MySecretGarden

U.S.A., Washington State. USDA zone 8b. Sunset climate zone 5

In the Garden of the Columbia Gorge Hotel

Although I visited this garden last fall, I want to show it so that, if you pass close by to this place in spring or summer, you'd consider looking at it. Besides the beauty, the garden at the Columbia Gorge hotel has a historical flavor and unbelievably grand setting overlooking the Columbia River (on the west side of Hood River, Oregon).



On the hotel's  website I found these informative and interesting excerpts  from A Taste for Comfort by Anita Stewart, 1993, C&D Publishing, Portland, Oregon

"The stately site on which the Columbia Gorge Hotel now stands was originally developed in 1904 by Bobby Rand, a Hood River pioneer, as theWah Gwin Gwin Hotel (a Native American name meaning "rushing water" for the 208' waterfall on the grounds).
These were the days of steamers navigating the waters of the Columbia River from the Cascades to The Dalles. To alert the hotel, the captains would sound the whistle once for each guest he had on board. Maids would then quickly make up the appropriate number of beds.
In 1920, Rand sold his interests in the hotel to Simon Benson. Benson had just helped complete what many of the era claimed to be the world's most beautiful road, the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. Benson's dream was to create an opulent hotel for travelers at the end of this road. He hired some of the same Italian stone masons that had built the highway to embellish his hotel.
The hotel had barely opened before it had an international reputation. Presidents Roosevelt and Coolidge, actresses Myrna Loy, Jane Powell, and rumor has it, Rudolph Valentino are some of the notables to have graced the hotel.
During the depression, the Hotel fell on hard times and was purchased by the Neighbors of Woodcraft as a retirement home. Such it remained for a quarter of a century, until the ongoing restoration began in 1977. Now corporately owned and operated, The Columbia Gorge Hotel has been brilliantly restored to a new opulence. The Hotel stands proudly atop a bluff overlooking the mighty Columbia River greeting its visitors with warmth and elegance continuing to be an elegant oasis in the heart of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area."



I found the hotel's grounds beautiful in early morning, before we had a delicious brunch in the hotel's restaurant, as well as at dusk when I walked our German Shepherd.
The garden is lovely by itself, and the fast narrow creek adds loveliness and dynamics to it.
   

The curved stone archways over the creek provide a nice romantic touch:





A couple of nymphs are playing with the water in different parts of the garden.




Don't you love these natural armchairs?


Walking around the garden brings you to a cliff with a breathtaking view of the Columbia River and the hills on the other side:

 The contrast between the groomed charming garden and wild magnificent nature stirs the emotions.

Wah-Gwin-Gwin Falls are 208 feet high:







There are several points on the top of the cliff where you can admire the views:


Hydrangeas grow happily in dappled shade:


During our visit, hosta were turning yellow, but the year round ivy created a beautiful background for this little nymph fountain.

Do you think it is a Japanese Aralia that towers above the nymph?




Simon Benson certainly was a man with a vision!
The place chosen by him for the hotel provides unbelievable sensual feelings. The views are grand and evoke excitement and wonderful emotions.

 We usually admire waterfalls looking at them from below.
Here, there is an opportunity to view one from above.





I hope you like the Columbia Gorge Hotel's Garden and stop to look at it if you find yourself near Hood River, Oregon.
I am sure it is beautiful any time of the year with different seasons featuring some of the planted  perennials, annuals, roses, bulbs and many native Oregon plants.
 Here is the Columbia Gorge Hotel Website.

***Copyright 2013 TatyanaS

45 comments:

  1. WOW! Such a beautiful garden and landscape!

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  2. The place looks absolutely amazing! First photo alone, wow!

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    Replies
    1. Mark and Gaz, I'm glad it's pretty close to us, and I'll have another chance to see it! Thanks!

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  3. We went to a wedding reception there years ago, but did not get a chance to walk the grounds like that. Thank you for the beautiful pictures! I love the ones of the waterfalls! I love the Columbia Gorge area- it is so beautiful!

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    1. Heather, thanks! I can imagine you were busy! But, you can easily visit it again, can't you?

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  4. Looks like a great hotel to stay and the gardens belonging to the hotel are amazing. Fantastic place to be with the extras of the surrounding landscape and waterfalls.

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    Replies
    1. Janneke, thank you! Yes, it's a wonderful place!

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  5. Please consider adding the feedburner widget to your blog so I can register for EMAIL UPDATES when you create a new posting.

    examples of feedburner in use at:

    http://federaltwist.com/

    Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Dale, there is a Follow by e-mail button, is it enough?

      Delete
  6. If you told me it was an Italian villa overlooking one of the lakes I'd have believed you. Beautiful setting- real drama.

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    Replies
    1. Rob, thanks! Drama - what an appropriate word!

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  7. so much beauty !!!!

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  8. I love the mums in that garden. They are so colorful -- as are the sumacs -- and the waterfall is amazing!

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    Replies
    1. sweetbay, thank you! It was October, but garden was lovely because of the mums and the trees.

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  9. Wow, it is really stunning! Scenes like these really help to sell a place--you've convinced me that if I ever have a chance, I'd like to see it in person. Very nice!

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  10. A man with a vision indeed! Wow. Love the shots with the waterfalls, breathtaking.

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  11. Magnificent! I especially love all of the rock work. Those bridges and walls are gorgeous! Thanks for posting this as it looks like a great place to spend a night or two!

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    Replies
    1. outlawgardener, thanks! And it is so close to Seattle and Tacoma!

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  12. What a stunning location, I love the way that purple leaved tree arches over the stone bridge, but it is the wild landscape beyond that steels the eye.

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    1. Janet, thank you! I couldn't get enough of that wild beauty!

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  13. Thank you for sharing this! Although we have passed by this area many times, we have never stopped in! Looks like we are missing something beautiful! Will have to make a visit. Gorgeous photos!

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    Replies
    1. andrea, thanks! We went there to look at the orchards and discovered that place by chance. I think you will love it!

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  14. I can hear the steam...

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  15. A beautiful garden! I love the stone bridge and the stream. Wonderful fall color, especially what I think is a Sumac.

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    1. Jason, thanks! Yes, you are right, that is sumac! There were several of them there, and the colors were a pure magic!

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  16. Hello Tatyana! I really do not care for much of the formality of these gardens but the wonderful features coexist beautifully. The waterfall photos really grabbed me . . . especially when looking out over to the river. Thanks for sharing this magical place.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Carol! The waterfall hypnotized me!

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  17. Oh my gosh that is so beautiful, they would not be able to drag me away until my camera card was full.

    Jen

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    Replies
    1. Jen, thanks! One of my New Year resolutions is to click less! Tooooo many pictures!

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  18. Stunning! Next time I visit my son in Portland, I will have to remember this place. I am going to look up its web site.

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    Replies
    1. Deb, it would be great! You might want to google 'Fruit Loop Hood River Oregon'. We discovered that place driving the Loop in October, and we bought apples and pears there.

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  19. Wow - just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!!

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  20. Beautiful post! I wish I could visit this garden. Thanks for visiting my blog. Lula

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  21. Nice garden and hotel, I hope you had wonderful holidays there! Thank you for answering about your windows program.
    Have a nice week!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nadezda! I'm sure we'll go there again in close future!

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  22. Absolutely lovely place to spend time and it looks as though you were there at a perfect time, just beautiful.

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  23. Tatyana, simply breathtaking images and the wee bridge over the creek is charming.

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  24. Wow, the setting of that hotel is incredible in the fall. Unbelievable!

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Thank you for stopping by and for your comment! I appreciate your time! See you soon on your blog!

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