Visiting Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens
In a peaceful oasis just north of Vancouver, Washington, people have been tending lilacs for over 100 years. Hulda Klager began the tradition when she planted the first bushes in the early 1900s. Today, volunteers maintain the grounds of her former home, Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, with exceptional care and attention. Each year, the garden celebrates Lilac Days in the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day. Come stroll among the fragrant blooms, tour the 1880s farmhouse, browse the gift shop, and search for rare plants. Here’s how to visit Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens.
Lilac Days
The highlight of the year at Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens is Lilac Days, the 23 days up to and including Mother’s Day. In 2026, it’s from Saturday, April 18th to Sunday, May 10th. Hours are 10 AM to 4 PM, daily.
Peak bloom at Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens varies each year, but usually roughly coincides with Lilac Days. The different species of lilacs, as well as other flowers, help spread out the season. To time your visit, you can check the garden’s bloom status beforehand.
Beyond seeing the flowers, the garden has special events that only happen during Lilac Days. You can visit the historic farmhouse and barn museum, which are closed to the public for most of the year. An outdoor gift shop offers gardening supplies and flower-related products, many from local makers. A booth sells coffee and baked goods. Next to the gift shop is the plant sale. Lilac Days are the only time of year that the garden sells lilac plants.
Cost and admission
Adult admission to Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens is $10
Kids 12 and under are free
The garden offers $5 admission to seniors and members of the military on certain days
During Lilac Days, you can pay for admission at the ticketing booth at the garden entrance. Credit cards are okay.
After Lilac Days end in mid-May until early October, you’ll need exact change to pay the cash-only $10 admission fee in a drop box. Kids 12 and under are still free. Hours are 9 AM to 4 PM, with gates closing at 3:30 PM.
Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens closes seasonally from early October until the start of Lilac Days in April.
Check out the garden’s calendar for specifics and special events.
Accessibilty
Walkers are available to borrow at the entrance of Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens. Flat brick walkways take you around the heart of the garden. They don’t have barriers like steps. Some of the walkways, especially around the periphery of the garden, have more varied surfaces, like gravel or grass. The paths have many places to sit, including benches, chairs, and picnic tables.
To enter the farmhouse for a tour, you’d need to walk up some steps. It’s not accessible to walkers or wheelchairs. The shed behind the farmhouse, which shows virtual tours of the house, is accessible, as are the barn museum and gift shop.
The main parking lot is gravel. Look for a couple of designated ADA spaces next to the entrance. The overflow parking lot next door is paved.
Tips for visiting
Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens is popular during Lilac Days. The parking lot was full when I visited on a weekday. Look for an overflow parking lot next to the main lot.
Dogs are not allowed in Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens.
Picnic tables are on the lawn behind the farmhouse.
Restrooms are in the building next to the water tower, around the corner from the gift shop.
Weather in the spring can change quickly. Bring layers and be prepared for rain showers.
Farmhouse tours happen during Lilac Days in the afternoons from 1 PM to 4 PM.
Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens is a fun visit with kids. The walkways are stroller-friendly.
The time it takes to visit the garden will vary, but I’d say an hour is enough time to see everything at a leisurely pace.
The garden
You’ll see the first plant of interest before entering the lilac garden, a tall monkey puzzle tree in the parking lot. Once you step inside, an eye-catching wisteria arbor is to your right. Rosebushes, camellia, and rhododendrons grow in front of the farmhouse. To see the best of the lilacs, you’ll want to head around to the back.
Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens is a place to wander. It doesn’t have a set route. Behind the farmhouse, lilac bushes surround the brick walkways with white, pink, and purple flowers. At least as lovely as the blooms is the light fragrance that fills the air. I grew up in a place with many lilacs, and I find the scent is nostalgic, symbolizing the end of a long winter. Behind the house, you’ll see the water tower, windmill, and museum. Gravel paths lead to fun discoveries, from a gazebo to magnificent dogwood and magnolia trees.
History
The elegant white farmhouse you see at the garden entrance was once the home of Hulda and Frank Klager. Hulda’s father built the house in 1889 and sold it to the couple in 1898. While living there, Hulda developed a passion for gardening. After 10 years of cultivating lilacs and creating new varieties, she started hosting spring open house events, earning her the nickname the Lilac Lady. Years later, when Hulda was in her 80s, her garden was destroyed by flooding. She replanted and was able to resume her open houses in two years.
The shed shows virtual house tours
Hulda Klager continued to host yearly open houses for the rest of her life. After her death, a local garden club purchased her home to save it from development. The Hulda Klager Lilac Society now owns and maintains the property. Volunteers tend the garden. Over the years, restoration efforts have preserved the house, shed, and water tower. The former carriage house is now a small museum.
Getting there
Address: 115 S Pekin Rd, Woodland, WA 98674
To reach Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens from Portland, take I-5 N until Exit 21 in Woodland, WA. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto WA-503 N/Lewis River Rd. In 0.2 miles, you’ll merge onto Goerig St. Continue 0.3 miles, then turn right onto Davidson Ave. In 0.2 miles, turn left onto 5th St, which becomes Pekin St in another 0.2 miles. Look for the parking lot for Hulda Klager Lilac Garden on your right.
The drive from Portland takes about 35 minutes. From Seattle, it’s about 2.5 hours.
Enjoy the lilacs!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a fantastic bird-watching spot near Woodland, WA.
