Webmaster

President’s Message Fall 2023

Posted on October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

Seward Johnson, La Promenade, 1995 The Seward Johnson Atelier Inc

Dear Friends of the Willowwood Arboretum,

Autumn is in the air at Willowwood where fall’s finest blooms are complemented by the ten Seward Johnson’s sculptures scattered throughout the arboretum. If you have not yet seen this Living Sculpture Exhibit, be sure to pay a visit before it winds down in November. A whimsical experience and beautiful gardens await for fantastic fall foliage photos opportunities! Click here for more information on this beautiful exhibit.

The Willowwood Foundation’s fall fundraiser concert, “Sounds for Sculpture”, added “living sound” to celebrate the Seward Johnson sculpture exhibit on September 10, 2023 at The Willow School. Internationally renowned jazz vibraphonist, pianist and composer, Christian Tamburr, and his amazing band members: Griffin Fink, Tatum Greenblatt, Carmen Intorre, Jr., and Oscar Perez performed “The Awakening.”

Tatum Greenblatt, Carmen Intorre Jr.. Griffin Fink, Oscar Perez and Christian Tamburr — Tatum Greenblatt Playing Trumpet

A lovely musician’s reception was held at Willowwood’s historic Stone Barn after the performance along with an opportunity for guests to tour the sculptures.

The day after the concert, Willow School students enjoyed a musical workshop led by Christian and his musicians. Students responded enthusiastically to both the music and the musicians’ questions. At the close of the program, one youngster held up his hand to inquire when the group would be coming back to perform again! Our sincere thanks to The Willow School staff for providing the beautiful concert venue and assisting to make the “Sounds for Sculpture” fundraiser a success.

Many thanks to our corporate sponsors below with heartfelt appreciation for their generous support in helping the Willowwood Foundation continue to thrive.

Elberon Development Group
Simon Quick Advisors
Habba Madaio & Associates LLP
Peapack-Gladstone Bank

The Willowwood Foundation supported another positive event on September 14th, at Willowwood Arboretum. The Sussex County ARC participated in a Horticultural Therapy program led by Morris County Park Commission staff members Ann Fahey and Gwen Montgomery. Participants created beautiful floral arrangements and demonstrated that Horticultural Therapy is a wonderful way to bring people of all abilities closer to nature while creating a safe social, educational, and recreational environment.

For a glimpse at our busy month, check out our photo montage and be sure to carve out some time to visit Willowwood soon. Wishing you a colorful fall!

With best regards,

Meryl Carmel, President

Willowwood Foundation

Sounds for Sculpture September 10

Posted on June 8, 2023August 11, 2023

September 10, 2023

The Willowwood Foundation is delighted to present The Sounds For Sculpture concert on Sunday afternoon, September 10, 2023.

The Concert is a dynamic performance of “The Awakening” featuring original musical compositions by internationally renowned jazz vibraphonist and composer Christian Tamburr.

The music was inspired by a selection of iconic bronze sculptures by sculptor, Seward Johnson. Ten of Seward Johnson’s Living Sculptures will be exhibited at the Willowwood Arboretum July 1st through November 15, 2023.

Click here for a short video about the concert.

Tickets may be reserved and paid for online by clicking the button below or via mail at The Willowwood Foundation, PO Box 218, Gladstone, NJ 07934.

Concert tickets – $50.00/pp.

Click the flyer at left to open it as a full-sized pdf.

After the concert performance at The Willow School, guests will be invited to independently tour the ten Seward Johnson Living Sculptures at Willowwood. A self-paced tour brochure will be available while viewing the sculptures (¾ mile loop). Visitors may also listen to the Willowwood cell phone tour.

A post concert reception will be held in the Stone Barn with light refreshments.

Test Sounds for Sculpture 9-10-23 Concert

Posted on May 24, 2023June 13, 2023

Sounds for Sculpture Concert

September 20, 2023

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Buy Tickets Here

and here (50)

Spring 2023 Message

Posted on May 22, 2023May 22, 2023

Dear Friends of the Willowwood Arboretum,

I hope you are enjoying the splendor of spring. Despite our recent whiplash of weather, the blooms have arrived and Willowwood is putting on a splendid spring show. It seems that a new variety of flowering tree and shrub reveals itself each day. Grab your camera, take a walk, and enjoy the serenity that nature provides.

Some exciting news to share regarding an upoming partnership between MCPC and the Seward Johnson Atelier whereby a selection of sculptures will be on display at Willowwood for a period of about four months beginning this July.

In lieu of our Lilac Party for 2023, The Willowwood Foundation will host a most unique fundraiser in conjunction with the Seward Johnson sculpture display. We will host a jazz concert this fall featuring the Christian Tamburr Quintet. This collaborative venture between renowned composer-vibraphonist Christian Tamburr and internationally acclaimed sculptor Seward Johnson will feature The Awakening, “Sounds for Sculpture” inspired by Johnson’s sculptures. The musical performance premier was performed at Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club at Lincoln Center.

We are very pleased that the concert will be held in collaboration with The Willow School. Following the concert at The Willow School, attendees are invited for an independent tour of the sculptures at Willowwood Arboretum. Light refreshments will be served. September 10, 2023. Tickets $50.00. Ticket availability through this website after June 1. Stay tuned!

With best wishes,

Meryl Carmel, President Willowwood Foundation

News About Willowwood’s Gardens – 10/28/22

Posted on October 28, 2022April 18, 2023

Bruce Crawford, Manager of Horticulture MCPC

At Willowwood, the summer of 2022 will be best remembered in one word – watering! The long stretch of dry and warm weather necessitated watering recently added plant accessions. Surprisingly, numerous well-established plants showed stress and required irrigation. Thankfully, the rains returned and our plants and gardeners are no longer looking stressed.

Despite the drought and heat, annuals continued to bloom beautifully. Additional plants were added to the Rosarie and looking very colorful. Edits and additions are still being made to this garden, including bulbs.

Another area in need change was the Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) bed, adjacent to the Tubbs House. Several shrubs were slowly consuming the bed. As they grew, the garden had lost much of the early spring detail it had once displayed. These shrubs were transplanted into an area by the tent lawn, allowing the White Forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum) to ‘breathe’ once again. Species tulips will be planted to the area this fall and additional herbaceous plants are planned for a spring planting.

In typical fashion, the spring bulb displays will be planted in November. We will focus on using bulbs outside of the large flowering tulips. Thanks to a grant from the Willowwood Foundation, daffodils, various grape hyacinths, summer snowflakes, camas and fritillarias will be used to create a colorful spring display. We will be planting 2,000 Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) bulbs in the Winter Garden. These are a deep blue flower that slowly spread to bloom in early to mid-March, providing years of attractive color.

As always, there is a lot of activity at Willowwood. I hope that you will be able to come out soon on a weekday to chat with the gardeners or take a long quiet stroll on a weekend. The air is crisp and cool with some fall color persisting, making this a wonderful time of the year to enjoy the Arboretum.

Bruce Crawford

Manager of Horticulture, Morris County Parks Commission

Author: Webmaster