Rose City: Richmond, Indiana 🌹

Last updated: January 6, 2023

Did you know that in the 1970s, Richmond, Indiana accounted for the sales of millions of roses in the US and around the world? During that time, Richmond’s E.G. Hill Company and the Joseph H. Hill Company, together with the Hill Floral Products Company, were the premier rose growers and marketers of cut roses, and directly responsible for selling all those roses, thus earning Richmond the name of Rose City. In 1987, a rose garden was established to honor it all.

As such, the Richmond Rose Garden became one of the things to see when my parents popped over for a weekend visit. September was is a little late into peak season, but there were still many beautiful roses to enjoy!

For the past 35 years, the public has been enjoying the brightly colored bushes and the lovely scented pathways that make up the Richmond Rose Garden – All American Rose Selections (AARS) – E.G Hill Memorial – Richmond Friendship Garden. Yes, they’ve got a lot going on with that name! Let’s break it down, shall we?

Richmond Rose Garden

Over 350 rose bushes grace the Richmond Rose Garden with 17 varieties of roses. Historic star bricks line the pathways throughout the garden and sections are labeled with a short description of the rose growing in that area. It has received AARS designation, holds the E.G. Hill Memorial, and partners with the Richmond Friendship Garden.

All American Rose Selections (AARS)

The AARS is a designation given by the American Rose Society to roses evaluated for a certain period of time by members and test gardens throughout the United States. Late in 1988, after only two seasons, the Richmond Rose Garden earned the highest distinction of being designated an All America Rose Display Garden by the All America Rose Selection Board. The only other garden in Indiana to receive this recognition is in Fort Wayne. The public is provided an opportunity to preview A.A.R.S. winners before they are marketed.

As one of only 130ish A.A.R.S. Public Display Rose Gardens in the nation, the Richmond garden will annually receive a selection of new All America Rose varieties approved by the A.A.R.S. Selection Committee. All current winners and many of the previous winners, dating from 1946, are also among the plantings.

E.G Hill Memorial

Edward Gurney (E.G.) Hill spent a lifetime with roses and is often thought of as the “Dean of American Rose Growers”. He was born during the days of the Civil War and spent his last sixty-three years here in Richmond, Indiana. He was highly respected both in the United States and abroad for his knowledge on rose growing. He was the first American to be invited to judge the Paris Rose Show and the originator of countless roses.

When he died in 1933, the Richmond community wanted to do something to honor all of his work. A site was chosen east of the main entrance to the beautiful Glen Miller Park, which was very appropriate since Hill had served as President of the park Commission in 1894. Indiana sculptor, Jon Magnus Jonson designed and executed a simple but massive limestone fountain. A beautiful garden with roses and evergreens was planted around the fountain and in 1937 the E. Gurney Hill Memorial Fountain and Garden were opened to the public.

In the summer of 2000, renovation of the fountain took place with a new top bowl and period figurine being added. Special care was taken in choosing pieces that would compliment the age of the fountain.

Richmond Friendship Garden

The Richmond-Friendship Garden is the newest addition to the garden project emphasizing Richmond’s friendship with the German City of Zweibruken. The garden lies between the A.A.R.S. and the E.G. Hill Memorial gardens. It is of German design and features many German roses, a gift from the famed Europas Rosegarten of Zweibrucken. The elegant rose sculpture wrought by The Magaw’s of Boston, Indiana symbolizes that friendship.

Glenn Miller Park

As you can see, this garden project is taken very seriously by the city of Richmond and it’s all nestled in Glenn Miller Park which is the largest park in Richmond spanning 194 acres. Given I am only two miles from this park, I plan to explore it soon and of course will tell you all about it.

Well, that’s a wrap on Rose City! I’ve been known to grow my fair share of knockout roses during my time in Tennessee and they came back each year stronger than ever. I did this for about a decade and was always impressed with how well they grew… I started with tiny bushes and after 10 years you could see them from a mile away on the old backroad to my house. They brought a smile to my face each and every spring and summer as I rounded the bend. Given my newfound knowledge of roses, I’d love to know your favorite rose!

Be sure to check out the winter edition of Rose City to see some snow covered roses.