Rose Garden
Watch beauty unfold.
Immerse yourself in the alluring sights and scents of roses. We house dozens of varieties, all carefully selected for their ornamental attributes and sweet-smelling fragrances, and add complementary plantings for unmatched beauty.
The large specimen fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) on the northeastern side of the garden has the most heavenly fragrance in May and butter yellow leaves in the fall, which provide a beautiful juxtaposition against the vibrant reds and pinks that dominate the space.
This garden comes complete with an octagonal pool, brilliant compositions, and inviting benches. The iconic arches are covered with the Maid-of-Kent rose, which is a rare find outside of England. And yes—this area has seen more than its fair share of courtships, proposals, and weddings.
Things to Discover
What’s in bloom | Low growing Rosa [Pink Drift] in the Mary Ann Sears Swetland Rose Garden stays about 2 feet tall and blooms profusely from late May through October.
What’s in Bloom | Rosa [Perdita], a very fragrant shrub rose with kalediscope-like petals, begins blooming in the Rose Garden this month.
Rosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp’ | Rugosa roses are named for their handsome rugose leaves. Rugosa is officially an Asian species rose that hybridizes easily with other species to make beautiful plants such as Frau Dagmar.
Rosa ‘James Galway’ | Another beautiful Austin hybrid, and another “double.” Doubles are cultivated flowers that have more petals than they’d have in a wild state. I think I might like them—but I’m not so sure that the bees share my opinion.
Rosa ‘Perdita’ | Perdita is a modern rose by David Austin of Shropshire. His roses attempt to remember the old alongside the new. Perdita has some of the old heavy perfume and toughness, but with some of the new stature, re-blooming, and refined grace. Nearly perfect are you, Perdita.
