Swan Island Dahlias

I called and spoke with Heather in May about reserving cut flowers for my wedding in September. She was SO kind, helped me choose varieties, told me I was welcome to come visit the farm and that when my sisters and I came in September we would have a great time visiting the farm. I received an email confirming my credit card number was on hold and to email at least a week in advance to confirm and let them know if there were any changes to our order.
Fast forward to a week in advance of my wedding. I called, gave my name and said I was calling to both confirm my reservation of flowers and ask if I could make a slight change. I spoke with another owner, Jessica, who seemed annoyed that I even called. I immediately realized I had the wrong date, corrected it and she snapped at me «Just give me a second.» I replied «I’m not trying to rush you.»
She kept saying «I’m going through hundreds of reservations, you should have already had your confirmation when you booked.» I said, «You seem annoyed, I understand I already confirmed– I am just following the instructions given when I booked. Its okay if we can’t change anything– I just wanted to ask.»
She put me on hold and came back and repeated, «This is Jessica, how can I help you?» I said «Wasn’t I just speaking with you? I just wanted to confirm my reservation and ask about a slight change, if possible.» She repeated, «This is Jessica, how can I help you?» in a very rude way. I said, «Oh, sorry I thought I was just speaking with you, again I just want to confirm and had a quick question.» She replied «Yes, we just spoke.» I said «Okay, it was just that you answered the phone as if you were a different person. Again, I just want to confirm my order and ask a question.» She said «We are completely booked next week, I can’t change anything at all.» I said, «Okay, no problem.» She said «Okay.» in a rude tone and hung up on me.
I felt so yucky after this phone call I eventually called back. I was hoping to get Heather and just be reassured that I hadn’t done anything wrong in calling as the email instructed and that my family would have a good experience when we picked up the flowers. I got a different girl and I explained that I just called, didn’t understand why Jessica seemed so annoyed and wanted to know if I had done something wrong. She put me on hold.
Jessica came on the line and said if I had a problem with her customer service I could get my flowers elsewhere. I said «I made this reservation in May, I don’t want to cancel, I just don’t understand why the last phone call went so badly?» She said «Your order is cancelled, you can get your flowers elsewhere.» I said, «Its a week before my wedding, I don’t want to cancel I just want to know why you were so annoyed that I called to confirm?» She repeated that my order was cancelled, I could get my flowers elsewhere and hung up on me.
I called another farm and although they were also booked they were able to help me out. The craziest part is they also said they had another call this week from someone who got booted from Swan Island Dahlia Farm.
If you want to be able to count on your flowers DO NOT BOOK THEM HERE. You might get your order cancelled from a hyper-​sensitive, diva owner who won’t think twice about leaving you high and dry a week before your big day because you merely followed their instructions and called to confirm.
WHO DOES THAT?! Even if I had been rude, and I truly wasn’t– how can you feel right about canceling someone’s wedding flowers one them that close to the event? Terrible. Just terrible. Thank God I found someone else and they confirmed that Swan Island didn’t just do this to me…

7 of us went here this morning and had a great stroll!
We enjoyed the varieties of the flowers and sat down at the picnic table to have early brunch.
Everyone was very friendly and they have catalogs to give you some information about different kind of dahlias!
In the end I bought $ 7 a steam of flowers! I will return for a longer stroll and will buy more flowers!

We just wrapped up our daughter’s wedding yesterday. It was a mix of do-​it– yourself and hired services. I ordered centerpiece flowers from Swan Island, picked them up the day before and did our own very simple arrangements (put a few in each mason jar). The dahlias were beyond gorgeous. Healthy, fresh, and sturdy. They sell in bunches of twelve stems. Some stems had three blossoms. They were a knockout. It you are planning an event in August, I recommend Swan Island for a stunning addition to your tables.

Great event with many varieties of Dahlias stretching for acres and acres. Gift shop and vendor booths for food, flowers and gifts.

