While we were staying in Arlington, Texas in the spring we also made several trips back to Shreveport, Louisiana to help dad with various issues. One nice day we managed to leave early and stop at the world famous Tyler Municipal Rose Garden.
From the overlook at the visitors center and museum it is easy to believe their claim of 35,000 rose bushes and over 500 varieties in their 14 acre park. My standard for rose gardens is the Whetstone Park of Roses in Columbus, Ohio and Tyler is every bit as good with an excellent layout and many extra features that add to the overall garden like these ponds and fountains.
Looking back at the overlook from the other side of the garden across the main beds is the visitor center and museum building an excellent facility.
Like I said before my grandfather made great roses grow in the harsh weather of western New York, my father kept quite a few in his home gardens, and I know what they are. My overall impression of roses is too much scraggly green for the little bit wonderful flowers you get. My preferences go more toward coleus foliage and camellia flowers.
And everything is not a bed of roses. Out in the back corner of the garden is an area with other flowers blooming in the spring.