The Cecil and Molly Smith Garden© of the Portland Chapter American Rhododendron Society

The Garden

This garden was the inspiration of Cecil Smith whose love of rhododendrons combined in a most felicitous way with his love of native plants and selected exotics. In 1983, after more than thirty years of devoted stewardship, Cecil and ‘Molly’ Smith reached the point where they could no longer care for the garden properly. The Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society found itself in a position to purchase the garden. The chapter along with the help of Willamette and Tualatin Valley Chapters assumed its care and management. Today the work is supported in part by admission fees and sales of rhododendrons, companions and native plants propagated by volunteers at the garden. The day to day work is done by a small group of volunteers with fall and spring work parties of ARS chapters’ members and friends.

From early childhood Cecil had a love for the natural woodland settings of the Willamette Valley that were filled with volunteer trilliums, dodecatheons, native iris and erythroniums. His early interest in rhododendrons fit perfectly into his appreciation of those native plants. This interest stimulated him to become a founding member of the American Rhododendron Society in 1947 several years before he owned the garden site. The present garden was started as soon as Cecil and ‘Molly’ obtained the property in 1951. The garden is located on several acres of land near Newberg, Oregon. The property had been logged in 1915, but by 1951 had reestablished its growth of Douglas fir and native plants.

In an article entitled 'On Selecting a Site for a Rhododendron Garden' in the Bulletin of the American Rhododendron Society, January 15, 1952, Cecil described many features of the site he chose. The garden slopes gently north to the Willamette Valley floor facilitating excellent air drainage. Otherwise the garden might be intolerably cold at certain times during the winter months. Although he described the desirability of a windless garden, he probably did not realize the benefit this area obtained from wind when cold winter high-pressure systems send vicious cold wind down the Columbia River Gorge. That wind keeps the temperature elevated in the Portland area as contrasted to the southern valley. The garden benefits from being located on the periphery of this air movement while avoiding the worst effects. Overhead, a canopy of Douglas fir protects the garden from radiation frosts in winter and intense sun during the summer. It has been supplemented over the years with an increasing number of ornamental deciduous trees. In that article Cecil also described a water feature as highly desirable. There is no natural water in the garden, but perhaps someday funding will allow the creation of such a feature. Cecil never hesitated to apply the "axe and saw" to his garden. He pruned large growing rhododendrons into tree-like forms. He frequently destroyed plants that did not please him or were crowding his favorites. Although never taking much credit for the garden, Molly Smith has contributed through the years in the garden upkeep and maintenance. When the Smiths lived at the garden, they freely shared their garden with others and hosted many garden tours. No one interested in rhododendrons was denied a visit in the garden. Cecil and Molly have each received ARS Bronze Medals, Portland Chapter’s highest award. ‘Molly’ humorously commented that no one had ever received a Bronze Medal for baking cookies. She always supplied visitors and the garden volunteers with homemade cookies. Cecil’s generosity was legend. He contributed cuttings, seed and pollen to other rhododendron lovers and to the American Rhododendron Society’s seed and pollen programs. In 1967 he was awarded the ARS Gold Medal and subsequently the Pioneer Achievement Award. He died in 1998. Until recently 'Molly' Smith continued to come to the garden on workdays.

© The Smith Garden Pages are copyrighted 2001, 2003 and may be reproduced only with permission of Herbert Spady, or the Portland chapter of the ARS.  They are prone to revision without prior notice.