This summer we vacationed in Oregon. Being from South Florida (zone 10), we had to experience a state with nine different climate divisions. We hiked snow-covered peaks, then walked the Pacific Coast shores, toured several waterfalls but saved the best site for our last day: The International Rose Test Garden in Portland.

In 1905, Portland had 200 miles of rose-bordered streets that helped attract visitors to the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. Portland came to be known as the ‘City of Roses’.

This massive garden was first planted in 1918. The terraced beds overlook downtown Portland with Mount Hood in the distance. This climate is ideal for rose growth.

The biggest surprise was that they don’t use any fungicides on these thousands of beautiful plants. I had to search hard to find a few leaves that had black spot fungus. Otherwise, the plants looked spotless. Names to follow.