LYNN — Tucked deep within the sprawling beauty of Lynn Woods Reservation, a quiet renaissance is unfolding.
Once overrun by deer and time, the historic Lynn Woods Rose Garden is blooming again, thanks to the dedication of a small but passionate group of volunteers, the Lynn Woods Rose Garden Club, determined to bring color and pride back to their city.
The Rose Garden’s revival began with a spark of funding from federal ARPA grants, but it was community spirit that truly made it flourish. The first phase of the restoration — what organizers fondly call “Phase One” — focused on rebuilding the garden’s infrastructure: irrigation, soil, and fencing.
“There’s a story behind that fence,” Kelly O’Leary said. “When it went up, people were furious; they thought it ruined the view.”
But it’s there for a reason: to keep the deer out. They had eaten everything down to the roots.
The fence worked. For the first time in decades, roses, some more than 60 years old, are thriving once more.
With the foundation restored, Phase Two is now underway: the careful planting of roses and perennials that will carry the garden into a new era.
Every day, you can find a small crew of volunteers tending the beds — weeding, watering, planting, or just taking in the scent of success, led by Elizabeth Gaeta.
“This is my soul reset,” O’Leary said. “I come here to get grounded again.”
The core group, including longtime residents, brings together a wide range of talents. From soil testing to grant writing, each person has a role.
Many recall the garden’s former glory, a favorite backdrop for weddings, family photos, and afternoon strolls.
“One of the old azaleas here is actually in a Lynn Museum wedding album,” Rich Barry shared. “It was the Hogan wedding; it’s part of our city’s story.”
The garden’s revival has struck a nostalgic chord across the city. As fundraiser letters went out, replies came back filled with memories, from couples who married among the roses to families who picnicked under the pergolas.
“It made me realize just how much this place meant to people,” Barry said. “Every donation came with a story. One man even told me his grandfather used to work in the original rose garden.”
For volunteers like Jasmine Rodriguez, who recently moved to Lynn, the restoration is also a way to put down new roots.
“I love volunteering and helping communities grow,” she said. “When I saw people out here working, I thought, ‘This is something I want my kids to see. Maybe one day they’ll get married here, too.’”
The garden’s layout and planting philosophy are guided by a reverence for both beauty and ecology. Volunteers quoted Frederick Law Olmsted, the famed landscape architect behind Lynn Woods, who believed that “thoughtful design and planning of parks and public spaces have powerful social, environmental, and health impacts,” Gaeta said.
Following that philosophy, the team selected hardy, low-maintenance roses that don’t require chemical sprays, as well as native perennials that support pollinators and birds.
“These aren’t your grandmother’s roses,” said Maria Connell, a member of the New England Rose Society. “They’re sustainable and designed to coexist with the ecosystem.”
The once-controversial fence has even become part of the design. Native climbing plants and rambling roses are being trained to grow along it, transforming it into a living wall of blooms.
“In time,” Connell said, “you won’t even see the fence, just a sea of color.”
The Rose Garden volunteers meet officially once a month, but many can be found there nearly every day.
“It’s addicting,” O’Leary said. “You come once to weed or water, and suddenly you can’t stop.”
The group welcomes newcomers of all ages and backgrounds to join.
“We need younger people, too,” Geata joked. “You don’t have to know the names of the roses; you’ll learn.”
Beyond the petals and pathways, what’s blooming most brightly is community pride.
Volunteers shared that Shawn Kinney and Mark McInerney have tirelessly worked to improve the rose garden for the community.
“There’s so much negative talk about Lynn,” Kathy Wrynn said. “But this, this is something positive. It’s proof that Lynn can be beautiful again.”
Now, the Friends of Lynn Woods Rose Garden is looking for more volunteers and any donations to help preserve the beauty of the garden.
People can reach out through the Lynn Woods Rose Garden Club Facebook page. Also, anyone is invited to attend the clubs monthly meeting. The next meeting will be held Jan. 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Lynn Woods Ranger’s House (at the Pennybrook Rd entrance)106 Pennybrook Road, Lynn.
Donations can be made to: Friends of Lynn Wood Rose Garden at the Lynn Post Office, PO Box 8216, Lynn, MA 01904.
As the garden settles in for winter, volunteers are already planning next spring’s plantings and dreaming of future events, from tours to weddings under the pergola. The Lynn Woods Rose Garden is once again becoming what it was always meant to be: a gathering place, a living piece of history, and a testament to what happens when people come together to care.
