Elizabeth Park rose gardens tour is June 20

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The Granby Senior Center Civic Engagement Education Team has engaged a private rose/history tour at Elizabeth Park on Wed., June 20. The tour will cover all major gardens maintained by the Conservancy. Elizabeth Park built in 1904 is the home of our country’s oldest public rose garden and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally owned by financier Charles M. Pond and was named for his beloved wife, Elizabeth. The rose garden is in peak season in mid-June. The other gardens on the tour include the perennial, annual, shade, heritage rose and herb gardens. The park is 100 acres in total for those who want to explore more that day. The tour will last one hour and will cover the garden area.

We have booked the tour for 15 people. The senior van is available for this tour. You need to have a current van card ($10); trip fee is $4.00. Please plan to be at the senior center before 11:00 p.m. in order to complete registration and to pick up a dessert and water to take with you. The tour is scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m. and the van will be leaving the park around 2:30 to return to the center. Some picnic tables are available away from the area of the gardens and there are many benches around the pond near the Pond House where you can sit and enjoy a lunch. Wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking on grass and crushed stone paths. Restroom facilities are open to all park visitors at the Pond House.

The tour is still a go if June 20 is a day with scattered showers or drizzle, but a true rainy day will cancel the tour. There is no rain date. Check with the senior center if rain clouds threaten.

Please register by calling 860-844-5352. Cost is $5. Bring your own lunch. Water and dessert will be provided.