The public is encouraged and invited to help Point Defiance Park’s Rose Garden win $2,500 and national recognition. Simply visit http://www.rose.org/votenow before July 1 and choose the Point Defiance Park Rose Garden as “America’s Best Rose Garden.”

All-American Rose Selections’ (AARS) “America’s Best Rose Garden” competition is a national competition to find the best public rose gardens in America. The voting starts April 1 and closes July 1.

Since 1938, the non-profit AARS has been dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. Each of the 130 AARS-plus accredited public rose gardens across America bloom with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of roses each year.

The Point Defiance Rose Garden has more than an acre of roses and is a unique and historic Tacoma treasure. The site includes a garden of miniature roses, arbors of climbing roses, a picturesque wishing well and quaint gazebos. The oldest section of the garden was established in 1895. From June through September more than 1,500 rose bushes provide a rainbow of colors including many variegated combinations. The garden is accredited by the American Rose Society as an All American Rose selection display garden. The Tacoma Rose Society provides continuing support and maintenance assistance.

For more information visit http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=32 .