Have you ever been? I'd been in the past but wanting 2 specific roses I made the trek up there from Houston. They were the only place around that had both the roses I wanted! I kicked myself upon arriving that hadn't taken my camera. It is GORGEOUS there.
They have the cutest little historic red church with the nice arched windows, steeple, original tall double doors---I thought the doors were neat because they were so narrow you'd have to open both to be the size of a regular door entrance (locked to public?!), a house circa 1900 with wrap-a-round porch (also locked) and seemed only my kids and I were interested in these structures (hey we looked at plants to hehe) but we enjoyed the porch swing there. And being in a city where few houses have front porches these days I'd been trying to explain to DD about porches so it was our first chance to actually take her to one, ho w sad is that, and it made me pine for the country living again. :)
The grounds were incredible, flower landscape intermixed with flowers in pots to buy. They have more than roses but since they are predominately a rose company pickings on other things was slim. They had several areas with pathways that lead to something neat to see---the house or church, a large fountain, gazebo, trellis's, a crazy shaped red brick road that leads to no-where for kids to follow, a real (albeit short) YELLOW brick road, etc all intermixed with odd metal lawn sculptures like a real tin man and metal "toto" dog ha, great for DD an Oz fan. :)
They even have a place with picnic tables you can purchase a lunch there.
All in all just the best family outing planned garden/nursery I've ever been to. We didn't go for the easter egg hunt activity they'd offered but I was impressed they put that together for the kids.
Most nurseries are so crowded with plants that pathways are narrow and it's hard for me to get up and down them with both kids and a stroller you know but this nursery was roomier. And it was really nice that ARE actually has an information booth (most have this but not all) and there were actually people there to help :). It gets frustrating to go to a nursery where staff cannot speak English well enough to point me out to the plants I'm wanting, I'd just about given up on the nursery experience and was ready to just cave to the selection of the box store for plants when an unplanned trip to ARE has inspired me once again!
I had wanted to ask if those historic buildings are ever open to the public but on my way out the information staff were on the grounds helping customers. Before I call to ask, does anyone actually know? Thanks in advance!
Antique Rose Emporium (ARE) in Brenham: for the whole family
I've been to a wedding at ARE. They were married in the gazebo and the reception was at the back of that big house. They had the food inside and the table under the covered patio out back. I've seen pictures of other couples coming out of the chapel. I've been in the chapel for a lecture they were giving at ARE one weekend.So probably they are open for private events like that.
Thanks! Yeah I thought that house looked huge to but DH pointed out that the wrap around porch was deceiving :) I saw all the rope lighting through the area (gazebo) and suspected they might do weddings. Did you actually go into the house? Rooms (through the windows) rooms seemed small inside but I still love ANY old house and would love to tour it.
Just one more way I'm impressed that this little nursery has really made an income for themselves by making it so versatile!
We were there on March 24th, and they had a good selection of everything. I did take the camera!
This guy was in the Children's Garden.
One of the rose sections.
excellant thanks!
Tir_Na-Nog- Yes we did get to go into the house. The food for the wedding reception was set up in one of the rooms. The rooms themselves were not big at all. With a couple of buffet tables and people it was very crowded. But the ambience at that wedding could not have been better. Spring time, roses and bluebonnets in bloom. Rain the day before so everything looked and smelled so fresh.One of the nicest weddings I've been to.
Yes the bluebonnets en route to the ARE were awesome!
Well that explains it, the house is for special events :)