One of Nantucket Island’s hidden gems is the eastern end of the island, named Siasconset, or Sconset for short. Many people who have visited Nantucket never ventured to Sconset, since it’s about 8 miles from downtown and the ferry ports.
However, Sconset is home to some of Nantucket’s treasures, most notably a cliff of dozens of gray cottages that are covered with trailing roses in the summer. The blooms don’t last long, so it’s important to time your visit to Sconset intentionally if you want to see the rose blooms in Sconset this summer!
Where are Nantucket’s climbing roses?
The climbing roses that cover a row of Grey Lady cottages are in Siasconset, or Sconset for short. Sconset is on the far end of the island, on the Eastern side, home of the equally gorgeous Sankaty Lighthouse. It’s a quieter part of the island, mainly residential with a few shops, the scenic Bluff Walk, a golf and tennis club, and Sconset Beach. The roses decorate the many quintessentially Nantucket homes along the bluff overlooking the ocean.
When is the best time for roses on in Sconset?
The Sconset roses generally bloom in July, with peak bloom around Fourth of July. Rose blooms last two weeks on average, so the roses blossom from late June, peak in early July, and slowly drop their petals by mid July.
Getting to Sconset
Sconset is about 8 miles from Downtown, and accessible by all modes of transit. The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) operates a free shuttle in the summer that also travels to Sconset. From there, you can explore the rose-covered cottages, some over 400 years old!