Elizabeth Park

Elizabeth Park is an outdoor space in Hartford, Connecticut that is home to a famous rose garden. The land was originally owned by Charles M. Pond, a wealthy industrialist and statesman who was an important part of the railroad system and fire insurance companies in the area, as well as serving as the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut. The land was willed to the City of Hartford and Pond stipulated that it be used as a horticultural park and named after his wife Elizabeth. The rose garden was created by the Park's first superintendent and featured 100 bushes. Over the years, the garden grew from the original 100 bushes to 15,000 bushes, to the 102 acres worth of roses, garden areas, greenhouses, pathways, picnic groves, lawns and recreation areas it features today. The rose garden is still two and a half acres and features approximately 800 varieties. The rose garden is a part of the All America Test Garden, made up of 22 public gardens in the country were new roses are evaluated before being introduced to the general public. The park's greenhouse is located in the century old Lord Burnham structure and is used for growing annuals that are planted in the garden and throughout the city. The greenhouse is open to the public for a two week period every spring for the annual flower show.