Kansas City's municipal rose garden in Loose Park is the realization of a dream that began in 1931, when a group of citizens under the leadership of Laura Conyers Smith established the Kansas City Rose Society. The first garden contained 120 rose plants. Today, there are about 3,000 roses of nearly 150 varieties in the 1.5 acre garden.
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Kansas City's municipal rose garden in Loose Park is the realization of a dream that began in 1931, when a group of citizens under the leadership of Laura Conyers Smith established the Kansas City Rose Society. The first garden contained 120 rose plants. Today, there are about 3,000 roses of nearly 150 varieties in the 1.5 acre garden.
The rose garden has been maintained through a partnership of the Kansas City Rose Society and the Kansas City, Missouri, Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners. The Rose Society furnishes all the roses while park employees provide ongoing care. In addition, Rose Society members volunteer hundreds of hours each year to assist the Loose Park staff with pruning in the garden. The garden's circular plan was the concept of famous landscape architect S. Herbert Hare. In 1965 the garden was officially named the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden. |
Read Excerpts ...from a speech given in 1940 by Laura Conyers Smith at a meeting of the American Rose Society in Oklahoma City. |
Through the years, the Memory and Friendship Rose Program where anyone can donate to the Rose Garden on our website, has provided funds for our garden. The Society spends around $4,000 each year for new roses and other necessities in the garden.
To celebrate the height of the rose season, the Rose Society annually sponsors Rose Day in the garden, typically the first Sunday in June. Throughout the rose season, the Society sponsors events such as a Jazz in the Garden concert and a fund-raiser called Wine & Roses in the garden.
Every year, about 250 weddings are held in the Rose Garden. ► Learn more about weddings in the Rose Garden
In 1944, the West Garden was dedicated to the heroes of World War II.
The new Italian stone fountain was dedicated in 2002. This sparkling centerpiece was made possible by generous contributions from private donors. In 2008-09, an extensive renovation of the garden was undertaken thanks to funds raised by the Society from public and private donors. The project included improved drainage and irrigation systems, installation of metal edging, improvements to the north shelter, installation of an interior circular walking path and the planting of about 1,200 new roses in the re-defined beds.
To celebrate the height of the rose season, the Rose Society annually sponsors Rose Day in the garden, typically the first Sunday in June. Throughout the rose season, the Society sponsors events such as a Jazz in the Garden concert and a fund-raiser called Wine & Roses in the garden.
Every year, about 250 weddings are held in the Rose Garden. ► Learn more about weddings in the Rose Garden
In 1944, the West Garden was dedicated to the heroes of World War II.
The new Italian stone fountain was dedicated in 2002. This sparkling centerpiece was made possible by generous contributions from private donors. In 2008-09, an extensive renovation of the garden was undertaken thanks to funds raised by the Society from public and private donors. The project included improved drainage and irrigation systems, installation of metal edging, improvements to the north shelter, installation of an interior circular walking path and the planting of about 1,200 new roses in the re-defined beds.
