If you come this way in the summer, you'll find roadside stands where you can buy local products. Cooley's Iris Gardens, established in 1928 two miles west of Silverton, is the world's largest iris nursery. Spreading over 250 acres, the 3 million plants bloom from mid-May to early June in shades of purple, yellow, pink, blue and orange. On May 16, there's a square dance from 1 to 4 p.m. From May 15 to 31, the public is invited to walk through five acres of display gardens, view the indoor flower show and sample wines from local vineyards daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The fact that the parking lot accommodates 300 automobiles tells you what a popular event this is.
Recreational vehicles are welcome to stay overnight.
There are no hookups, but the folks at Cooley's say they'll be glad to top off visitors' water supplies. Oregon 214 heads north from Silverton to Woodburn, crossing Interstate 5 and continuing on to St. Paul, settled by Hudson's Bay trappers and their Indian wives in the 1830s. Riverside Drive N.E., raises and sells more than 1,500 varieties of roses. It says all its stock is virus-free and each rose is sold in the pot in which it was propagated. The gardens will ship roses from its catalog.