• Blooming rosesrose bush image by Yurok Aleksandrovich from Fotolia.com
  
  Roses, a favorite in flower gardens, come in a plethora of colors and varieties. People who can't grow them, or don't have enough room to grow a lot of them, can enjoy the delightful array of roses to be found in public gardens. Whether you're visiting Ohio, or a state resident, these free gardens are worth a visit.
  
  

The Park of Roses

• The Park of Roses in nestled in a larger park called Whetstone Park in Columbus. The 13-acre site includes the Park of Roses, Herb Garden, Perennial Garden, Daffodil Garden and special collections of heritage and miniature roses. According to the website, the Park of Roses itself contains more than 11,000 rose bushes, making it one of the United State's largest municipal rose gardens. All attractions at the park are free and open to the public.
  
  The Park of Roses
  Whetstone Park
  3901 North High Street
  Columbus, OH 43205
  614-645-3350
  clintonville.com
  
  

The Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance

• The Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance is located on the grounds of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development College in Wooster. With 500 varieties of roses, the garden is nearly the size of three football fields. Although the garden was established over 40 years ago, most of the original roses are thriving. However, many of them bloom only once a season; the best chance for seeing them in bloom is during the first two weeks of June. Admission is free and the park is open from dawn to dusk year-round.
  
  Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance
  1680 Madison Avenue
  Wooster, OH 44691
  330-263-3761
  oardc.osu.edu
  
  

Toledo Botanical Garden

• The Toledo Botanical Garden is a place to enjoy walking, bird watching, photography, and of course, flowers. In addition to its other flowers, there is a Rose Garden filled with hybrid teas, English roses and floribunda roses. The Rose Garden is located east of the Administration Building and is accessed by an arch entryway, where a statue of a mother and a child stands watch over the roses. Admission is free and the gardens are open year-round.
  
  Toledo Botanical Garden
  5403 Elmer Drive
  Toledo, OH 43615
  419-536-5566
  toledogarden.org