* International Rose Test Gardens: You can’t help but stop to sniff the roses at this enormous and enormously popular rose garden in Portland’s Washington Park. Thousands of roses romance the eye and nose, blooming in fragrant profusion from late May into September.

* Lan Su Chinese Garden: The newest and most unusual (to Western eyes) of Portland’s three major gardens, Lan Su was designed and constructed in Portland’s Chinatown by a team from Suzhou, China, who created a classical Chinese scholar’s garden of a type that was popular during the Ming dynasty. Winding paths with intricate stonework lead to ornate pavilions and colonnades around a lake, with sculpted rocks and carefully chosen plants to add even more interest along the way.

* Portland Japanese Garden: Situated in the hills above the rose gardens in Washington Park, the Portland Japanese Garden is considered the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. With five different garden types based on Buddhist, Shinto, Taoist, and Zen principles, this exquisitely designed and maintained garden should be high on the list of anyone who loves gardens, no matter what time of year.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.