From the first day of spring to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden is not only open, but BLOOMING! We visited just before Halloween and found so many more than the 1 or 2 holdouts we were expecting …. the whole garden was full of vibrant blooms!
We were lucky to happen upon Rosarian Christopher Gordon, who tends to be working in the garden on Sundays. He has so much knowledge to share – along with wonderful stories that give each rose character beyond its beauty; there’s a 1000-year-old rose, for example, or the Peggy Martin Rose, which famously survived Katrina. According to Chris, if you come every week from May 1st to mid-June, you’ll catch every rose in bloom.
The Rose Garden is surrounded by beguiling adventures. The Arboretum is among the best places to play hide and seek. The lovely Perennial Garden is full of beautiful vignettes, and home to 135,000 daffodils in spring. The canal path is just steps from one end of the Rose Garden. And the paved footpaths that meander throughout the park will take you to a fantastic playground, a mini golf course, paddle boats, a splashpad and two lakeside trails.
Open until 6pm every day from March 21 to the Sunday after Thanksgiviing; suggested donation $6 for adults, $3 for children and seniors.
CONNECTING FOOTPATHS:
You could spend the day and then some exploring the arboretum, perennial garden and canal towpath that all flank the Rose Garden. And Lois Howe nature trail is less than a mile away at the other end of Colonial Park, which you can reach via paved footpaths that trail through the park.
Parking in lot.
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