Portland | International Rose Test Garden

Portland in autumn always carries a damp chill. 🌧️ The rainy season quietly returns, and the sky is draped in familiar gray, but after living here for so long, I’ve come to find this gloomy weather as comforting as a soft blanket. (Maybe it’s just my inner "homebody" showing!) A few days ago, I finally visited Portland’s iconic International Rose Test Garden. To my surprise, even in rainy October, roses were still in bloom. 🌹 Petals glistened with raindrops, and a subtle fragrance lingered in the garden, as if summer was reluctant to leave completely. The garden was even more enchanting than I had imagined. There were countless varieties of roses—some with familiar names, others I’d never seen before. They came in all colors and forms: some blooming in lively, extravagant clusters, while others stood alone in quiet elegance. Strolling along the paths, I noticed that some flowers bloomed later, having missed the brilliance of midsummer, yet they unfolded their beauty gracefully in the crisp October air. In that moment, it struck me: flowers are just like people. 🌼 Everyone grows at their own pace—there’s no need to rush or compare when to bloom. Even in different seasons and under different circumstances, we can each shine in our own unique way. Perhaps that’s the gentle lesson Portland’s rose garden offered me. 💡 There’s poetry in rainy days, and grace in blooming late. Let things take their natural course, embrace your own rhythm, and life will always find its way to fragrance. #PortlandAutumn #RoseGardenReflections #EveryoneHasTheirOwnTiming #RainyDayMood #SlowLivingThoughts #NaturesLessons #RosesAndLife