A Walk in the Park

Yesterday, I ventured off to the Parc du Thabor with one purpose in mind: to find the rose garden. The park is in downtown Rennes and is quite large. 

For those of you who get bored walking in parks, Thabor provides other forms of entertainment. Anyone up for a game or two?

I saw a ping-pong table, too.

Since there was no one around to challenge my mad skills at foosball, I kept on walking.

Giant leaves! 

Part of the fun of walking around the park was being able to people-watch ; one of my favorite past-times! Among the most common that I saw: ladies walking their dogs, men walking their dogs, couples walking their dogs, etc. The sun was shining bright and there were lots of people reading on park benches, soaking up the warmth. 

I decided I'd have to come back with my book another time, because I still had not found the rose garden. 

And then, suddenly, there it was!

WARNING: many pictures of roses ahead. Those of you who take no delight in excessive photos of flowers may fast-forward to the end!

The roses came in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

Each one was individually labeled with names such as 

and

Some of my other favorites included: Sexy Rexy (which had no blooms), Scentimental (very creative, huh?!), Léonard de Vinci, Mona Lisa, Victor Hugo, Brownie, Deep Secret, Betty Boop, The Dark Lady, and La Traviata (the name of the opera I saw!). 

I think there were several hundred different types of roses.

I found this one ironic.

Do you see what it's called? 

First Kiss. 

Looks like it didn't go so well.

These are called Pacific Bloom.

Purple roses always seem a bit sketchy to me.

"Hmm...which rose is my favorite?"

Mom, the yellow roses always reminded me of you.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."