Tulips aren’t the only blooms in the valley worth a look. Several local growers offer bloom festivals throughout the spring and summer seasons. Below is a list of festivals and bloom seasons in order of bloom starting first with rhododendrons in March and ending with Dahlias in October.

Rhododendrons

Cecil & Molly Smith Garden: Bloom season begins at this garden internationally known for its wide variety of rhododendrons and companion plants, plants also for sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through May 26, Raybell Road, off Highway 219. Cost: $3 and free for members of American Rhododendron Society and Champoeg road Contact: (503) 647-2896.

General

Festival of the Flowers in Jefferson: Artists, craft vendors, garden vendors, entertainers and organizations join in May Day celebration, featuring a May Pole dance, Jefferson Kids Choir, pancake breakfast, bingo, landscape demonstration and plant sales, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May 5, Downtown Main St., Jefferson. Cost: Free. Contact: (541) 327-7996.

Peonies

Adelman Peony Gardens: Peony fields in bloom and cut flowers and plants for sale, visit the Web site for special events such as workshops June 3 on growing peonies and arranging them, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily April 28 through June 15, Adelman Peony Gardens, 5690 Brooklake Road NE, Salem. Free. Contact: (503) 393-6185 or www.peonyparadise.com

Brooks Gardens, 6219 Topaz St. NE, Brooks, has a 3-acre display garden that includes iris and peony blooms. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, through June 5. Call: (503) 393-7999.

Iris

Mid-America Garden, 7185 Lakeside Drive NE, Salem, tour 4-acres of irises in bloom and don’t miss the adjoining hosta garden and nursery, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays April 20 through June 3. Call: (503) 390-6072.

Brooks Gardens, 6219 Topaz St. NE, Brooks, has a 3-acre display garden that includes iris and peony blooms. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily April 28 through June 5. Call: (503) 393-7999.

Schreiner’s Iris Garden, 3625 Quinaby Road NE, Salem, has a 10-acre display garden, open dawn to dusk daily May 4 through June 3, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for gift shop hours, check Web site for special events. Call: (503) 393-3232 or go to www.schreinersgardens.com/.

Cooley’s Gardens, 11553 Silverton Road, Silverton, has a 5-acre display garden, several fields of blooms and 200 iris arrangements on view 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily May 19 through June 3 with entertainment on the weekends. Free. Call: (503) 873-5463 or www.cooleysgardens.com

Lavender

Havenhill Lavender: Fields of lavender in bloom, u-cut lavender, gift shop with plants and products, gardening clinics, cooking demonstrations, picnics welcome, also Saturday Night Sunsets June 2 and July 7 with wine tasting, live music and lavender desserts for $5 per person, enjoy peak bloom 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 16 to July 21, Havenhill Lavender, 582 Drift Creek Road, Silverton. Free. Contact: (503) 873-0396 or www.havenhilllavender.com

Fragrant flowers (general)

Festival of Fragrance: Indulge your senses at this fragrant event, which includes plants and products, plus displays, free classes, water features, craft sale, live music, wine and microbrew tasting from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 23 and 24, Ferguson’s Fragrant Nursery, 21763 French Prairie NE, St. Paul. Free. Contact: (503) 633-4585 or go to www.fragrantnursery.com

Dahlias

Frey’s Dahlias: Enjoy 2 1/2 acres of dahlias in bloom; cut flowers and potted dahlias for sale, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from mid-August through mid-October, Frey’s Dahlias, 12054 Brick Road, Turner. Free. Contact: (503) 743-3910.

by STEFANIE KNOWLTON 159.54.226.83