Those with green thumbs shouldn’t fret. Though your gorgeous summer garden has faded, a visit to a winter garden or indoor greenhouse can keep you inspired. The New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands in Ringwood has a winter garden that features golds, blues and reds among the many evergreens. On the west side of the garden is New Jersey’s largest Jeffrey pine, and nearby there’s a Japanese umbrella pine that was planted sometime between 1891 and 1920.
For a warmer, indoor experience, head to Duke Farms in Hillsborough to check out the Orchid Range greenhouse. A tropical display is filled with a wide variety of orchid species from tropical regions, along with orchids cultivated at Duke Farms throughout its history. A subtropical display is filled with orchids that evolved in cooler locations and highlights naturally occurring species.
With more than 20,000 square feet of greenhouses, Stony Hill Gardens in Chester is also worth a visit. Fall brings thousands of chrysanthemums, plus ornamental cabbage and kale, and in winter you’ll find hundreds of poinsettias in traditional colors plus new patterns. The year-round collection of indoor plants includes orchids, ferns, cyclamen, Christmas cactus, ivy and tropical house plants.