Elizabeth Park Rose Garden - Hartford, Connecticut
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden
By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog
June is the month of brides and blossoms. A perfect spot to see both is Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Connecticut. In the month of May, Elizabeth Park is an optimistic place to visit with tulips, lilacs, dogwoods and azaleas brightening the scenery. But in June, the park truly comes alive with it’s rose garden exploding with fragrance and beauty. This year’s Rose Festival falls on Father’s Day weekend, 06/20 & 06/21.
Archways of Roses
Trellises that stand patiently bare the rest of the seasons overflow with endless varieties of roses covering the entire color spectrum. Archways tempt you to explore the gardens further and behind each wall of flowers more surprises abound. In the center of the garden is a huge gazebo which morphs from skeletal to incognito during rose season.
Gazebo overtaken in June
Bridal parties flock to the gardens of Elizabeth Park with their photographers in tow with the hopes that the roses won’t upstage the bride. Prom and First Communion photos are also a big hit here, but the most frequent are amateurs using the natural backdrop to capture their family memories . Children can have plenty of fun running through the rose garden as if it were a maze created by Victorian queens.
Maze of Roses
Outside of the rose garden there are several other flower gardens showcasing other blooms of the summer and offering plenty of shade trees to the weary or those looking for a cool place to relax and read a book. Paved trails wind their way throughout for walking, biking, strollers and pets. Picnic tables are scattered in the park for those packing baskets with them.
More Than Just Roses At Elizabeth Park
Visitors who arrive caught off guard by the length of their stay can always stroll over to the The Pond House Café to grab a delicious meal while overlooking the fountains in the pond where the ducks take up residence. There is also a larger banquet hall attached to provide just the right setting for those June brides to hold their wedding reception.
Pond House Cafe
So whether you are getting married, passing through or in need of some family friendly fun, Elizabeth Park has you covered - in roses.
QUICK HITS:
- COST = Free.
- DURATION = Whatever you make of it.
- HOURS = Park is open Daily from Dawn to Dusk. Pond House Café closed Mondays, see their website below for hours.
- ENVIRONMENT = Family friendly, handicap accessible, leashed dogs welcome.
- ACCESSIBILITY = By car - plenty of free parking.
- WEBSITE = http://www.elizabethpark.org/, http://www.pondhousecafe.com/
- FUN FACTS = Friends of Elizabeth Park in partnership with Hartford Gardeners maintain all the park’s gardens on a non-profit, volunteer basis. There are approximately 15,000 rose bushes alone providing 800 different varieties. You can sit among them on the rose garden lawn Wednesday nights in the summer and enjoy free concerts.