Explore Boerner Botanical Gardens
Visit a Heritage Rose Collection in this Milwaukee Park
Jun 28, 2008
Charles B. Whitnall always envisioned creating an escape away from urban life, a place to take in fresh air and beautiful views. In an area southwest of the city of Milwaukee, that dream was realized when Whitnall Park was developed by acquiring public land. It was within Whitnall Park, Boerner Botanical Gardens was born.
Heritage Rose Garden
Mr. Whitnall’s project partner, Alfred E. Boerner, was a landscape architect. He designed the original five gardens still in existence at Boerner Botanical Gardens and renamed in his honor in 1957.
Eugene Boerner, an expert rose hybridizer, donated a collection of the original roses. Today, the heritage rose garden includes over 5000 rosebushes with more than 550 varieties.
Rose enthusiasts will find Old Garden, Miniatures and Romantica Fragrance collections, winners of the All-America Rose Selection, and David Austin series roses. In addition to hybrid teas, there are tree, China, polyanthas, climbing roses and winter hardy roses. For gardeners who love roses and live in colder climates, winter hardiness is a valuable criteria sought in roses. One such rose is the 'Knockout' Rose.
Knockout Roses by William Radler
William J. Radler was Boerner Botanical Garden’s Garden Director until 1994. But William J. Radler is, and was at that time, a rose hybridizer and, in 1988, introduced the 'Knockout' Rose to the world. This rose proved to be black spot resistant and able to survive the wicked winters of Wisconsin.
The All-America Rose Selection named the 'Knockout' Rose winner for 2000. Among the roses Mr. Radler later developed were ‘Blushing Knockout,’ ‘Pink Knockout,’ ‘Double Knockout’ and ‘Rainbow Knockout.’ ‘Carefree Sunshine’ and ‘Ramblin Red’ were some of the shrub roses Mr. Radler bred for their black spot resistance.
Historic ‘Peace’ Rose
In France, it was Francois Meilland who created the ‘Peace’ rose. The rose was to be named after the hybridizer's mother, Madame A. Meilland. Eventually, the rose was brought to America and in 1945, the day Berlin fell to the Allies, it was named ‘Peace.’ On the day peace was signed with Japan this rose won All-America Rose Selection winner of 1946. This rose was grown and enjoyed in many home and public gardens after World War II. The ‘Peace’ rose became a symbol of celebration that war had ended.
Visitors to Boerner Botanical Gardens will enjoy the roses, ponds, fountains, fish and walking trails leading to the other gardens and the adjoining Whitnall Park. Follow paved roads around a hilly park to find scenic views of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and wildlife.
Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio, is another Midwest rose garden to visit to find ideas for the home garden. Rose gardens are best to visit in June, at the height of rose season.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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