August 25, 2020 – Visitors to Empire Mine State Historic Park will have a special opportunity to take home a living piece of history on Saturday, August 29, 2020. Fledgling heritage rose bushes have been propagated and nurtured for two years by dedicated park volunteer docent Marsha Lewis. They are now ready to find their “forever home” and adorn the gardens of the first thirty fortunate park visitors to secure these enduring symbols of beauty and hope.

Fourteen different varieties are in the lineup for the upcoming sale, with names both familiar and exotic, from American Beauty to Bloomfield Daisy and Reine de Violette.
A mature specimen of the exuberant Fortuniana bush (introduced in 1850) can be observed atop the New Rich Hill Shaft stone and iron structure as you enter the park grounds, and one can purchase its relative for just $20.

The roses for sale were selected from the formal gardens at Empire Mine. The plantings represent a virtual timeline of rose history from the oldest cultivars that predate 1300 to the nineteenth century. Ten groupings are represented on the estate garden grounds: Gallica, Damask, Alba, Centifolia, Moss, Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual, Hybrid Musk, Hybrid Tea, and Hybrid Rufosa.

The roses will be on display at the park entrance area Saturday, August 22, 2020 from 10 am-4 pm, and the transactions will be performed in the gift shop, where many items of historic and educational interest are also available for purchase. The roses are ready to plant, and will need frequent watering to become established in their new location according to Marsha Lewis, Program Lead for the Garden Tours and Rose Propagation Program. Each rose bush purchased comes with an information sheet describing the formal Latin name, parentage, introduction date, environmental preferences, and recommendations for planting locations, and comments specific to the individual variety.

All proceeds from the sale will go to Sierra Gold Parks Foundation, the non-profit park cooperative association supporting Empire Mine State Historic Park, South Yuba River State Park, and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.

Nevada County, California

Everything’s “Coming Up Roses” at Empire Mine State Historic Park

  • What: Heritage Rose Sale from Estate Gardens, Empire Mine State Historic Park Where: Empire Mine State Historic Park
  • When: Saturday August 29, 2020 from 10 am to 4 pm.
  • Who: Sierra Gold Parks Foundation and park docent volunteers
  • Cost: $20 per 1-gallon container