'Tis the season for lilacs, tulips, peonies, iris... all the glorious, blowsy, old-fashioned flowers any Portlander's heart could desire. Revel in a dose of fragrance and color during this glorious spring weather by taking a jaunt up north to Woodland, WA where you'll find lilacs and tulips aplenty. The Hulda Klager Lilac Garden and the Holland-America Bulb Farm are both located in Woodland, WA - a half hour North of Portland.

Stroll through the Hulda Klager gardens and pick your favorites - lilacs come in many shades of purple, pink, white, cream and even soft yellow and bicolors. Some varieties have smaller or larger florets, and the flower trusses can be  small or absolutely enormous. There are even double flowers. Find some varieties you love? Buy them! Prices range from $6 to $30 per pot, depending on the size of the plants.

WHAT: Hulda Klager Lilac Garden's Lilac Days 2013
WHERE: 115 South Pekin Rd, Woodland WA 98674 / Tel: 360-225-8996 / Directions
WHEN: Open year-round 10 am - 4 pm but Lilac Days 2013 are April 13 - Mother's Day, May 12, 2013
COST: $2 gate fee

As an added bonus, you can still find the tulip fields in bloom at the Holland America Bulb Farm, just a mile down the road. The Woodland Tulip Festival is over but through the end of the week and perhaps into the weekend if it doesn't get too hot, you'll find blazing fields of tulips to walk through, and cut tulips for $4/bunch. Holland America Bulb Farm: 1066 South Pekin Rd, Woodland WA 98674 / Tel: 360-225-4512 / Directions