Chasing Dahlias in the Pacific Northwest: A September Garden Road Trip

 

Portland Japanese Garden - 

Image by Abhay Bharadwaj from Pixabay

September in the Pacific Northwest is ablaze with color, when dahlias burst into their full glory and gardens spill over with late-season abundance. Here's a suggested itinerary for you. This week-long loop carries you from Portland’s elegant gardens to the Swan Island Dahlia Festival in Canby, through orchard country in Hood River, and up to Seattle’s serene arboretums. Along the way, you’ll gather blooms, sip wine, and walk landscapes where wilderness and cultivation meet in harmony.

Sept 6–14, 2025

Day 1 (Sat, Sept 6) – Portland, OR Arrival

• Fly into Portland International Airport.

• Evening stroll through the Portland Japanese Garden or International Rose Test Garden.

Day 2–3 (Sun–Mon, Sept 7–8) – Canby, OR

• Anchor Event: Swan Island Dahlia Festival (peak bloom!)
  Acres of dahlias in riotous color, tuber sales, floral design classes, and local vendors.

• Explore the nearby Woodburn Tulip Farm (off-season but still worth a look for specialty bulbs).

Day 4 (Tue, Sept 9) – Hoyt Arboretum & Downtown Portland

• Wander among 2,300+ species at Hoyt Arboretum.

• Visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a hidden oasis in downtown Portland.

Day 5 (Wed, Sept 10) – Silverton & Salem, OR

• Day trip to Oregon Garden in Silverton — 80 acres of themed plantings.

• Stop in Salem for wineries or local farm markets.

Day 6–7 (Thu–Fri, Sept 11–12) – Columbia Gorge & Hood River, OR

• Drive the Columbia River Gorge. Hike among waterfalls framed by late-summer wildflowers.

• Explore Hood River’s lavender farms, cider houses, and orchards.

Day 8 (Sat, Sept 13) – Mount St. Helens, WA

• See post-eruption landscapes reborn with lupine, fireweed, and alder.

• Visit the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center for ecological interpretation.

Day 9 (Sun, Sept 14) – Seattle, WA

• Morning drive north.

• Tour the Washington Park Arboretum and Kubota Garden.

• Evening departure from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

   Pack your camera, clear space in the car for tubers, and set your course for Oregon and Washington this September — the dahlias are waiting, and so is the road.

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