NYBG: Rose Garden

On Sunday, after I went to America's first pet cemetery (more on that later), I decided to stop at the New York Botanical Gardens to check on their rose garden. I had read that the roses were in peak bloom and I hadn't been back to the garden since the orchid show in March. I'm a member, so I get in for free, and there is a Metro North stop right outside of the entrance. I was coming back on the Metro North from Hartsdale, NY, and a walk through the roses seemed like a perfect end to a already-wonderful day.

It was a very sunny day and to my delight the roses were all in bloom and completely incredible. I've been to the rose garden before during its peak, so I knew what to expect, but it's still a thrill to see so many different kinds of roses in all shapes, sizes and colors in such a beautifully landscaped space. I always love the really dark purple flowers because they feel special, but I found myself really admiring the peachy orange ones on this trip.

Roses seem sort of cliché and old lady-like as a general rule, but that's really a stupid reason to discount them — there's definitely a reason they're so popular and classic at this point. Of course they all smelled amazing, and some of them have color gradations or petal patterns that are so intricate they almost seem fake.

I didn't spend much time in any other part of the NYBG on this visit, but the roses were so spectacular that I didn't really need to, and I love that I can go whenever the mood strikes me and not have to worry about seeing the whole place in one visit. I thought that with the end of spring would come the end of the beautiful blooms, but it's nice to know that although my beloved cherry blossoms and lilacs may be long gone, I can still get my flower fix without ever leaving the city.