Jul 7, 2008 7:45 am US/Central
Finding Minnesota: Lyndale Park Rose Garden
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
We've all likely been told at one time or another to "stop and smell the roses". Near Lake Harriet in Minneapolis there is just such a place to stop and take in the aroma of thousands of roses.
Lake Harriet is a gathering spot for people in the Twin Cities; a hub of outdoor activity where you can abandon the stress of the day. And just across the street is a place to wind it down even further.
Lyndale Park is 63 acres of splendor that came to be 100 years ago, back when days off were rare, and folks made the most of them at Lake Harriet.
"Sundays were a day of rest, a day to go to church, come down afterwards, and enjoy the gardens, have a picnic and take in a concert that night," said Mary Maguire Lerman, Environmental Coordinator of Horticulture Programs for the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.
This time of year, the rose garden at Lyndale Park is in full bloom.
"We have 62 beds, and each of the beds have 30 roses in them," said Lerman. Some 3,000 rose plants offer a beautiful backdrop for a lazy day.
This acre-and-a-half is also a test garden for the All-America Rose Selection Committee which means you'll find an amazing variety of blooms.
"What that means is we get roses that have been bred hybridizers, that they want tested around the nation. They go through a process where the scores from 26 different gardens are sent in," said Lerman.
The roses that make the cut are kind of like winners of the Rose Beauty Contest, where health and vigor are part of the competition. The All-America Roses produce incredible mixes of color. A candy store for the eyes. Mother's natures candelabras.
"The buds start out one color, then open up to a very nice orangey color and then even as they fade away, they will turn into pinks," Lerman notices as she points to one of the varieties.
Minnesota's cool spring makes now great time to check it out for yourself, or enjoy the perennial garden just up the hill.
Just across the street from the roses you can wander the Peace Garden that was resurrected about 25 years ago after tornados pretty much wiped out the area. Today it is a tranquil mix of trees, perennials, birds, fountains and lots of little spots where you can find peace within.
An interactive sculpture offers a lesson in making an Origami Peace Crane and don't be surprised if the winged creatures from the neighboring bird-sanctuary flutter over to say hello.
Lyndale Park is a great place to spend some time and lose track of it in the process.
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