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Old City Cemetery Committee, Inc.
- Sacramento Historic Rose Garden
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Sacramento Historic Rose Garden
Sacramento Historic Rose Garden is a composed
mostly of old or antique roses collected from
cemeteries, old home sites and along roadsides in
northern California. It was conceived and
established by Fred Boutin, an internationally
recognized rosarian and authority on "found
roses," and Jean Travis, a member of the Heritage
Rose Group. Members are working to collect, plant,
and maintain those roses which were popular from
the Gold Rush era through the Victorian/Edwardian
era (roughly 1850-1915).
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Many of these antique roses were brought
across to California in the holds of ships
or carried in wagon trains by early pioneers
to the new homes of the pioneers and,
finally, placed at their gravesite. Because
roses are propagated by taking a slip or
piece of the original to start a new plant,
they are, in essence, the same plant.
Therefore, roses in a Mandarin's garden in
old China or Empress Josephine's famous 18th
Century French Garden are now planted in
Sacramento’s Historic Rose Garden. |
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Old roses come in many shapes and colors.
Unlike modern roses, with rigid stems and
tight, high centered blossoms; the old roses
may be flattened like architectural
rosettes, open with a large boss of yellow
stamens, cupped, with the petals wrapped
tightly around the center, or even huge,
fluffy and overblown. They are highly
fragrant and have been used for medicines
and perfumes.
The collection at present numbers more than
four hundred plants—over two hundred
varieties. The city of Sacramento Department
of Community and Visitor Services and Rose
Garden Volunteers cooperate to maintain the
garden.
Contact the
Sacramento Historic Rose Garden
Open Garden Day Photos |
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Garden Links
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