The Dahlia Festival will become a yearly outing for my family! I just took my parents here yesterday and it’s BEAUTIFUL. Make sure to take advantage of it because the fields are only available for a few weeks. They open the fields at 10 AM and when we got there by 10:30, the huge parking lots and fields were packed with people already!
It was very easy to find because there will be large signs pointing at every turn if you’re coming from Portland. Admission is free and there are a lot of parking. You can view the flowers in the fields or as arrangements in their indoor display area. There are also flower demonstrations, food stands, and music!
Bring your kids and your grandparents — every generation would surely have fun.

We came out here this Labor Day weekend for their Annual Dahlia Festival. It’s lovely! Do yourself a favor and go if you haven’t done so. Now, I’d read the reviews before and knew that this is a smallish festival and that there wouldn’t be much in terms of food options, so we made sure to have brunch before heading to the fest. The festival itself is free and parking is plentiful.
Now for the flowers. Oh my, there are acres and acres of all different varieties of dahlias. I had no idea so many even existed. Definitely bring a camera and get ready to get some great colorful shots. We walked around and looked at the different varieties while at the same time taking 75 billion pictures. Then we headed over to the indoor portion of the festival. As you walk in, there are catalogs for reference and little pencils to jot down the types of dahlias you’d like to order (if any). They ship out bulbs for you to plant. Since I don’t know the first thing about planting or keeping dahlias, I didn’t order any and so don’t have the details about the shipment, prices, etc. We did, however, walk around the indoor area and take a look at the arrangements.
True to what other reviewers have already said, there isn’t many food options. My kids spotted the kettle corn stand and of course they ended up with a warm bag right out of the kettle. My husband bought me a couple of bunches of dahlias and we were all happy. This adorable fest is worth the drive out to Canby!

We went to the dahlia festival today and loved it! Dahlias as far as the eye can see outside as well as an indoor area with so many beautiful varieties and colors.
You can order bulbs there or order online. Cut flowers are available for $ 5 a bunch — nice bargain.
I like that you can view the dahlias in arrangements as well as in the fields. Makes it easier to choose based on height and size as well as color and flower head shape.
We will definitely make it an annual trip to visit this dahlia festival! Live music and food vendors too.

There wasn’t as much to do at the Dahlia Festival as we would have liked, but the flowers were so amazing it still gets five stars in my book. From the huge indoor displays (partially underground and cool on a hot summer day) to the expansive fields and you pick areas, there is acres and acres of color.
I almost docked one star for the complete and utter lack of any vegetarian food options, but you can bring a picnic and really, this isn’t a place to visit for the food. Go see the flowers!

I adore flowers. When you visit the Swan Island Dahlias in Canby, you are in for a real treat. These flowers are some of the most amazing you’ll ever see. The colors are incredibly vibrant. The size of the flowers range from small, to as big as your head. Or in more specific terms, some of them are about an inch across and some as big as almost 10 inches in diameter and wow, are they ever impressive!
Because our awesome and warm summer month of August is when you’ll find dahlias at their blooming peak, you’ll appreciate that there is a tent filled with the most mind blowing arrangements of stunning dahlias and an escape from the afternoon sun. There are also a few food vendors outside. I couldn’t resist a sugary elephant ear as I took in the glory of the dahlia fields.
In addition to the incredible flowers, there is also a super cool koi pond with giant, colorful koi.
As an added bonus to all this wonderfulness: it is free to visit.
2014 — Review # 47

Went there 2 years ago. Great show! Also bought some gorgeous dahlias for home. Walking around looking at all of their flowers in the fields was a feast of color. Loved it. Also found them to be an excellent vendor, stamping each flowers name on the tubers for easy planting. Love the sun kissed and lollipop variety especially. Worth the drive out to Canby!

