Colorado Shakespeare Gardens
self-guided tour
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Romeo and Juliet

Juliet’s words link the rose to the conflict between her house, the Capulets, and Romeo’s house, the Montagues. What’s in the name of a rose? Or we might also ask: what’s in the color of a rose? For thirty years the opposition of the red rose and the white bespoke the bloody strife of the Wars of the Roses in England. But it was neither politic nor wise to speak ill of the government or the nobility.

Romeo and Juliet

 

In Romeo and Juliet, plants play a vital role in conveying themes of love, beauty, and fate. The rose symbolizes the allure of Juliet and the blossoming of their love, famously emphasized in Romeo's line about a rose by any other name. Additionally, the mention of "poison" reflects the darker side of love, illustrating how love and death are intertwined in their tragic story. Throughout the play, references to herbs and flowers underline the transient nature of youth and romance, ultimately highlighting the bittersweet and fleeting quality of their relationship amid the enduring feud between their families.

 

Special thanks to longtime CSF supporter and thespian Chuck Wilcox for voicing the part of The Bard in our video series. Full production credits available here. All photos copyright Colorado Shakespeare Group except those in the public domain, published under Creative Commons (CC) licensing. For more information on (CC) artwork in this video, click here.

Enjoy this slideshow of the plants we have in our Romeo and Juliet garden: