Salem Oregon has an abundance of gardens to explore and enjoy throughout the year. In the spring, Rose, iris, tulip, peony and dahlia gardens, perennial and mixed borders, garden rooms, formal boxwood gardens, a Japanese garden, flowering trees and shrubs, bulbs, herb gardens, open spaces and numerous other specialty gardens can be found within Salem and Marion and Polk counties.

In this post, we will tell you about a few to add to your list of gardens worth the drive on your next visit:

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm Photo @Kristi Reed

1. Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, OR is home to the increasingly popular Annual Tulip Fest featuring acres of tulip beauty! Wander the fields, visit the Gift Shop, Country Store, and Tulip Café. Purchase fresh cut flowers and order bulbs for fall planting. The gardens are 30 minutes north of Salem and completely worth the drive! Visit www.woodenshoe.com for information.

2. The Oregon Garden

This beautiful 80-acre botanical garden includes a diverse variety of plant species and habitats and the only Frank Lloyd Wright home in Oregon. Visitors will certainly appreciate the natural beauty of forests and woodlands, wetlands and lake in addition to stunning formal landscaped gardens throughout the property. Depending on the season, gardens feature brilliant displays of colorful annuals and perennials along with carefully selected and arranged collections of conifers and sparkling waterfalls. Located 17 miles east of Salem in Silverton. www.oregongarden.org

3. Schreiner's Iris Gardens

The gardens, family owned since 1925, have become quite popular with the Salem Oregon community and visitors, especially during Bloom Season. Garden vistors come for the spectacular vista of irises in the spring and the variety of flowers and special events and sales offered throughout the year. Directions and more information can be found at www.schreinersgardens.com.

4. Historic Deepwood Estate's Lord and Schryver Garden

The gardens on Historic Deepwood Estate contain boxwood gardens, an English tea house garden, covered arches and gazebos, ornamental gates and fences as well at The Rita Steiner Nature Trail weaving its way through the western border of the property towards Bush Park. The garden's origins go back to 1930 when Alice Bretherton Brown Powell, the longest resident of Deepwood, hired the landscape design team of Elizabeth Lord & Edith Schryver to design the formal gardens for Deepwood. Today, the beloved gardens are maintained by Deepwood's dedicated volunteers and the Lord and Schryver Conservancy. Whether one sees Deepwood for the first time or visits again and again, it never fails to amaze and delight the senses. The grounds are open 365 days a year from dawn until dusk unless they are booked for a private event which occurs primarily from July-September. Private events begin at 1:00 p.m. Please check calendar for private event closures or call (503) 363-1825. www.historicdeepwoodestate.org

5. Bush's Pasture Park

This city park is home to an amazing collection of plants and designed landscapes, both historic and contemporary. The 90.5 acre park is blanketed with Oregon White Oak trees, cherry and apple orchards, and a rose garden with over 2,000 roses and open meadows, a greenhouse and stunning gardens with perennial, annual, tulip beds and more.  www.cityofsalem.net/Residents

To see the complete list of local gardens to explore in Marion & Polk Counties, please visit www.travelsalem.com.