This New England gem is tucked inside America’s historic Elizabeth Park which first welcomed visitors in 1897 and still operates to this day. Inside, the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden is the oldest public rose garden in the nation, and also the third largest in the country.
With over 15,000 rose bushes over 800 varieties of roses, across its 2.5 acres, there’s plenty of opportunity to stop and smell the roses!
About the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden
The Helen S Kaman Rose Garden marks the first municipal rose garden in the nation. Today it is also the third largest in the country.
The garden opened in 1904 inside the already established Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, Connecticut. The garden grew over time to become the largest, with new beds planted regularly. The rose garden began with about 190 varieties of roses—now, over a century later, it boasts over 800!
Many of the roses are fragrant, and all are stunning. The rose displays come in all forms, from colorful gardens to petal-covered gazebos and archways.
When is the best time to visit the rose garden
Located in West Hartford, Connecticut, the rose garden is about 90 minutes south of Boston. This means, the roses bloom slightly earlier than they do in Massachusetts.
Rose bloom at the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden is expected around early June, with peak occurring around mid to late June or early July, around the same time as the Sconset rose blooms, depending on weather.
Getting there from Boston
The best part about the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park is that it is accessible by both train and car from Boston. A drive there is about 100 miles and starts from 90 minutes or more depending on traffic.
To get there by train, take the Amtrak Northeast Regional to Hartford, Connecticut. From there, the park is a 30-minute ride using inter-city transit or a 10-minute carshare.
Don’t forget, Boston has its own rose garden expected to also bloom in June and July!
