The Garden of Legend and Romance Roses
History of the Garden of Legend and Romance
This unique garden,
consisting of some 2.7 acres features a collection of 1,500 plants representing
about 500 varieties of roses of antiquity, legend, and romance. The garden
has been developed through t
he generosity of Mrs. Samuel J. Forbes of Mentor,
Ohio. Mrs. Forbes provided the funds to develop the garden in memory of
her father, the late Michael H. Horvath, a widely known rosarian who pioneered
development of new roses. The roses are the gift of Joseph J. Kern, well
known rose nurseryman from Mentor, Ohio. The formal garden was designed by
William A. Strong and Thomas W. Hill, Landscape Architects of Cleveland, Ohio.
Roses have been favorite flowers of mankind through the ages. The Greek poetess, Sappho, called the rose "Queen of Flowers" more than 2,500 years ago. There is evidence that roses were grown as long ago as the 16th century B.C.
Even though many of the old roses have been lost, those cultivated today are still attractive, and have much botanical interest and historical value to show the evolution of the rose. The Garden of Legend and Romance Rose Garden is preserving those old favorites adapted to this region.