by C Song

Created on: July 12, 2009

Peaceful, scenic, and fragrant, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden holds a special place in the hearts of visitors and San Jose natives alike. Located at the intersection of Naglee Avenue and Dana Avenue in the Rose Garden neighborhood, the garden was once a prune orchard. Today, San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is an official All-America Rose Selections Test Garden, one of 23 in the country and the only one in Northern California.

Blooming roses are on show throughout most of the year from April to November, but the prime time to visit is early May when the roses are at their most beautiful. Admission to the garden is free, making this landmark accessible to all. Visitors can stroll around the garden's lush 5.5 acres and enjoy over 4,000 shrubs of 189 varieties, with names ranging from Voo Doo to San Jose Sunshine. Hybrid tea roses, characterized by a single high centered bloom on each stem, comprise 75% of the plantings. Other types of roses grown at the garden include: floribundas, which have clusters of blooms per stem; grandifloras, which are taller than hybridteas with both clusters and single bloom stems; miniature roses; polyanthas, which have low growing shrubs with clusters of smaller blooms, and climbing varieties, which ascend fences as they grow. But resist the urge to pick any of the lovely blooms; you would pay dearly for that transgression with a hefty $500 fine.

Tired of strolling the grounds? The magnificent fountain at the center of the rose garden provides an ideal spot to rest and enjoy the garden's sensory delights: the chirp of birds, the floral scents, the spray of the fountain and the occasional couple strolling hand in hand. There is a large grassy area where people can play soccer, fly kites, or just bask in the California sun. Near the large grass area are several lovely spots for family picnics and barbeques. The natural grass stage, with its perimeter of stately redwoods, is the site of many weddings, graduations, and plays.

Groundbreaking for the garden took place April 7, 1931. It was opened to the public in 1937, and it has been enjoyed by countless generations of visitors. But in recent years, the garden, like the rest of us, have suffered from the ailing economy. The early 2000s saw the rose garden slowly slip into decline as a result of budget cuts. In 2005, the garden was in danger of losing its accreditation as an All-American Rose Selections Test Garden. But thankfully, the city natives came to the aid of their beloved

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