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Grant's Getaways: Oregon gardens of Eden

Join me for a Gas Tank Getaway across Marion and Polk counties where you will slow down and savor two Oregon Gardens of Eden.

Isn’t it nice to know that nature can have her way this time of year and treat us to what we enjoy most? Clear skies and warm sunshine!

That’s especially true in parklands, farms and nurseries where wonderful, colorful flowers are hitting their peak.

Join me for a Gas Tank Getaway across Marion and Polk counties where you will slow down and savor two Oregon Gardens of Eden.

Two hundred feet above the Adelman Peony Gardens near Brooks in Marion County is a stunning moment that gets even better when you look down upon the rows of color that reach to the horizon.

If you visit, there’s a good chance you’ll cross paths with the proud farmer who made it first happen over two decades ago.

Carol Adelman likes to brag about her peony beauties!

Like Alice Harding - with bright lemon-yellow flowers with tightly packed petals that hang off the bush.

Or dark red Boreas – a fragrant rich burgundy peony with twisted petals.

Or Sonoma Halo - a huge full yellow flower with just a touch of red in the center.

Adelman Peony Gardens offers more than 250 varieties that are something special to behold across the 40-acre farm – plus, they offer a gorgeous garden you’ll want to explore.

“It’s all about how beautiful peonies are,” said Adelman. “Perhaps it will remind you of your grandmother’s garden – or make you wonder how many brides will be using these beautiful flowers in their spring weddings. Plus, they are so easy to grow, so what’s not to like and why don’t you have some in your yard?”

Good questions that may make you dizzy as you ogle so much breathtaking abundance.

Carol advises that you get here soon because the early warm spring guarantees that all of the splendid peony color won’t last long – so hurry!

If you scoot across the Willamette Valley to its western edge, take time to visit a Dallas, Oregon parkland that’s blessed with community pride at the Delbert Hunter Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

“It is all about peace and quiet,” said Arboretum Director, Sue Hunter. “Wildflowers are everywhere, plus you can enjoy a cool breeze as you walk through when it’s a really hot summer’s day. It’s just serenity.”

Sue’s father, Delbert Hunter, loved the Oregon outdoors and especially the state’s native rhododendrons and azaleas.

<p>Delbert Hunter</p>

He was a lifelong local who led by example and lived into his 90s.

Along the way, he determined that local folks and visitors alike needed an easy escape into nature where dragon flies hover, wild roses ramble and the wild iris blooms.

There are more than 250 different variety of native wildflowers that grow across the 8-acre Hunter Arboretum.

There are trails galore, too! They are flat and provide easy strolling with plenty of benches where people can sit and rest.

You will find plenty of time-out space that lets nature take hold of your soul – all of it thanks to one citizen’s vision.

Sue says that every community needs a Delbert Hunter, someone who created a place to relax, unwind and let all your cares flow past in an Oregon Garden of Eden that’s prime right now.

You can learn more about many of Grant’s favorite Oregon adventures in his new book: "Grant's Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon."

Visit Travel Oregon for an extended version of this story and to see past versions of Grant's Getaways.

Grant's Getaways is produced in partnership with Travel Oregon, as well as:

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