Elizabeth Park Rose Garden

A Connecticut gem for all to admire, with roses by many names

Yesterday I went to see the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, which I had never even heard of, and I have taken a lot of day trips in the area. This is truly a Connecticut hidden gem. I know that’s something of a cliché, but I think, in this case, it’s true. It is also magnificent, and I don’t use that word lightly either. I’m not a rose gardener; roses are just too difficult for me, so I especially respect a garden of this level. It is quite outstanding.

I was with a friend – who is a professional rose gardener, recently retired from the New York Botanical Garden; he was here for professional training several years ago. Ken recalled it as an outstanding experience and wanted to see it again. We had been waiting for a good day to make the hour drive, what with rain in the forecast every day, and finally made it on what turned out to be a dry and sunny day. His memory was not false. I mean there are 15,000 rose bushes here with blooms in every conceivable possible color!

Some 800 varieties, from hybrid teas to ramblers to floribundas (and more), are in different stages of bloom through autumn, and while June may be the peak season, it is worth the trip any time. (To see the arches in flower, get there by early July.)

The rose garden is the jewel of Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, which opened as a public park in 1897, a donation to the city by Charles Murray Pond in memory of his wife, Elizabeth. The Helen S Kaman Rose Garden opened in 1904, making it the oldest municipal rose garden in the country and, now at 2.5 acres, the third largest. It is named after the first president of the Elizabeth Park Conservatory, founded in 1977 when the rose garden was threatened due to declining public support.  

According to the brochure:

Helen was an artist and an aeronautical engineer, and understood the importance of urban public parks as a place for people of all backgrounds to enjoy nature and outdoor beauty.

The rose garden is designed with eight wide grass pathways marked by arches dripping with climbing roses (they are actually called ramblers; I am not a rose expert, just an admirer) radiating out from a central gazebo.

The hundreds of beds between these paths are full of roses with memorable names such as Julie Andrews, Dick Clark, Hiawatha, Julia Child and Queen Elizabeth to Yellow Submarine and Plum Perfect. They are brilliant in color and the names are whimsical and historical. Rose arch and bed dedications are available as a means of fund-raising if that interests you!

Really, so much to look at, it is impossible to take it all in, at least in one trip.

And, as you would expect, this is a popular spot for weddings and photos. We were there at the right time to see a proposal, which was quite fun. Ken was so absorbed in looking at a rose, he had to be nudged out of the way for the couple’s entry.

The park itself, with 100 acres of gardens, green space and walking paths, is worth a drive any time of year, even when the roses are out of season. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and received Arboretum status in 2019. More than 1,000 trees (some growing naturally and others planned) line the park perimeter and dot the landscape, so I expect autumn would be a glorious time to visit, too.

Elizabeth Park is located at 1561 Asylum Ave., in West Hartfort in the Prospect Hill area, and is open dawn to dusk, with a summer concert series and other events throughout the year. Check park website Upcoming Events for details.

Not surprisingly, Frederick Law Olmsted did have a hand in its original design when Pond was assessing the viability of turning his estate into a public space. Much like NYC’s Central Park, it is not an enclosed, separate space, but part of the environment, with no charge to enter or park. 

Stop at the visitor center and gift shop for restrooms, brochures, quality wares and information. We tried to have lunch at the Pond House Cafe on the property, which looked lovely, but without reservations, we had no luck. Next time, we will. Call ahead, 1-860-231-8823.

Instead, we drove a couple miles to Bricco on LaSalle Road, which was recommended by two separate individuals. Our late lunch was delicious, and I was so hungry I neglected to take a picture of my jerk chicken with bacon and avocado on brioche. It was delicious, and the portion huge, so I took half home. The modern Italian-American menu changes daily, and the fresh ingredients are evident (Ken had a pasta Bolognese with no leftovers).

I hope to get back to the park this summer, and certainly for the dahlias in August. Ken said it was even better than he remembered it: “More roses, more varieties. It truly is a destination that should be recognized for not only the rose garden, but all the gardens and events that are available to the public at NO charge.” He stressed the “no charge,” and I agree.

Here’s a link to what’s in bloom when.

Enjoy!