About
Our Location
Garden House Wellness is located in the historic Eastmoreland neighborhood of southeast Portland, just off SE Woodstock Boulevard near Reed College. We're easy to find with street parking available nearby. Get Directions
History
Garden House is located at the former site of the historic garden associated with the Lambert property in southeast Portland, known as Lambert Gardens, one of the city’s most celebrated horticultural attractions in the mid-20th century. It was created by landscape gardener Andrew B. Lambert, who first visited Oregon from Georgia in 1925 and was captivated by the region’s climate and plant life. He soon moved to Portland, purchased land near SE 28th Avenue—much of it from nearby Reed College—and began developing a demonstration garden to showcase landscaping techniques and ornamental plantings. By 1930 the project had expanded into a public attraction spanning roughly 30 acres, drawing visitors from across the country.
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Lambert designed the grounds as a series of themed garden “rooms” inspired by European styles, including English, French, Italian, and Spanish gardens, along with features such as a sunken rose garden and reflecting pools. The gardens were known for elaborate seasonal plantings and unusual touches such as peacocks, flamingos, and exotic cranes wandering among statues and pathways. At its height the site welcomed between 50,000 and 75,000 visitors per year and hosted civic events, Rose Festival celebrations, weddings, and holiday light displays. Over the decades it became one of Portland’s most distinctive tourist destinations, with an estimated total attendance of about two million visitors.
By the late 1960s, however, Lambert—then in his eighties—could no longer maintain the large property and sought a buyer who might preserve it as a public park. When no such offer materialized, the land was sold to developers and the gardens closed in 1968.
Have questions? Give us a call! (971) 202-0702
Our Location
Garden House Wellness is located in the historic Eastmoreland neighborhood of southeast Portland, just off SE Woodstock Boulevard near Reed College. We're easy to find with street parking available nearby. Get Directions
History
Garden House is located at the former site of the historic garden associated with the Lambert property in southeast Portland, known as Lambert Gardens, one of the city’s most celebrated horticultural attractions in the mid-20th century. It was created by landscape gardener Andrew B. Lambert, who first visited Oregon from Georgia in 1925 and was captivated by the region’s climate and plant life. He soon moved to Portland, purchased land near SE 28th Avenue—much of it from nearby Reed College—and began developing a demonstration garden to showcase landscaping techniques and ornamental plantings. By 1930 the project had expanded into a public attraction spanning roughly 30 acres, drawing visitors from across the country.
Lambert designed the grounds as a series of themed garden “rooms” inspired by European styles, including English, French, Italian, and Spanish gardens, along with features such as a sunken rose garden and reflecting pools. The gardens were known for elaborate seasonal plantings and unusual touches such as peacocks, flamingos, and exotic cranes wandering among statues and pathways. At its height the site welcomed between 50,000 and 75,000 visitors per year and hosted civic events, Rose Festival celebrations, weddings, and holiday light displays. Over the decades it became one of Portland’s most distinctive tourist destinations, with an estimated total attendance of about two million visitors.
By the late 1960s, however, Lambert—then in his eighties—could no longer maintain the large property and sought a buyer who might preserve it as a public park. When no such offer materialized, the land was sold to developers and the gardens closed in 1968.
Have questions? Give us a call! (971) 202-0702