’ll find acres of irises planted in rows. Curiously, we found the iris fields to be behind the display gardens in terms of blooms. Perhaps there are differences in care or iris variety between the two. You can see this in the photo below.
Walking among the iris fields across the parking lot from the public iris display gardens
If you’d like to try your hand at growing irises in your own garden, there’s a garden store on site where you can purchase iris plants.
Iris Fragrance
While I love irises, their fragrance is something else. Since there were so many kinds at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, we had fun sampling them. Some didn’t seem to have a fragrance, while others smelled slightly sweet, and a few were unpleasant (“burned tire” is what came to mind for me)!
Let us know in the comments what you think of iris fragrance!
Video Tour of Schreiner’s Iris Gardens
To experience Schreiner’s Iris Gardens virtually before you visit, check out our video below.
Our video of the Schreiner’s Iris Gardens highlights
Other Oregon Flower Farms and Gardens
The Oregon iris gardens at Schreiner’s are just one of the many opportunities to see Oregon flower farms and gardens in bloom. Check out our blog post on Oregon flower farms to build a full flower farm-visiting itinerary for the upcoming season.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
Thanks for joining us at the Oregon iris gardens! For more travel ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!
Leave a Reply