Deseret News | Beautiful blooms make month of June look rosy

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Beautiful blooms make month of June look rosy

Many U.S. cities celebrate roses with festivals, tours, more

By Beth J. Harpaz
Associated Press

Published: Sunday, May 20, 2007 12:42 a.m. MDT

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While June is prime rose-viewing time, a second round of rose events takes place in the fall. A rose festival — with great barbecue, according to Carruth — is held the Saturday after Labor Day each year in Wasco, Calif., headquarters of the All-America Roses Selection and home to many of its growers. The Municipal Rose Garden in Tyler, Texas, has its festival Oct. 18-21, while this year's American Rose Center festival in Shreveport, La., is Oct. 20.

At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cranford Rose Garden in New York City, "June is most definitely the full bloom month," said spokeswoman Leeann Lavin, but a second bloom occurs in September or even early October, depending on the weather. In either season, she added, the flowers "are glorious, like jewelry."

You can experience the 21st-century version of rose mania at any of the following events or locales. Or click on "Public Gardens" at www.rose.org, the Web site of the All-America Roses Selection, for a state-by-state directory.

Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, Conn. Rose Weekend, June 23-24, includes concerts, readings, children's activities and on June 24, Connecticut Rose Society juried show, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; www.elizabethpark.org.

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Washington Park and Peninsula Park rose gardens in Portland, Ore.; www.portlandonline.com/parks Washington Park and Peninsula Park rose gardens in Portland, Ore.; www.portlandonline.com/parks/ (type "rose garden" in the search box).

Portland Rose Festival, May 31-June 10, www.rosefestival.org or 503-227-2681. For the tour of vintage rose gardens, go to www.rosefestival.org/events/historyandroses.

Lyndale Park Rose Garden, Minneapolis; www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID4&parkid350 or 612-370-4838.

All-America Roses Selection gardens in and around Wasco, Calif., near Bakersfield. Wasco Festival of Roses, Sept. 8 (check out the barbecue as well as the flowers). Wasco Town Hall can provide maps to direct you to fields and growers; www.ci.wasco.ca.us or 661-758-2616.

Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, Tyler, Texas. Texas Rose Festival, Oct. 18-21; www.texasrosefestival.com/festival/calendar.htm or 903-597-3130.