I caught wind of this event on line and instantly knew I needed to go. If you've ever been to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and like it--you'll like this. The fields are smaller than the tulip festival but the sheer variety and beauty of the dahlias make up for the lack of size. I suggest you pack a picnic for before or after you wander through the fields, it's such a serene place to enjoy a meal. Also, they don't have any food sales on site (besides candy bars in the gift shop). The only bathrooms are port-a-potties.
Nice place to visit and walk around or if you are looking to replace/find that unusual color this is your place to be. When everything is in bloom it is such a wonderful site to check out so bring a camera. You also have an opportunity to learn more about your dahlias from seminars and other fetival patrons. Don't forget to check out Mollala state park to let your dog run around, no fee day use. Then you can travel across town and check out St. Josephs for some wine.
I LOVE Swan Island dahlias. Such terrific service and always quality tubers. They are already coming up !!
I LOVE Swan Island Dahlias. The staff is so friendly and the place/grounds are phenomenal. The grounds are well kept and they have bunches of cut flowers to go VERY reasonably priced. Its a beautiful place and a must see for everyone.
While on vacation this past September, my sister and I visited Swan Island. I have ordered in the past from Swan Island and have been very, very happy with the results. It was a thrill for me to be able to see the Swan Island gardens. It was overwhelming to say the least. As I stood and looked at all the dahlias, it was quite a sight to see. I have ordered many more tubers already this year and am looking forward to another successful season with my dahlia gardens. Thanks Swan Island. You do a great job!!!
What a great attraction. Dahlias are my favorite flower. Worth the drive rhrough the countryside. Such a delight. They come in sooo many different colors and such a variety. Hope to attend the Dahlia festival later this summer.
My wife has been doing mail-order with Swan Island for a few years, so it is probably inevitable that we would attend their annual dahlia festival. For me, our non-stop route from Santa Rosa to Portland made it pretty easy, plus I had never been to Portland and wanted to learn why everybody loves it. We got out to Canby on the Saturday before Labor Day. From the I-5, the path was pretty well-marked. The parking was extremely efficient. We wandered just a bit until one of the ladies advised us to catch the indoor exhibition before it got too crowded. The variety of colors, sizes and configurations of dahlias was extraordinary. We took lots of pictures and made lots of notes for placing orders. Our last step indoors was to place an order, which was also done very efficiently. We managed to get volume discounts and freebies, which always leaves one feeling like they did well. The outdoor plantings are just too overwhelming to describe. The colors go on for acres and no camera can do the scene justice, The festival also featured a few food booths that we did not try and a really decent band. Over the course of the weekend, I also learned why everyone loves Portland. I expect that I will be back to both.
Swan Island Dahlias is one of my favorite places. I go at least once every year. The fields are open to the public August and September, and are simply stunning. You can wander the fields with an order form and pencil, making notes of what individual tubers you want to purchase. I make lots of notes and then go home and order online. When you order online a small picture of each plant shows up on your order form. I like to be able to scroll through my order and see what I've chosen. Then I know if I have forgotten to get a certain color or have too many of another color.This year was the first year I've attended the dahlia festival. I went on the Monday of the first weekend in the morning. There was a lot of people there, but it was not too crowded. I was impressed with how well organized it was. Everyone was very friendly/helpful. The fields were in full bloom. There was food and drink available for purchase, and lots of seating in the shade.The cut flower displays of the festival really amazed me. They are in the basement area of the farm's out buildings and were not only gorgeous, but also clearly marked.
Buy the cut-flower collection on the first day of the end of season sale.You will have altar flowers from mid July through frost for the cost of a single florist bouquet plus and afternoon in a sunny garden with a few bags of good garden soil and bone meal, just follow the enclosed directions.Do something on the website, like sign up for the newsletter, so you get the sale notification.
No charge for parking or attendance.If you love fields full of beautiful flowers you will love this. It was easy to Order the flowers and fresh cut were available.There was music and food .