We have finally had an absolutely wonderful week. It’s been warm, we’ve had just enough rainfall, the days just keep getting longer, and the roses are finally at least in bud! This is the time of year we rosarians just can’t wait for…the beginning of the first flush. Connecticut Rose Society’s last meeting of the 2013/2014 year was Sunday, June 1st. In recent years, we have been trying to have new experiences, and so we have been visiting a rose garden once a year. This year’s is the Walnut Hill Park Rose Garden.

Historic, Beautiful Garden Tour

This year’s choice was Walnut Hill Park Rose Garden in New Britain, CT. Frederick Law Olmstead designed the original park in 1870 and loaded it with Olmstead’s signature sweeping vistas. The rose garden went in in 1929 as a memorial to World War 1 veterans.

It was located on the eastern side of the hill. At the top of the hill is a gorgeous art deco monument hundreds of feet high with eagle wings at the top. Behind this monument is a stone alcove with bronze plaques commemorating the soldiers that fell in that great war. It is truly an awe inspiring place, located on the highest hill in the city…so high up the city sites and noises do not even exist in this place.

All one hears is birdsong and the breezes ruffling the leaves.

Growth

At some point a few decades ago, the original rose garden became too much for the city of New Britain to maintain and the roses were plowed under. Back in 2009, a young lady named Kate McCue came to visit me when I was curator for Elizabeth Park Rose Garden.

Kate had just graduated from the master gardener program, and as her project she wanted to bring the roses back to Walnut Hill Park. We got to know each other quite well, and Kate handled every aspect of building this beautiful garden. She has a great relationship with the city, formed a Friends group, set up a first-class volunteer program, and ordered 800 roses of all types to plant in a new location: up at the top of the hill in existing beds with irrigation already installed.

Beautiful wrought iron structures were created for the climbing rose…recycled iron from the city was donated to fashion these works of art. Big beds of ‘Veteran’s Honor’ roses greet the visitor at the main entrance. This is truly a spiritual space.

Walnut Hill Park Rose Garden Volunteers

When I told Kate we were coming, she said they hadn’t finished pruning because of all the cold weather this spring. Plus, the weeds were also a problem. I thought maybe Connecticut Rose Society might be able to help. When we arrived at 1:00 on June 1, we had a picnic under one of the pavilions, a short business meeting, and then folks began to tour this mighty space. A bunch of us brought our pruners and loppers and weeders and went to work for a couple of hours. We got quite a lot accomplished and left tired but very happy.

If you have an opportunity to help keep a municipal garden beautiful this summer, I hope you will jump in and help. It feels wonderful to work with fellow gardeners and make a difference. Every thing you do will be much appreciated…Kate certainly was happy with what we got done! Remember: many hands make light work!