Friday, 23 April, 2010 11:07
by brandy
For flower lovers, the Gardens of the American Rose Center has something spectacular for you and your family to see. The official rose bloom season is from April 1 through the end of October. So the grounds are absolutely spectacular and worth a visit to stop and smell the roses.
The center, located at 8877 Jefferson Paige Road in Shreveport sits on a 118-acre wooded tract. It also is home to the national headquarters of the American Rose Society. The gardens were dedicated in 1974 when the American Rose Society headquarters moved to Shreveport from Columbus, Ohio.
The rose center is now the nation’s largest park dedicated to roses. Today, the American Rose Center features more than 65 individual rose gardens and 20,000 rosebushes, with a variety of companion plants, sculptures and fountains to enhance the beauty of the roses. The primary mission of the American Rose Society is education for visitors and members on anything and everything roses.
The gift shop there won’t disappoint you. From the moment you walk in until you leave you are surrounded by the aroma of roses. You can pick up books on how to grow and care for your roses, rose jelly to taste, rose lotion, rose aprons plus many more special gifts.
Though it is a rose park there are many other beautiful flowers and gardens. Other blooming flowers include quince, daffodils and Japanese magnolias. So, put on your comfortable walking shoes and take a stroll through the gardens to enjoy the scenery.
For better viewing enjoyment, we recommend that you take:
• Your camera
• Sunscreen
• Water or other beverage
• A pen and notebook to jot down thoughts to go with your pictures
Hours of operation are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday- Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 per person. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
For more information you may contact the Gardens of the American Rose Center at 318- 938-8051 or visit their new website at www.ars.org.