First discovered by Spanish conquistadors in the late 16th century, the city of El Paso sits on the banks of the Rio Grande River, surrounded by the stark and rugged beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Franklin Mountains. Although historic Spanish missions or Old West gunslingers might come to mind when thinking of El Paso, "Sun City" also is famous for its 300-plus days of sunshine annually. That keeps the region resplendent with color much of the year, thanks to mountainside poppies, desert flowers and an array of bright hues in the El Paso Municipal Rose Garden.
Location and Surroundings
- The El Paso Municipal Rose Garden lies at the intersection of Aurora Avenue and North Copia Street, about midway between downtown to the southwest and El Paso International Airport to the east. Both destinations are less than five miles away. The garden, which is free and open to the public daily from early March to late October, is adjacent to Memorial Park, which includes amenities such as an El Paso City Library branch, a senior center, pool, tennis courts, picnic areas and a playground.
A Bounty of Blooms
- Depending on the season, the rose garden is home to between 1,300 and 1,900 rose bushes spread over 4 acres. Between 300 and 500 varieties of roses bathe the garden in bright blooms of red, orange, pink, yellow and white. The municipal garden is a member of an exclusive group of about 130 rose gardens accredited by All-America Rose Selections. It is cared for by a partnership of several organizations -- the city, the El Paso Rose Society and the El Paso Master Gardeners -- that tend to tasks such as pruning, weeding, giving tours and providing information to visitors.
Additional Amenities
- In addition to its namesake attraction, the El Paso Municipal Rose Garden has a number of wide walking paths that wind between landscaped flower beds, trees, small courtyards and low stone walls. Benches dot the pathways, providing the perfect spot where visitors may sit and soak in the garden's beauty. Surrounded by a wrought-iron fence, the park also includes fountains, a waterfall and a shade canopy, making it an ideal setting for weddings and other special events.
Nearby Botanical Gardens
- If your inner gardener isn't satisfied by wandering among the roses, be sure to visit El Paso's pair of desert botanical gardens during your trip to the city. Chihuahuan Desert Gardens -- part of the Centennial Museum and Gardens on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso -- has more than 625 species of native desert flora in a setting that includes more than 15 separate gardens, walking paths, fountains and sculptures. The El Paso Desert Botanical Garden at Keystone Heritage Park has seven gardens, including a children's garden with a maze, an archaeological dig site and beds where children can plant and tend to flowers and other plant species. Among the other attractions are a koi pond, fountains, a gazebo, an amphitheater and an adjacent wetlands reserve along the Rio Grande.
