Visiting the Rose Garden in May is a must! The roses start to bloom and the weather is typically just perfect for a stroll, picnic, or photo ops. And, being only a few blocks from Cameron Village and Hillsborough St, there are plenty of great restaurants to grab food to go and head over.
The Rose Garden is maintained by the City of Raleigh and is located at 301 Pogue St, just behind the Raleigh Little Theatre. At the southern end of the garden is the small stone shelter, ramp access, shady perennials, and the outdoor amphitheater. On the other side of the garden is the curved pergola and water fountain. Benches and picnic tables are sprinkled around the perimeter of the garden, which is covered in large shade trees. In the middle of the garden are more than 50 varieties of roses, in various shades of yellow, peach, red, pink, purple, and white. The rose beds are meticulously maintained and provide a natural backdrop for a wedding or special event. Visit the Raleigh Little Theatre’s website for more information about renting the garden for your next event.
There are several different ways to access the Rose Garden. You can park along Pogue St (pay close attention to parking signs) and walk down the stairs on the western or northern sides of the garden or enter through the ramp access on the southern side. If parking is scarce around the garden, you can usually find a spot on a nearby street, but remember to always check the parking restrictions. There is also a small parking lot behind the outdoor amphitheatre.
Whether visiting the rose garden for a special event, picnic, or stroll with the family or dog there are great sights and smells for everyone.
Thumbs up: picnic spots, photo ops, outdoor theatre, variety and colors of flowers
Thumbs down: parking (at times)