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Rose Day Brings Dozens to Thornden Park Rose Day Brings Dozens to Thornden Park

By Michael Emami

Reporter: IT’S ROSE DAY AT THORNDEN PARK.

Sonia Kraugh, Volunteer: “Literally people come in from the community from all directions.”
Reporter: AND FOR SONIA KRAGH, THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE E.W. MILLS ROSE GARDEN IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SYRACUSE SITE, IT’S A BIT OF NATIONAL TREASURE.

Sonia Kraugh, Volunteer: “there’s countless reasons people would come here and enjoy it. People from out of state come. I asked them like how did you find us and they just look up gardens and we’re among the 10 best in the region and number two rose garden in the country.”

Reporter: WITH OVER 3,000 FLOWERS, AND 300 DIFFERENT TYPES, THE UNIQUE NAMES OF THE GARDEN NEVER DISSAPOINT.

Reporter: “All roses are different, including this one, the Julia Child’s rose, which changes color, just like butter.”

Reporter: AND FOR MANY THE INTEREST IN ROSES SPANS FOR OVER…. WELL… A FEW DECADES.

Lee Ginenthal, volunteer: “I’ve been interested in roses for over 40 years, I have a rose nursery down in Ithaca.”

Reporter: ALL WITH HELP FROM VOLUNTEERS, THEY SEE THE FINAL VIEWING OF THIS PROJECT AS A TREMENDOUS REWARD FOR MONTHS OF HARDWORK.

Lee Ginenthal, volunteer: “You know, just makes me feel good. You know, it makes all that labor on our hands and knees worth it. You know, as we’re working folks will come by and they’ll thank us for what we’re doing.”

Reporter: FOR SOME, THE GARDEN IS A FUN PLACE, ONE THAT IS LIVELY AND VIBRANT. BUT FOR OTHERS, THEY LOOK AT THIS GARDEN AS A SAFEHAVEN, ONE WHERE THEY CAN FIND AN ESCAPE.

Lee Ginenthal, volunteer: “Gardens are our healing place. People come here not only just to smell the roses and see the beauty, but to find a retreat from life as it is these days.”

Reporter: REGARDLESS OF WHY THEY’RE THERE, OR WHY THEY VOLUNTEER, ONE WILL HAVE TO AGREE, MANY WILL ALWAYS TURN OUT AT THIS GARDEN, TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES.

SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) – Rose day at the E.M. Mills Rose Garden in Thornden Park brought in dozens of visitors despite the rain. With the flowers known to peak in June, the event is held annually during the month.

Sonia Kraugh, a volunteer at the garden, said the event reaches beyond state lines.

“People from out of state come. I asked them how they found us, and they just look up gardens and we’re among the 10 best in the region, and second in the country,” said Kraugh.

With over 3,000 flowers and 300 different types of roses planted, the event takes several months of meticulous planning and preparation.  Lee Ginenthal, another volunteer with the rose garden, said the hard work is all worth it in the end.

“You know, it just makes me feel good. It makes all that labor on our hands and knees worth it. As we’re working, folks will come by and they’ll thank us for what we’re doing. It truly is an amazing experience,” Ginenthal said.

Ginenthal is no stranger to rose gardens, with his interest beginning in planting four decades ago. Now he’s the proud owner of a rose nursery in Ithaca, and said these gardens are not just for show, but also for a place of healing.

“People come here, not only just to smell the roses and see the beauty, but to find a retreat from life as it is these days. They are both a safe haven and an escape,” Ginenthal said.

Ginenthal and Kraugh both say when it comes to visitors, they wouldn’t want it any other way.

Regardless of why people visit the garden, or why they volunteer at the garden, many will always turn out yearly to wake up and smell the roses.

 

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