Columbus's Park of Roses Is a Hidden Seasonal Spectacle

Tucked into a Columbus neighborhood, the Park of Roses is one of the largest public rose gardens in the country and a hidden seasonal spectacle, peaking in early summer when thousands of bushes bloom at once. For a few weeks each year, an ordinary city park becomes something extraordinary.

The garden is free and unheralded, the kind of place locals treasure and visitors stumble upon. Beyond the roses, its herb and perennial gardens and shaded lawns make it a pleasant retreat well past peak bloom.

The timing rewards those who pay attention, since the fullest display lasts only a short stretch. Regulars track the bloom the way others track fall color, planning a visit for the moment the park is at its best.