Native Plants and Roses at Capitol Park

The Sacramento Capitol Park design includes a series of theme gardens, each with a special focus. Two of my favorites are the native plants garden, and the rose garden. The gardens were fairly dormant during my winter visit, but both were alive with blooms for my spring visit.

Native Plants

The native plants garden is a great collection of plants, trees, shrubs, and grasses that are native to California. Specimens are from all over the state, and many of the plants are endemic to California. In 1914, Governor Hiram created the Capitol Park Native Plants section, and enlisted the help of school children from all 58 counties to donate plants and trees from their geographic locations.

California Native Plants Garden

I loved seeing the resulting mix of plants—an appealing blend of textures and colors that is punctuated with swaying grasses—all flourishing after the recent spring rains. Many of the plants and trees are familiar from my expeditions to the Southern California desert, and to local San Francisco Bay area destinations. It was great to see them as a collection.

World Peace Rose Garden

The rose garden is an amazing collection of roses old and new. The garden was established in 2003 by the International World Peace Rose Gardens organization, whose mission is to advance peace all over the world through the creation of rose gardens. The garden is Victorian style, and includes over 153 species of roses. Sections of the garden are dedicated to heirloom roses (some are no longer available in the trade); celebrity roses (like the César Chávez Rose); and an experimental garden for the All-American Rose Selections. The garden is on the site of the original Capitol Park rose garden, and incorporates its plantings.

World Peace Rose Garden

The flower colors are varied and intense, and the fragrances intoxicating. I have never grown roses, because my gardens have always been too wet or too shady, but I can see how a gardener might become addicted to the colors, fragrances, and history of roses.

Capitol Park is a garden you can visit any time of the year, and see something new!