In early spring, I had admired the camellia forest at the State Capitol Park in Sacramento. While there I saw a sign pointing towards a Rose Garden, but we were pressed for time. I vowed to come back and explore at a later date. In June, I was in Sacramento for a conference. During a lunch break I was able to visit the California State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden Memorial. The garden was established in May of 2003 and is dedicated to women, children, and families.
There are over 165 varieties of roses there. So many colors, forms, and fragrances surround you as you wander down the pathways. The names of the varieties add to the enjoyment as well: ‘Burst of Joy', ‘Gemini', ‘Rhapsody in Blue', ‘Stiletto', and so many more.
But what makes this garden even more special are the engraved plaques that are scattered throughout the park. The gardens co-creators, TJ David and Sylvia Villalobos, solicited children's thoughts on peace with the theme World Peace Begins with Me. I saw quotes from children ranging from first grade to ninth grade. Most of them were actually quite profound. I had gone to the garden for the roses, but the children's words were an unexpected gift. I hope you can visit there as well.