Monday, June 4, 2012

Shore Acres Gardens by the Coast

May 30th- This has been the perfect time of year to see this area. It is Spring here….in all its glory! The weather is cool, and we have had beautiful, sunny days.

Shore Acres State Park is just adjacent to where we are at Sunset Bay. We drove over - though you could walk a 2 mile section of the Coastal Trail from our campground to get here if you wanted.

Shore Acres began as the private estate of pioneer lumberman and shipbuilder Louis J. Simpson. Simpson built a showcase, 3 story mansion on this site. That house was destroyed by fire in 1921. When he later started to rebuild, financial losses during the Depression years caused both the unfinished house and the grounds to fall into disrepair. In 1942, Shore Acres was purchased by the state of Oregon for use as a public park. Unfortunately, what was left of the mansion had to be torn down. The gardens, however, were able to be restored.

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The formal gardens…….with the Gardener’s cottage …….IMG_5641

I just love the idea of living right in the garden……..This is where the Simpsons lived after their first house burned.

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So beautiful……and that is the ocean in the background……..

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Beautiful….brilliant colored Rhododendrons and azaleas…….

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The pond…….

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Rose beds….they will be in full bloom in another month or so.

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More flower pictures……I just can’t help myself. : )    These are from the greenhouse plants.

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It was so peaceful….just strolling through these gardens…..taking the time to '”stop and smell the roses”……..

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