Get hip at the Historic City Cemetery rose garden

Rose hips bring new colors to the Historic City Cemetery in fall.
(Photo: Judy Eitzen, courtesy of the Historic Rose Garden)

Tour: Sacramento's world famous Victorian collection shows off fall fruit and flowers


Each October, Sacramento's Historic City Cemetery rose garden puts on a show like no other. With varieties dating back to Victorian days, the world-famous collection of old garden roses turns hippy.

See for yourself and learn about this unique living library of roses during a special tour Saturday, Oct. 13. Led by garden curator Anita Clevenger, "October Encore in the Historic Rose Garden" tours the garden at its fall finest. That includes more than flowers.

As the bushes prepare for winter, they form fruit -- bright orange, red or yellow hips. Just as these roses are different from garden varieties, so are the hips, which come in many forms.

These sprays of hips add a festive seasonal touch to the cemetery collection, a member of the Great Rosarians of the World hall of fame.

Besides the hips, plenty of fragrant roses will still be in bloom and on beautiful display. Cooler weather brings out flowers' brighter colors as well as red hues in foliage.

Starting at 10 a.m., the free 90-minute tour starts at the cemetery's main gate, 1000 Broadway, Sacramento. Donations are welcome. Street parking is available.

Details: www.historicoldcitycemetery.org

And don't forget to check out the Sacramento Digs Gardening calendar. Click here to find out about the many gardening events in the Sacramento region.