Park Commission Rose Garden is One of "Jersey's Best"

The Somerset County Park Commission Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden at Colonial Park (Parking Lot A) in Somerset, New Jersey, has been bestowed another honor, being named one of “6 whimsical N.J. Gardens that feel like a fairy tale brought to life” by www.jerseysbest.com.

The Jersey’s Best article noted that now is the perfect time of year to visit the gardens and get some fresh air following the months-long COVID-19 restrictions. When visiting the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden or any of the other noted gardens, it is recommended that state public health guidelines and garden-specific rules be adhered to.

The Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden is one-acre in size and contains more than 3,000 roses of 325 varieties. The garden was named in honor of Rudolf W. van der Goot, the first horticulturist with the Somerset County Park Commission, as a tribute to his efforts in designing and developing the garden. The Rose Garden is located in Colonial Parkon Mettlers Road (Parking Lot A) in the East Millstone section of Franklin Township.

From late spring through fall, the roses present a kaleidoscope of color, form, and fragrance. Visitors can view popular modern hybrids, species, and various classes of Old Garden Roses. All roses are clearly labeled for easy identification and only roses that thrive in central NJ are kept in the rose collections.

The Rose Gardens also earned the 2015 World Federation of Rose Societies' (WFRS) Garden of Excellence Award.

The five other gardens recognized by Jersey’s Best are: Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown Township; Duke Farms in Hillsborough; Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills; the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township; and the New Jersey Botanical Gardens at Skylands in Ringwood