Municipal Rose Garden

My mother often took me, my sister, and my brother to the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden before I was in kindergarten in the early 1950’s. There were roses everywhere, but I just enjoyed the large grassy areas, the picnic, and the big redwood trees.

Roses had thorns and bees! Over the years, the Municipal Rose Garden has been the “proving grounds” for new varieties of roses before they are named and made public. This is a popular location for weddings and is in full bloom around May each year.

Municipal Rose Garden has over 3,500 rose bushes and over 180 varieties; long stem, short stem, clusters, doubles, and single roses. Their website has a precise map of all the different varieties. These are delicate gardens and sporting events of any kind are not allowed.

No dogs allowed and do not pick the roses! Parking is around the perimeter of the garden in the famous “Rose Garden” housing district. One block away, on University Avenue, are some of the prestigious homes of early San Jose and it is still considered an elite neighborhood. Also in the neighborhood is the intriguing Rosicrucian Museum.