Photo courtesy of Greenwood Gardens
If you’re living in the Garden State and not taking advantage of the gardens we have here, you’re doing it wrong. New Jersey is small but mighty, home to dozens of gorgeous gardens spanning all 21 counties.
And though a large number of home and garden tours took place in June at the start of the summer, late summer is the optimal time to look—for many plants and flowers, it’s peak blooming season too! Here’s a list of a few to check out over the next few weeks across the state:
Now until July 26: See nature and gardens through a whole new lens—the camera lens—when the Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne hosts the Ridgewood Camera Club Nature Photography Exhibit. This is a self-guided exhibit held at the Arboretum from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free.
Aug. 6: Explore Skylands Manor at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens in Ringwood on a one-hour guided tour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Participants will learn about the history, construction and architecture of the estate from a knowledgeable guide. And check out the outdoor gardens while you’re there—the Peony Garden, the Lilac Garden and the Perennial Garden in particular are blooming with can’t-miss photo ops. Admission: $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $7 for kids 6-18, free for children under 6.
Aug. 12, 19, 26. Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit hosts free guided tours every Saturday until October at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. These half-hour walking tours are small, intimate groups of no more than 10 people who want to learn about the plants and flowers in bloom during the season. Free admission.
Aug. 19. Enjoy a one-hour walking tour of at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton for a special summer exhibit titled “Plants from Around the World: Plants of the Tropics,” held from 11 a.m. to noon. The horticultural team will guide you through the gardens, point out the tropical flora and offer tips on how to care for them yourself. Admission is $15 for members, $35 for non-members.
Aug. 26 and Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Sunset View Farm in Lafayette hosts a Dessert in the Dahlias event, where you’ll be seated at a beautifully decorated garden table in the midst of a field of dahlias and zinnias. While there, guests can also register in advance for the farm’s Dahlia Walk, set for early October. Tickets are $30 per person.
Sept. 2 and 3. The Well-Sweep Herb Farm in Port Murray is hosting the Fall Flower Festival and Craft Market featuring not just a garden tour, but also a bevy of craft vendors, free lectures and presentations and more garden-centric fun. Saturday’s show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday’s is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission (and parking) is free.
Sept. 10. Tour the Rose City and the surrounding area at the 2023 Madison Home and Garden Tour, hosted by the Friends of the Madison Public Library. Exact details and location were unavailable at press time, but keep your day open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $50 per participant, and tickets should be purchased in advance online.
Rather see a garden from the comfort of your home? Check out this virtual tour of Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills and see how the plants and fauna change through the seasons.
What’s your favorite Garden State garden? Tell us on Instagram @njhomemag.