Longmont Memorial Rose Garden

Where: Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave.

Web: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/parks/park_list/overview/roosevelt.htm

To paraphrase the old George Jones number, It's been a good -- no, a great -- year for the roses. This spring was one of the warmest on record, meaning that we never got one of those nasty, garden-destroying cold snaps in April or May. The result? Roses running riot all over town. The absolute best place to literally stop and smell the roses in Longmont is without a doubt the Longmont Memorial Rose Garden, located on the west side of Roosevelt Park, just a short walk from downtown.

The garden's history stretches back to 1945, when the first roses were planted by the Lions Club as a war memorial. It's well-known today amongst rose aficionados, even garnering coverage in USA Today. Lovingly tended to by community members, you'll find a dazzling array of rose varieties here -- 190 in all -- ranging from classic reds to exotic hybrids.