Rhododendron Garden — Attraction in Eugene

this is one of the best places in eugene

Last time I was there I discovered that the rhododendron garden is not just the loop up top but has many more trails that lead down and around and over to the south end of Hendrix Park and to the south and native Oregon plant garden in Hendrix Park, by the structure.

I talked to a really lovely and helpful and wise gardener of the Rhodedendron garden . She knew her plants and helped me identify a couple things, however I wanted to let her know she told me incorrect information once . She told me a tall bush near that native plant garden in Hendricks Park was elderberry . The flower certainly looked similar to elderberry but the leaves didn't… But I trusted her as a plant expert & tasted the flowers They did not taste like elderberry flowers at all… So I was a little worried & looked it up & posted a picture on ID groups . I found that the lobbed leaves are, as I suspected, NOT elderberry but actually a plant called ocean spray /holodiscus discolor . luckily not poisonous😅. The flowers also really don't grow like elderberry flowers, which grow in umbel fluorescence... clusters like an umbrella

But the ocean spray flowers don't they grow in big clusters that fall like hair… Or big...

Awesome garden! I didn't even know this place was here until I googled parks in Eugene for a proposal photoshoot for a couple all the way from Arizona! This place was perfect and great to walk around for a little while. There weren't very many rhododendrons in bloom in the middle of April, but there were plenty of other flowers and trees blooming with amazing colors! There's a pretty good size area of grass for you to bring your Voodoo Donuts and have a picnic under the trees! It's in a hilly area of Eugene so there is a good view. There are a bunch of little trails and we only walked part of them. It's really easy to get to off I5 and close to shopping/food. I want to go back soon to see what else...

We went to the Rhododendron Garden the 29th of April. It was a perfect Spring day. We were surprised that there were not very many people there as it was afternoon although the upper lot was completely full after we parked there. Even though several varieties were 'spent' there were many more in full bloom. There are also many yet to bloom so they are not at peak. Wonderful variety of color. Pictures tell just a part of the splendor. You really need to get out and see it for perspective as the park in totality...