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Some may think you can only visit gardens during the spring and summer but some are open all year. Before visiting the following gardens always check their website and Groupon for any special rates for entry. Be sure to check the rules, and opening and closing times, bring water, wear sunblock if needed and wear comfortable shoes. The following gardens hold workshops, and private and public events. Here is my list of the best gardens to visit this Fall.

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GARDENS TO VISIT

New Jersey Botanical Garden Ringwood, NJ http://www.njbg.org/
Van Vleck House & Gardens Montclair, NJ https://vanvleck.org/
Laurelwood Arboretum Wayne, NJ http://www.laurelwoodarboretum.org/
Rutgers Gardens North Brunswick, NJ http://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/
New York Botanical Garden Bronx, NY https://www.nybg.org/

Leonard J Buck Garden

Leonard Buck Garden is located at 11 Layton Rd. Far Hills, NJ. We enjoyed exploring the grounds. The flowers and plants are labeled. Some paths will take you on a loop adventure. I felt like I was in a jungle walking steps into a treehouse. Great place for capturing beautiful photos, taking a short walk, or sitting to listen to the sounds of nature. https://www.somersetcountyparks.org/parksfacilities/buck/LJBuck.html

Greenwood Gardens

Greenwood Gardens is located at 274 Old Short Hills Rd., Short Hills, NJ 07078. The garden is surrounded by South Mountain Reservation. During my trip, I saw well-preserved stone sculptures, amazing architecture, beautiful flowers, and chipmunks running through the grounds.

My first visit was to Greenwood Gardens for a photography class. I enjoyed walking the grounds and taking beautiful photos of the flowers and sculptures that surrounded the amazing estate. I also got some great ideas on how to take better photos. After my visit, I wanted to see more. I was hooked. I planned a few family day trips to the following gardens I have listed here.

You can visit the gardens by train or car. The Garden opens Sunday- Wednesday 10:00 am -5:00 pm during rain or shine but will close during strong storms. Admission for Adults is $10, 65+ Students with ID $5, and Children under 12 are free. Greenwood Garden allows amateur photographers (nonprofessional ) to take pictures with cell phones or pocket-size cameras. There are many events and tours held at the garden, take a step back in time and enjoy your visit.
http://greenwoodgardens.org/

Frelinghuysen Arboretum

353 Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. The Arboretum is open daily from 8:00 am to dusk and free of charge to the public. We went during Cherry Blossom season and the trees were filled with beautiful pink blossoms. The tulips were full-bloomed with colors of red, yellow, orange, and white that filled the charming landscape.

Frelinghuysen Arboretum offers many different plant life around the grounds. There are different trails for hiking and biking. The Arboretum offers several programs for all ages, check the website and enjoy your visit.
https://www.arboretumfriends.org

Freeman Gardens

644 Hawthorne Ave. Glen Ridge, NJ 07028. The garden is a great place to view the roses or relax to take in the many species of birds and plants. I was honored to witness the wedding of my brother and sister-in-law. If you’re looking to hold a small intimate outdoor event Freeman Garden is a perfect place. Entry to the Garden is free. To hold a private event you will need to call for further information.

The Grounds for Sculpture

181 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton. NJ 08619. We spent two hours during my visit and still missed many sculptures. This is definitely a day trip where you can spend hours looking at the amazing sculptures. There are over 270 sculptures on 42 acres. This is truly a garden with many wildflowers and trees with gigantic artwork surrounding them.

You don’t need to leave the grounds to go and eat, Rat’s Restaurant offers a variety of food on the menu. We enjoyed the beautiful peacocks that roamed around unbothered by the guests. Tickets are required, so reserve a spot online in advance.

Tickets are timed, please visit the site for further information. The admission price for Adults is $18 and kids under 5 are free. As always check their website or Groupon for any discounts or become a member. Once you come here, you will be back. Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to be amazed at the wonderful art, you will spend a few hours here and still may not see all the sculptures. Events are held regularly with new exhibits, check the website before you go! Enjoy.
http://www.groundsforsculpture.org

Cross Estate Gardens

Check out my blog on Cross Estate Gardens. https://thetravelingaquarian.com/2019/08/13/cross-estate-gardens/

DUKE FARMS

I enjoyed a wonderful visit to Duke Farms. Check out my blog! https://thetravelingaquarian.com/2019/10/01/duke-farms/

Willowwood Arboretum

Willowwood Arboretum is located at 300 Longview Rd., Far Hills, NJ 07931. The property is open from 8 am-8 pm Monday-Sunday. Entrance and parking are free. It is 13 acres of farmland and has 2,100 native and exotic plants.

The grounds were cleared for farming in the 18th century. The original name was Paradise Farm and was renamed Willowwood once the brother’s Henry and Robert Tubbs brought the property in 1908. They expanded the farmhouse that dates back to 1792 and made it their family home.

Bamboo Brook Outdoor Educational Center