Category: News

Timely posts about Willowwood.

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.

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!

2014 “Cherry” Photo Contest Winners Announced

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The 2014 Photo Contest topic was “Willowwood’s Cherries”.

There are many varieties of cherries at Willowwood (see list under garden information). One of which is one of Willowwood’s most unusual cherries: Prunus serrulata ‘Asagi’. Each spring visitors marvel at its curious apple-green flowers.

Winning Finalist photos are shown on the Photo page of this website. Visitors at the Mother’s Day Event and the Willowwood Foundation annual Lilac Party Fundraiser voted for their favorite photo and the winners are: Navjot Singh, a remarkable photographer, won 1st Place and tied for second! David Mojica also tied for 2nd Place. 4th Place was won by Jessica Brent Huelsbergen and Fifth Place was won by Jim Punderson! Many thanks to all who voted and all those who entered this contest. When you look at the photos you will understand how hard it was for the voters to choose.

Our next photo contest topic is Fall/Winter Flora & Fauna at Willowwood! Check out more info on our events page listed top right! Deadline for photo submission is April 15, 2015.