This park is included in my top 10 garden destinations for the Central Ohio area with good reason. Why? Take a look at the collages and let me tell you the story.
My parents took me to this park when I was a little child more than fifty years ago now, and in a way, we have grown up together. The formal opening of the Columbus Park of Roses was in June, 1953. The park seemed to have a role in many of my personal landmarks through the years.
Let’s take a little tour through the park and through time…
The parking lot is located below the park and is hidden from sight, two grand wide stairways lead you up to the recreation building, which often holds parties and in my teens was the spot for summertime dances. I listened to the local garage bands
Past the long “boulevard” beds, which once held a long display of all miniature roses and is now filled with a summer display of annuals
At first it was true to its herb garden roots, but as you can see in the pictures the increase of more ornamental and colorful plantings has slowly wedged itself in. The newest addition to the design is an artistically simple water basin. Located directly at the end of the axis centered by a large fountain
Once the pathway turns toward the fountain one comes upon the vast array of roses, of all colors in a grand promenade to the top of the rise. At its pinnacle is an ironwork viewing tower, which upon climbing gives an inspiring overview of the roses
The last part of the park is reserved for the garden of heritage roses
I was brought here to walk among the roses as a child, and as a young mother I brought my own young children here. It was always an inexpensive way to enjoy a night out… a walk through the park and a trip to get ice cream on the way home. Next to the rose garden
Now the last of children are teens and we come on a summer evening to take our digital photos
Additional information:
Park of Roses
3901 North High Street
The Columbus Park of Roses is one of 133 AARS-approved public display gardens in the United States.
During World War II, more than 500 Victory Gardens were planted in the park.
The American Rose Society headquarters were located at the Columbus Park of Roses from 1952 to 1970.
Located within the Columbus community of Clintonville.
Be sure to see Park of Roses, Gardens in Ohio and A Botanical Wedding.
Hi Ilona,
Thanks for the wonderful write-up on Whetstone Park of Roses. I too went there with my parents when I was a child. My mother loved roses and now so do I. My husband and I were married there 27 years ago in October. All of the trees turned to their fall color that day. I’m sure it was just for us. LOL
That is just amazing! We may have passed by each other…
We may have indeed passed… I was the short blond girl giving a wrist watch to her father on his birthday in late June. It was his first. He had always carried a pocket watch until them. Mother and I decided it was high time. Remember me? LOL
aaah whetstone!! park of many
possibilities and great beauty.
those weekend dances and the
freedom to be out late.
the park was eco-minded very
early-on, with beautiful old “greenspace”– the long bikepath
that ran several miles along
the riverbank, through the “civilized” park, then back into
the wild. riding on through 5′ stinging nettle patches navigated fast as you possibly could…that humid summery green smell of
the deeper woods upriver. a great big-city park to grow up with.
and then there were all
the incredible rose gardens…
Well, coneflower.. it probably is going to take dates and placenames to find out 😉
Joanne… one positive thing about Columbus was the park system. In looking up history info I had no idea the park of roses was once a community garden area- how things that go around come around, with more interestn now in such projects ( altho this park itself will not return to that usage, I’m sure).
If you make it to Ohio, we should surely meet up in one of the gardens (or even the zoo- that is so improved and full of garden interest). we can go get Thai or Chinese, too 🙂
if i had the cash to come to columbus, i’d spend it on mower and tiller repair… [sorry, Mom]