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Christie Administration Celebrates NJ’s Public Gardens & Arboreta

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Agriculture Secretary Encourages Garden Visits, Fall Planting

NJ Ag. Secy. Fisher (l) & John Morse, MCPC Mgr of Hort.

(CHESTER 9.17.14) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today visited Willowwood Arboretum in Chester and encouraged public garden and arboretum visits this fall. He also reminded residents and visitors that fall is a great time to tend to home gardens with new plantings.

“People in the tri-state region are just a short trip away from dozens of New Jersey public gardens, each offering a unique and special experience,” said Secretary Fisher. “At the same time, these gardens offer numerous ideas for the home gardener. This is the perfect time of year to plant for a beautiful spring garden.”

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New Jersey has more than 60 gardens and arboreta in 15 counties for the public to enjoy. Susan Lowry and Nancy Berner, authors of a new book, “Gardens of the Garden State,” spoke about what attracted them to the Garden State – the tradition of agriculture, heritage of garden making and plant collecting, and hundreds of garden clubs around the state. They presented Secretary Fisher with a copy of their book for the State Library.

“New Jersey’s extraordinary public gardens open your eyes to the state’s rich horticultural legacy and its cultural heritage,” said Lowry and Berner. “Reflecting a high level of plantsmanship and dedication to preservation and land conservation, the state’s treasure trove of gardens never fail to inspire and educate.”

Susan Lowry, Nancy Berner (co authors) Secretary Fisher, Becky Terry, WW Fdn. Trustee

One of the gardens the authors highlighted in their book was Willowwood Arboretum, managed by the Morris County Park Commission and the Willowood Foundation since 1980. The land was acquired by brothers Henry and Robert Tubbs in 1908 as their country home. Henry’s adopted son, Dr. Benjamin Blackburn developed the property into an arboretum which now covers 130 acres and has about 2,100 kinds of native and exotic plants, many of them rare. Willowwood is one of the state’s most comprehensive and longest continually operating arboretum.

“Public gardens are places of wonder, solace, knowledge and fun and are important New Jersey cultural resources,” said Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education for the Morris County Parks Commission and President of Garden State Gardens Consortium. “Among our member gardens are Gilded Age estates, 21st century LEEDS certified facilities, monocultures, large university settings and tiny, hidden treasure gardens. The range of plant materials in New Jersey’s public gardens is matched by the program offerings at these sites, including events and classes for people interested in plants, nature and the environment as well as the arts.”

Governor Christie has proclaimed October as New Jersey Fall Gardening Month, encouraging citizens to utilize this prime season to visit our state’s gardens, nurseries and garden centers and patronize landscape companies to beautify their homes, neighborhoods and businesses and ensure a healthy and robust spring garden.

Foo Dog Incense Burner

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Highlights from the Decorative Arts Collection

By Dr. Lesley Parness, Retired MCPC Superintendent for Horticulture Education

While it is certainly true that Henry and Robert Tubbs had a passion for plant collecting, that same passion extended to the decorative arts as well. Learn about a different Tubbs residence artifact in this and upcoming issues of the Willowwood Journal.

Foo Dog Incense Burner

In this issue, we focus on FOO DOG INCENSE BURNER, Item number WW2004.12.31 A-C.

This 19th century bronze incense burner with a foo dog finial stands on a dark stained, tri-footed teak plinth. The Chinese ceremonial covered pot stands 21” high and is 11” in diameter. Cast in bronze, with hand-chased ornamentation, the outer surface bears a smoky patina from years of use. Smoke is expelled through the mouth and openings in the censer. Some of its traditional embellishments include the raised panel bas relief, a lavish mane, billowing tail, bared fangs, glaring eyes, and talon like feet.

Pictured here standing on the Tubbs residence porch, this piece usually resides in the Parlor on a low table adjacent to the door leading to the Library.

Incense in China is traditionally used in a wide range of cultural activities including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine and in daily life. Known as xiang, incense was used as early as 250 BC. Its use increased during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) with greater trade and the availability of more fragrant materials. Incense was traditionally burned at the threshold of a home or business, before images and deities, in shrines, at home alters and at the main entrance to villages.

