Stop and smell the roses at the Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden

Some of Arlington’s best-kept secrets are hiding in plain sight. The Bon Air Park Memorial Rose Garden, tucked off Wilson Boulevard at the corner of N. Lexington Street, is one of them — a gorgeous, free, and surprisingly expansive English-style garden that rewards anyone who takes the time to wander through it.

Spread across 24 acres with more than 1,200 rosebushes representing over 120 named varieties, a stroll through Bon Air is as much a trip through Arlington history as it is a sensory experience. The roses aren’t just beautiful — they’re a living horticultural archive, with each variety carefully labeled so you can tell your Dick Clark from your Galway Bay, your Viking Queen from your Crimson Glory.

The garden has meaningful roots. It was the brainchild of Nellie Broyhill, an avid gardener who moved to Arlington from North Carolina in 1937. As World War II drew to a close, she founded the Arlington Rose Garden Foundation with the purpose of planting a memorial garden to honor local veterans — including her own son Joel, who later became a Virginia congressman. That spirit of tribute still infuses the garden today.

The blooms are at their peak from late May through June, with fragrance playing a big role in the experience. Purple roses, nearly all of which are fragrant, are a particular favorite among visitors, as is the pure white Pope John Paul II rose, prized for its scent. The roses continue putting on a show through October, so there’s a long window to catch them at their best.

The rose garden is the undisputed star, but Bon Air Park has plenty of supporting acts. The azalea garden, shade garden, sun garden, and ornamental tree gardens each offer their own seasonal color and character — with the sun and shade gardens tending to bloom earlier in spring, making them worth a look if you arrive before the roses hit their peak.

Access is free, open day and night, and no permits are required for personal photography — which explains why the garden is a perennial favorite for engagement shoots, wedding photos, and family portraits. Trellises, gazebos, and well-placed benches are woven throughout the beds, making it easy to find a quiet corner to sit, read, or simply breathe in the flowers. Parking is available on site, and the garden connects directly to the Custis Trail for those arriving by bike.

Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden is located at 850 N. Lexington Street, Arlington, VA 22205. Free and open year-round.