Tallinn Botanic Garden holds Rose Days in the renewed rose garden

For the first time in several years, the Tallinn Botanic Garden will once again be hosting its popular Rose Days on 19 and 20 July, which will take place in the renovated rose garden. During the Rose Days, you can see over 700 rose cultivars, take part in guided tours, visit a consultation corner and buy rose plants.

In May 2022, a major renovation of the rose garden at Tallinn Botanic Garden began. The project included cleaning the surrounding ponds, restoring retaining walls, replacing the rose bed soil, updating the plant assortment, installing a new irrigation and lighting system, and building a new pavilion.

"The rose garden is one of the oldest and most important collections of the Tallinn Botanic Garden, and its construction started on the year following the Botanic Garden’s establishment in 1961. The fact that the first director of the botanic garden, Arnold Pukk, who specialised in roses, was directly involved in its construction, adds to the special character of the rose garden," said Urve Sinijärv, director of Tallinn Botanic Garden. The rose garden with its hexagonal honeycomb hedges was designed by landscape architect Aleksander Niine.

According to Arnet Poola, the curator of the Rosarium, the Tallinn Botanic Garden's rose garden is the largest known collection in Estonia in terms of the number of cultivars. "There are over 700 cultivars here at the moment, sourced from different countries. Many people know the German and French varieties that have proven themselves in the climate of our home country, but you may also be surprised to find varieties from Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands or even Japan. We have beautiful old classics like 'Baccara', 'Gloria Dei' or 'Flammentanz', as well as modern beauties like 'Vulcano', 'Roald Dahl' or 'Spotlight',” said Poola. Poola cites Estonia's own 'Mõrsjaroos', 'Lumivalgeke' and the lily of the valley-scented 'Kevad' as important varieties.

The preliminary design of the reconstruction project was provided by Kersti Lootus, the landscape architect of the Tallinn Botanic Garden, and the rose garden was built by Nordpont OÜ.

Visitors and plant enthusiasts had the opportunity to contribute to the renovation by participating in a donation campaign to support the construction and purchase of roses. With the donors’ consent, their names are listed on the Botanic Garden’s website. The Tallinn Botanic Garden thanks all its donors.

Rose Days 2025 programme:

Saturday 19 July

11:00 – Guided tour

13:00 – Consultation corner: “Who’s harming my rose?”

11:00–16:00 – Plant sale

16:00 – Musical performance by Robert Jürjendal

Sunday 20 July

11:00 – Guided tour

13:00 – Consultation corner: “Who’s harming my rose?”

11:00–16:00 – Plant sale

Guided tours will be led by Arnet Poola, the curator of the rose garden, advice will be provided by plant protection specialist Pille Hermann, and rose plants will be for sale on both Saturday and Sunday by rose grower Rein Joost.

The entrance fee includes access to all Rose Days events.

The Tallinn Botanic Garden is open daily from 10:00–19:00, Palm House from 11:00–19:00.

Founded in 1961, the Tallinn Botanic Garden is a research, educational and cultural institution that focuses on the protection and introduction of plants. It is situated on a 40-hectare area next to the Pirita River Valley. In total, around 8500 plant species grow here in open air and in greenhouses. The mission of the Tallinn Botanic Garden is to preserve, develop and introduce rich plant collections and herbaria and carry out research and nature education work to preserve and increase biodiversity. Tallinn Botanic Garden aims to be an advocate for a modern, environmentally-conscious mindset and the promotion of garden and landscape design.