I never knew I liked Dahlias so much until I went to the Swan Island Dahlias. Also, I never knew there were so many different types of Dahlias. I went there with very little expectations, and there were rows and rows and rows of Dahlias. The time to go is in August and September when the flowers are blooming.
I loved that there were bees on the dahlias, which added to the outdoor nature of the flowers. I also loved all the different colors — from red to yellow to pink to orange. If you like flowers, you should definitely go here next year, because it was really quite spectacular. I went during the week (an advantage of being retired) and there was plenty of parking available and not too many people. Plan to be there awhile because it takes time to walk through the fields and to take pictures and just to enjoy. I went on a clear day when the sky was blue and and there were billowy clouds. Just perfect. I look forward to going again next year.

Dahlia heaven. If you love Dahlias and want to see them in all their glory, you must visit this «island.»
On a recent trip to Portland, it was suggested that I go visit Swan Island. I mean, if you’re a Dahlia enthusiast, you visit the island. After receiving this tip, I Immediately did my research, calculated routes, cursed the traffic, convinced my pal to come with me, and we drove. Two women on the open road headed for the ultimate Dahlia destination.
****THIS experience is free ninety nine, yes FREE*********
Keep in mind, the google directions will send you through the back streets of Canby. I remember at one point stopping, thinking «this is too residential, we must be going the wrong way.» No, KEEP GOING. You will also end up in the back, and stop out of sheer excitement. Don’t. Ensure that you head to the main entrance, where there is a gift shop and even an area where you can «leave money in the box» and buy a bouquet of dahlias.
Miles and miles and miles and miles-​ok not miles, but more like rows and rows of Dahlias. Keep in mind, Dahlias are best seen in the fall, so when I visited in July, I was out of luck. Nonetheless, It was a sight to be seen. Bright, cheery, and with pops of color everywhere! The red barn served as the perfect backdrop for all the lush scenery.
Each row is labeled with the Dahlia type. Be courteous, don’t touch or cut any of the plants. It’s important to leave the flowers be for all to enjoy.
If you are hungry, you are out of luck. Not much to do in this part of the city.
In SUMMARY:
Visit the Swan Island if you love Dahlias. I had my «sound of music» moment of running in the fields. Bonus points for running with the sprinklers on!!!
It will cost you gas, time, and some traffic time, but it’s worth it.

This was a great time. Beautiful flowers both in the fields and on display!

So this is what all the fuss is about?
I’ve visited this nursery for picnics and strolls through the colorful rows of dahlias for years. But last month I finally made it to the annual Dahlia Festival. I was shocked at the amount of visitors on a Monday afternoon, since it was common during my prior visits to have the place all to myself. I like to traipse through the 40 acres of dahlias and pretend it is my own private garden.
The annual festival runs for two weekends (Saturday, Sunday & Monday) at the end of August, just when the flowers are at their peak. And even though it was busy, they had things running smoothly. No admission fee and no parking fee. Did you hear that Tulip Fest?
In all fairness to their Dutch floral counterpart, this festival is geared more towards adults, while the Tulip Fest is a better family event. Although there was a picnic area, a couple food booths, including the St. Josef’s Wine-​A-​Bago!, and a bouncy house, there weren’t a lot of kid-​friendly activities. The Tulip Fest has more attractions to keep the young ones entertained.
You visit this festival if you love flowers and want to be overwhelmed by their beauty on a grand scale. On a hot day, it was also refreshing to tour their underground display area with arranged flowers. But, walking through the gardens is really the main attraction, just stick to the marked paths. You can even bring your dog on a leash (just not through the indoor display rooms).
Their main business is selling bulbs by mail order all over the world. They are the nation’s largest dahlia grower and supplier. On a local scale, after my walks I pick up a bundle of fresh cut flowers from their farm stand to enjoy the rest of the week. I have to admit, I prefer it that way, but I guess my secret garden is kind of a big deal.
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The fields are open to the public in August and September from 8:00a — 6:00p.
Here are the details for the 2014 festival —

Breathtaking. These flowers are so beautiful and you can get lost in the variety and colors. Ive been each summer since I moved here and try to go a few different times while they are blooming. Each time, though I look at al the flowers, I see something new and new creations. I am shocked at the amount of people that have lived here their whole life and never gone to see this local little piece of heaven. I highly recommend taking a walk through the dahlias. its free and all it costs is a little bit of gas. They have a smal gift shop and if you go when the Dahlia Festival is going on, they have a few activities for the family. I like to go when there is a smaller crowd to stroll through the paths and take it all in. GO if you have not…

One of my most favorite places on earth!