In Chinese art and secular life, incense and the utensils used in associated rituals are seen as metaphoric symbols, suggesting refinement and sophistication. The representation of the Foo Dog on this burner is typical of how the lion was viewed in ancient China. “Foo Dog” refers to any of the closely related dog breeds which resemble the Chinese guardian lions and hence are also called Lion Dogs. The animal was believed to have powerful mythic protective properties. Their appearance in Buddhist religious art in China is found as early as 208 BC, when it was believed that the Foo Lion was a protector of the Dharma, or Buddhist teachings.

How did the lion, which is not indigenous to China come to be known there? As Buddhism was spread from neighboring India to China by traveling Buddhist priests and monks, stories about stone lions guarding the entries to temples, monasteries and the palaces of kings were spread. Lions are indigenous to India and scholars believe that the depiction of the Foo Dog came about because Chinese sculptors combined lion-like imagery with that of Chinese native dogs.

Foo Dog Incense Burner is one of many Asian decorative art pieces amassed by Henry and Robert Tubbs. In both their garden and their home, the Tubbs brothers were drawn to Asian design sensibilities. We will explore this connection further in future columns.

Originally published in Willowwood Journal, Autumn, 2014

Anne’s Travels Blog

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Anne’s Travels is a blog chronicling her travels all over the US. Her articles are descriptive and include nice photos. We are happy she visited the Willowwood Arboretum earlier this year and liked what she saw.

See her article here: http://www.annestravels.net/willowwood-arboretum/.

September Bloom at Willowwood

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The weather forecast for the next couple of weeks looks just perfect for a late summer visit to the Willowwood Arboretum gardens.

And even though summer is coming to an end the gardens and meadows are still full of color at Willowwood!

As you drive in the meadows have now been taken over by the yellow flowered Solidago (Goldenrod).
Native asters are just coming into bloom in the meadows – nice combination with the goldenrod (blue and gold). Take a walk through the meadows – enjoy the view from the Stiles observation platform!

When you approach the arbor by the barns you’ll see the white blooms of Nicotiana sylvestris on the right. They remind me of fireworks!

Check out the colorful bed to the left of the glass house. The large leaf plant is an Ensete, the tall plant with the red spiky seed pods is Ricinus communis ( Castor bean).

In the Rosarie there is a large pot of Begonia grandis (Hardy begonia) at the entrance that has a lot of interest. Further along the path you’ll see the orange Tithonia (Mexican sunflower) on the right. The tall Brugmansia (Angels trumpet) on the left is about to open some new blooms. The yellow zinnias that border the path are ‘Profusion Yellow’. The annual grass with the pink flowers is Melinus nerviglumis ‘Savannah’.

The colorful annual displays in the Cottage Garden, Rosarie, and around the Stone Barn are now at their peak. Come see them! Now is the time! Should be enjoyable until frost. Highlights in the Cottage Garden include the pink Anemone by the gate, the large flowered Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Lord Baltimore’ and the Dolichos lab lab (Hyacinth bean vine) that is rambling over the arbor.

The bed on the east side of the Shingle Barn (outside restroom) has just been replanted with meadow plants, many of which we grew ourselves from seed. Watch this space in 2015!

Information provided by John Morse, Willowwood Arboretum Manager of Horticulture and Judy Schaible, Asst Superintendent of Horticulture

And mark your calendar: Autumn Open House on Sunday October 5 from Noon to 4 pm!

Summer Bloom Report, August 2014

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Here are some garden highlights for August.
The meadows are showing lots of color with native Monarda, Ironweed, Joe-pye weed and Goldenrod in bloom.
The Cottage Garden and Rosarie are full of color and are attracting the hummingbirds.
The Willowwood Horticulture Staff is just starting an expansion of the Cottage garden so visitors can see the process involved in creating a new garden area.
In the Rosarie: The Angelonia is doing the job of mimicking Lavender (which doesn’t like to grow in the heavy soil there). The low growing yellow ‘ Profusion’ zinnia is a great low maintenance plant for the border. The very large orange flowered plant on the right side of the path is the Mexican sunflower- Tithonia ‘Torch’.
Along the Woodwalk the Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower) will charm you with its’ red blooms.
If you stroll down the path to Moggy Hollow you’ll see a patch of naturalized lilies on the left just before the bridge.

Don’t forget to join us for the Autumn Open House on Sunday October 5 from Noon to 4 pm. See “Events” for more information!