A Century‑Old Garden Club Opens Five Secret Wine‑Country Gardens for One Day Only

When you think of Oregon’s wine country, you probably picture rows of vineyards, tasting rooms tucked into rolling hills, and maybe a handful of public parks. What most people don’t know is that tucked behind some of those vineyards are private gardens that have been tended, almost obsessively, by the Portland Garden Club since 1924.

Until now, those gardens were off‑limits, known only to a tight‑knit circle of members, their families and a handful of volunteer caretakers. This June, however, the club is doing something wildly unexpected: it’s throwing open the gates of five of its most cherished spaces for just one day, inviting anyone who’s curious enough to buy a ticket.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests will be able to stroll through Rose‑Cedar Gardens in Dundee, wander the herb maze at Willow Creek, explore the historic apple orchard at Cedar Ridge, wander the lily‑filled pond at Vineyard View, and finally sip a glass of Pinot Noir while admiring the fragrant lavender at Harvest Hill.

“We’ve been guardians of these gardens for a century,” said club president Marjorie Haines, who grew up watching her grandmother prune the rose arches at Willow Creek. “Opening them for a day is our way of sharing the love, raising funds for restoration projects, and maybe inspiring a new generation of horticulturists.”

Tickets are limited to 250 per garden, and each ticket includes a guided tour, a small-batch wine tasting from the host vineyard, and a complimentary souvenir plant cut‑out. Because the gardens are private, the club has worked closely with the vineyard owners to ensure the visit is low‑impact – foot traffic will be channeled along designated paths, and groups will be capped at ten people.

Local wineries are getting in on the action, too. At Harvest Hill, for example, the tasting room will feature a “Garden‑Inspired” flight curated by sommelier Luis Ortega, pairing each wine with a specific bloom or herb from the garden. “It’s like drinking the garden,” Ortega chuckled, adding that the Pinot Noir’s subtle earth notes echo the nearby lavender.

Beyond the pretty scenery and wine, the club hopes the day will spark conversation about preserving green spaces in a region that’s increasingly under development pressure. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the club’s “Future Roots” scholarship, which funds horticulture students at Oregon State University.

If you’ve ever wanted to step behind the curtain of Oregon’s private garden world, June 13 is your chance – but you’ll need to act fast. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 9 a.m. on the Portland Garden Club’s website, and they’re expected to sell out within hours.

In the end, it’s a reminder that even in a place famous for its wine, there’s still plenty of room for a little secret garden magic.