New Rose Display Garden unveiled at Capaha Park

As the aroma of rose petals hung in the thick summer air, dozens of local aficionados gathered in the northwest corner of Capaha Park on Wednesday evening for the updated Rose Display Garden's ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger was on hand to christen the garden and praised all who helped make it possible.

"It's the culmination of a great partnership between the city, the parks department, the garden clubs and donors, all of them," he said. "The finished product has just turned out great. It's really professional and well-done."

The new garden is home to many varieties of roses, and among the pink-speckled tropicana blooms, buttery-golden Julia Child blossoms and the elegant crimson bouquets, attendees were able to see new landscaping features as well.

A new arbor, irrigation system, fence and electricity were all installed over the last month by the parks and recreation department, but the centerpiece of the garden is now the inlaid stone walkway. It was paid for by donations through Cape Girardeau's three gardening clubs, Four Seasons, Ramblewood and Rose Hills. The renovations have been in the works since 2009.

Bonnie Kipper, co-chairwoman of the Rose Garden said the walkway adds to both the aesthetic and the accessibility of the garden.

"The walkway gives the garden more definition," she said. "It's things like this that will help make people more aware of the things that the city has to offer."

The rose garden is a popular destination for elderly recreation, and has been since it opened in 1955. The walkway gives those confined to wheelchairs or walkers the ability to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about mud or uneven terrain.

Rediger agreed that the upgraded Rose Garden is a good step toward making Cape Girardeau a more beautiful home for residents and a more welcoming destination for tourists.

Art by Becky Coleman is displayed Wednesday at the dedication of the new Walkway of Honor in the Rose Display Garden at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Commemorative stones purchased by donors are featured on the walkway. (Fred Lynch)

"We're really pleased with it," he said. "Lots of people will be able to enjoy this now."

Sitting on a stone bench across the garden was one such tourist, sipping some punch and enjoying the evening. Sharon Nunnelee lives in Kansas City, Missouri, but often visits her mother-in-law in Cape. She had visited the Rose Garden on previous trips, but was curious to see what was new. She shrugged mischievously.

"I had heard about the ceremony, and I thought, 'I'll just go down and crash the garden party.'"

She said she was impressed with the new features and with the party itself, complete with plein-air painters and the acoustic stylings of the three-piece string set Handpicked.

While she has a hard time abiding the humidity and mosquitoes in Cape Girardeau, she said, "It has such lovely little pockets to enjoy. And the rose garden is one of those."

Some stones are still available for purchase, small ones for $50 and large ones for $100. Those interested should call project treasurer Nadine Davis at 334-2969.

tgraef@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

Capaha Park, Cape Girardeau, MO