Lincoln City, OR. – Lincoln City, OR. – If you are a consummate gardener or just an appreciator of lovely flora, Lincoln City is your Eden. Lincoln City’s temperate climate makes available a plethora of beautiful private gardens viewable simply by driving down the street, from the explosion of colorful rhododendrons in the spring to the delicate blossoms of mid-winter hellebores.

One place not to miss is the Connie Hansen Garden located on NW 33rd. This 1 1/3-acre (.5 hectare) horticultural wonder was created by University of California botanist Connie Hansen during the last two decades of her life. Before her death in 1993, visitors from around the world came to enjoy her collection of unusual plants and to study the intricacies of her garden design. Some of the plants are unique to the Garden, like the “Lightly Touched” iris registered with the Iris Society and her own hybridized geranium, “Connie’s Variety.”

Since her death, a cadre of garden angels rescued the garden from sure destruction and have continued voluntarily to develop it further and keep it open free of charge to the public, adding a garden house with open viewing to the garden for meetings, weddings, and other special occasions. The garden has been featured in Sunset Magazine, The Oregonian, and the “Great Gardens” edition of Fine Gardening.

In the spring, more than 300 rhododendrons and azaleas set the show ablaze. But the garden is so well planned that something is in bloom at all times of the year. You can stroll down the grassy paths to view wonders just two inches tall or towering thirty feet up. And there, among the singing birds and rippling stream, you can pause to enjoy lunch, the aromas of nearby flowers, or an informative conversation with the volunteer gardeners.

As a special treat for garden lovers, each June the Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, which maintains and operates the garden, hosts its annual Garden Festival. This community-wide endeavor brings together scores of visitors and locals alike to share their gardening experiences while reveling in the blossoms of their labors.

The Connie Hansen Garden is a wonderful setting for weddings and small gatherings. Arrangements to rent the Garden House for those events or to hold guided group tours can be made by contacting the Garden directly.

For more information about the Connie Hansen Garden visit conniehansengarden.com or call (541) 994-6338.

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Lincoln City, located on the central Oregon Coast, is a scenic two-hour drive from the Portland International Airport through Oregon's premium wine country. For free visitor information, contact the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau at (800) 452-2151, (541) 996-1274, FAX (541) 994-2408, visit our website at www.oregoncoast.org or email us at events@lincolncity.org. The Visitor Center, located at 801 SW Highway 101, is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

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