Author: Webmaster

Thanks to Steve Kanan for another batch of his pictures from the Arboretum. Summer is showing off her splendid garb in these beautiful pictures.

She isn’t bashful and completely owns her spot in the border, blooming pretty much continuously from late July through mid-August. Her name is Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Mars Madness’ (Rose Mallow) and she produces 6 to 8-inch wide, deep red flowers with a darker red center framed by wine-purple maple-like foliage. She’s a cold hardy perennial that can grow 4-6 feet tall by 4-6 feet wide. She thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Trim the dead stems to the ground early in spring once new shoots begin to grow. May need a little protection from late frosts.

She’s a true show stopper!

I had the good fortune of being invited to tour a private garden last week.  It just goes to show what endless hours, energy and plants can produce, to say nothing about the maintenance and watering required to keep it all looking beautiful. Even the “hell strip” is a work of art!

Needless to say, I left with a huge case of garden envy and a renewed determination to work on improving my own garden!

Margery Ennist

Thanks to Steve Kanan for another of his series of always beautiful pictures of the Arboretum.

Last Sunday, the Friends hosted Barbara Melera who presented a very interesting history covering a wide variety of topics, from the Tomato Story, to Luther Burbank’s Shasta Daisy, to the Great Potato Famine and the Constitutional Convention story and how a visit to Bartram’s Gardens on the outskirts of Philadelphia helped the delegates from the 13 quarrelling states vote to become One Nation. The presentation was followed by a sale of plants and Heirloom Seeds and light refreshments. See photos of the refreshment table and plant/seed sale table.

What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

There are so many lovely plants currently blooming in the Arboretum’s gardens; here’s just a small sampling of what you’ll see when you visit. The flowering panicle of a Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), Southern Globethistle and friend (Echinops ritro), Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and a lovely deep red Bee Balm (Monarda spp).

Plan a visit soon to this lovely public garden.

Despite all the rain and heat, Steve Kanan was able to get these beautiful pictures on another Sunday Saunter at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

Frequent contributor, Steve Kanan, sent these pictures a few weeks ago, but travel on my part unfortunately derailed posting them on a more timely basis.

Happily they didn’t age in my mail box. Thanks to Steve for these beautiful and enjoyable pictures of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

Our frequent contributor, Steve Kanan, sent us another entry in his “Sunday Saunter” series, chronicling his regular visits to the Arboretum.

Thanks, Steve, for the lovely images of late Spring at the Frelinghuysen.

Regular contributor, Steve Kanan, sent the results of a “Sunday Saunter” from yesterday, mentioning “A few from late afternoon yest[erday] amidst the drizzle.”

Thanks, Steve, for these beautiful shots.

The gardens at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum are offering much beauty, serenity and color these days. The pink Dogwoods (Cornus spp) behind the tent are lovely this year. There are several planters around the property, this one is a sweet combination of pansies, columbines, scabiosa, etc.  Also, wearing a full coat of dark red, dissected leaves, the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) next to the pond in front of Matilda’s Cottage is a lovely sight. Thanks to Gerry Pappalardo for the Maple photo and to Margery Ennist for the pretty, pink dogwood.

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is a lovely 127 acre garden with perennial beds, woods, vegetable gardens, etc. Plan a visit soon!