Shannon here: Brenda S. Anderson takes us on a tour of the Duluth Rose Garden, the setting for a pivotal scene in her latest Contemporary Romance, Planting Hope. Comment or answer the question at the end of any post dated Sept 26 – 29 to enter the drawing for a copy. Print for U.S. only, digital for international. Deadline: Oct 7th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Brenda:
My heroine loves flowers, so when researching the Duluth, Minnesota, area for a first-date location for my hero and heroine, I needed a place that would spotlight flowers, and I ran across the perfect place: the Duluth Rose Garden.
These beautiful gardens, which are part of Leif Erikson park, encompass six acres of land, most of which is situated above an I-35 tunnel. When travelling through the tunnel, you’d never know a gorgeous garden was above you!
The gardens, established in 1965, are located at 13th Avenue East and London Road Duluth, Minnesota and overlook Lake Superior. The gardens are easily accessed by a Lakewalk that borders Lake Superior.
Over 100 varieties of roses, and 3000 well-labeled rose bushes fill the park. There are 12,000 non-rose
plants as well. You can just imagine how beautiful it smells during the summer! At the northeast end of the park, you’ll find a lovely, marble gazebo, perfect for weddings and engagements, that reminds me of that “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” scene from The Sound of Music.
Brick walkways lead patrons through the massive gardens, and benches are scattered throughout for visitors to rest.
No surprise, the Duluth Rose Garden is a popular wedding destination. Also no surprise, my heroine LOVED that first date at the garden.
About Brenda: Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is Past-President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE, the 2016 ACFW Chapter of the Year. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 30 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.
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About the book: Planting Hope (Where the Heart Is – book 3)
When flowers and chocolate collide, romance is sure to bloom
Family has always been the one constant in Jess Beaumont’s messy life, so when her parents separate,
she puts “Operation: Planting Hope” into action. All she has to do is recreate the circumstances that helped her parents fall in love. Unfortunately, that includes the daunting task of restoring the family cabin’s gardens. When the handsome candy store owner shows up to help, she’s certain she has all the elements required for her parents’ love to bloom again. After all, flowers and chocolate are the perfect ingredients for romance.
Luke Harrison has spent his life trying to win his father’s approval, and a promotion in the family land development business would be a step in that direction. But when he inherits Gran’s candy store, his dreams of being promoted start melting away. Then his dad dangles a Vice President position in front of Luke, with one caveat—acquire the land on both sides of Gran’s store within five months, including the Beaumont cabin, and the promotion is his.
What at first seemed a simple challenge for Luke becomes a tangled mess. Buying the Beaumont cabin
and land will nip his blossoming romance with Jess in the bud. Even worse, it could end her parents’ marriage. But if he doesn’t succeed, he could be trading in his corner office for the corner candy store.
Watch the book trailer: https://youtu.be/7_MdgPKUJto
Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now!
Planting Hope – Amazon Planting Hope – barnesandnoble Planting Hope – itunes
Planting Hope – kobo Planting Hope – books2read
More info on the Duluth Rose Garden:
http://www.duluthmn.gov/tours/rosegarden/rosegarden.html
Questions for Readers: What is your favorite flower? Do you have a garden or houseplants?
Come back Sept 29th for Brenda’s romantic character interview!
Thank you, Shannon, for welcoming me back!
Unlike my heroine, Jess, I have a brown thumb. Perennials surround my house, but only the easy ones like hostas, lilies, and irises, that not even I can kill! In my house, the plants are all fake!
I love any flowers but especially roses! I have some flowers mainly roses and some houseplants!
Roses seem to be a favorite of many! They are amazing, aren’t they?!
Favorite flower? Hm. Well, maybe a lily. Easter lilies are always beautiful. We also have daylilies that come up every year and they are just gorgeous.
Oh, I love lilies of all kinds! I especially love that they come up every year without me doing anything, and they grow more beautiful each year. 🙂
I think orchids are beautiful, especially since they’re my mother-in-law’s favorite. She has plenty of flowers and plants in the house but I tend to decimate the poor things so I don’t go near them…just admire them from afar.
Good plan, MH! I stay away from house plants too, and they are happy for it! 🙂
I love roses of all colors yes I plant flowers along our driveway
Oh, I bet that’s beautiful! What a wonderful way to welcome guests, Charolette!
I love roses of all colors yes I plant flowers along our driveway
Hey Brenda,
Glad to have you back. Carnations are my favorite because the colors are limitless. I have a black thumb. I can kill the hardiest house plant.
My mom has flowerbeds everywhere. But I lived in a house with flowerbeds everywhere once. I pulled weeds out of it for one summer. The next year, I put the mower in the flowerbeds and mowed it all down. I don’t have the patience, so it’s flowering bushes I don’t have to worry with for me.
I’ve done that! When the guys would go out to mow, they’d always mow around the perennials escaping my garden. I said “Mow them down!” Can’t have runaway perennials, or they’d take over the entire yard! 😉
I’ve also learned that mulch is my best friend. Since I’ve added colored mulch to my perennials beds, weeding has gone down drastically.
I have a vegetable/flower garden, but I can only grow outdoor plants — indoor plants scream when I come near. My favorite flower is zinnias.
Ha ha! So that’s the sound I hear when approaching indoor plants! 🙂
this is a great post. this book does sound interesting. I love all flowers, especially carnations and sunflowers (smaller ones) and daisies.
All the sunny, happy type of flowers!
I truly love flowers and believe God created them so we had something beautiful to enjoy in our own front/back yards. I know there is something therapeutic in digging in the dirt to plant and tend them – it is relaxing! This book sounds great and one I would enjoy reading. I live in Iowa and have only been to Minneapolis once – not sure I was ever in Duluth on that visit, but I enjoyed your fair there! The garden you speak of sounds beautiful and one day I hope to return to visit again. Thank you for this opportunity to win a copy of this book! God bless you Brenda and Shannon!
Welcome, Lori! I’ve been through Iowa many times, have many friends in your lovely state. 🙂
Duluth is about 150 miles north of Minneapolis ~ if you ever get the chance to drive along the north shore, I’d highly recommend it. It’s probably my favorite place on earth. 🙂
My favorite flower is tulips. They are so beautiful in the Spring. I also like roses. I am not very good at keeping houseplants alive no matter how hard I try. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
Don’t tulips usher spring in with amazing color & beauty?!
Thank you for stopping by, Donna! 🙂