Perhaps the most beautiful places in town! I look forward to going to the Dahlia Festival every year to buy some of the loveliest flowers for a good price!

I ordered about 30 bunches of cut dahlias for my brother’s wedding. The people working there were very helpful and allowed me to look at the flowers in field and make any changes to the order up to the week before pickup. I’m glad I did! When I came to pick up the cut flowers the next week, they were cut, bunched with rubber bands and ready to go, cut fresh that morning! They are such high quality, that as long as I kept them in water, they lasted through the hottest days of August with minimal wilting! (you’ll always lose a couple in 100+ degree days) The bride, groom and guests were very pleased with the results.
If you go out to view the fields, stay on the path so you don’t damage the beds. And fair warning: you will leave there wanting to buy more than you anticipated!
If you want high quality DIY wedding flowers at a good price, these dahlias are it!

One of my favorite places to visit from August through October… Free fields and fields of Dahlias. Great place if you are a photographer. They recently added a gift shop to their offices and have a beautiful koi pond out front. A rainbow feast for your eyes awaits you. Watch out for the tall, thin, bald, white, guy though — I stepped one step off of the green grass to take a photo of a flower and he ran up to me acting like I committed a horrible crime… otherwise, a perfect «zen» experience. Missed the festival this year — –it’s fun if you never have been, but tends to be too crowded and the flower show in their farm cellar reminds me of a mortuary bouquet contest. The flowers in the fields are well worth the trip — -and it doesn’t crowd up too often. A must see– take out of town guests– this is sure to impress!

I was visiting a friend’s house in Napa and couldn’t help oohing and aahing over the dahlias she had growing in her yard. She told me that when she was in Oregon she had visited Swan Island Dahlias and bought some tubers from them to grow herself. She had only been once but bought the tubers every year from her catalog. Now, as a person who regularly kills plants, I couldn’t imagine doing this, but I loved her flowers so! But she swore to me it was easy. ‘You just drop the tubers in the ground and wait. Once they start peeking through you water them regularly.’ Well here goes…
I happened to have a completely empty space of dirt in my backyard that I had been thinking trying my hand at gardening on. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. I checked out her copy of the catalog and their website and settled on a low cost 10 bulb assortment — the Gardener’s Collection. It was about $ 30. I received the bulbs in early March. They came in their own little bag of dirt, with a catalog and instructions thrown in. This was very exciting for someone who couldn’t keep a cactus alive as I felt like such a pro gardener!
I ordered the hubby to the yard and we dug up 10 little holes of dirt. Arranged the tubers in each spot, covered them up… and waited…
EUREKA!
A few weeks later little sprouts appeared. I laid down the snail bait as they suggested and hooked up a cheap watering drip system from Home Depot. The sprouts became what looked like weeds… then overgrown weeds… (trust me, I have experience with overgrown weeds) and then buds appeared! Almost every bud has blossomed into a beautiful dahlia! This was the most low maintenance planting I have ever done. It helps that they love direct sunlight and don’t need any high maintenance care. Every time I get scared that I’m doing something wrong I refer to the little instruction guide they gave me. And better yet, I can use these tubers for next year too.
So now I’m looking forward to the next winter season when I can pick out another collection of dahlias to add to my assortment. This place has turned a plant killer into a gardener! And there are so many blossoms on each of my plants that no one believes me when I tell them I normally can’t keep a plant alive.