Category: PhotoGallery

Images of Frelinghuysen Arboretum by Gail Susan Waimon – 6/1/25

We got an email with a big batch of beautiful pictures of the Arboretum taken by visitor Gail Susan Waimon and a nice message:

Two friends and I visited the Arboretum at 10:00 a.m. and walked about until 11:30. Although there were not as many blooms as I have seen in the past, there was still, images to shoot and joy to be had! I use my imagination then once I return home I start to edit. My iPhone pro is the devise of my choice and take a shot that interest me, then using several photo apps I go to work . Sometimes I keep a realistic ,memory or go wild and crazy beyond the original.
Apps…
picsart
Snapseed
Lightroom
Etc.

Gail Susan Waimon

Click on any of the thumbnails below to view these in a gallery. Thanks for the great collection, Gail.

Turtle from Shawn Allen – 5/22/25

Visitor Shawn Allen and family sent these pictures of a turtle they encountered, along with the following note:

Hello,

While walking along the blue trail near the Wet Meadow, my daughters and I came across a lovely, large turtle in its habitat in the Arboretum. This is the first time we’ve seen it, from a safe distance so as not to disturb it. We gave it a name: Tucker Turtle.

Kind regards

Nice pictures of a sizable turtle. Any knowledgable turtle-lovers out there? My web app says it’s a common snapping turtle. Is that right?

In any case, thanks to Shawn for the pictures of one of the Arboretum’s many interesting residents.

At the Arboretum – 5/21/25

Enjoy these wonderful photographs taken at the Arboretum by Judy Snow. Please note that the annuals at the Haggerty Education Center (HEC) entrance are made possible by a grant from the Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

  • Foreman Dylan planting the annuals bed in front of the HEC
  • The delicate, strappy white flowers of fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
  • A luscious raspberry colored Peony flower (Paeonia spp)
  • Star shaped, pale blue flowers of the Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) in front of the Pan herm
  • The striking dark red, scented flowers of the Carolina allspice shrub (Calycanthus floridus)
  • Two very different planters at the HEC entrance; don’t you just love the variety of lettuces combined with pansies?

Make time to visit the Arboretum and see all these plants for yourself!

Thank you so much Judy for these beautiful shots. 

At the Arboretum – 5/6/25

So many lovely trees live in the gardens at the Arboretum, quietly providing shade, shelter and beauty for all who visit. Here’s just a brief sampling: A delicate, lacy, pink dogwood (Cornus florida) blooming at wood’s edge behind the tent. A pretty white dogwood (Cornus florida) doing its thing next to the parking lot. And a magnificent European Beech (Fagus sylvatica cv. Purpurea Tricolor) at the back of the arboretum grounds. The leaves on the Beech tree are gorgeous.

There are many more beautiful trees to admire and enjoy. Plan a visit soon.

Spring Images by Mark Konopka

These beautiful images of Spring flowers at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum were sent by visitor, Mark Konopka. These should inspire us all to visit and enjoy Mother Nature’s latest display.

Thanks, Mark, for the fine view of Spring.

Plant Sale News – 4/2/25

We’re just 30 days away from the best plant sale in Morris County! Proceeds from the Friends’ Plant Sale support the efforts of the Morris County Park Commission to beautify and maintain the wonderful gardens, trees and trails at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Next week we’ll deliver the Master List of plants, but here are a few choice selection to consider:

  • Calycanthus floridus ‘ Michael Lindsey’, Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub, a native, woody ornamental with reddish brown, fragrant flowers that bloom for a long period in April and May. The plant has dark green, lustrous foliage with clear yellow to gold fall color. It is wet site tolerant, does well in sun or partial shade, deer resistant, attracts pollinators and may rebloom sporadically throughout the summer. Sweetshrub will grow to a height of 8 feet with a spread of 5 feet.
  • Matteuccia struthioptersOstrich Fern a native of Eastern American woodlands. It gets its name because the open plumes look like Ostrich feathers. Ostrich Fern prefers cool, moist conditions and will spread in any wet, shady area of the garden. Ostrich Fern is deer and rabbit resistant and will grow to a height of 36-60″ and a spread of 36-48″ wide.
  • Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’Golden Fleece Goldenrod. A small growing Goldenrod, with arching yellow flower spikes in late summer. It is deer resistant, attracts butterflies and bees, great for full sun and will grow to a height of 15″ by 24″ wide.

At the Arboretum – 3/26/25

On Saturday, March 22, Chef Paul Gatzke conducted a cooking demonstration focusing on the Flavors of the Middle East. Some of the recipes prepared included Grilled Haloumi with Lemon, Olive Oil and Za’atar, Pearl Couscous with Turmeric and Parsley and Braised Pork Tenderloin with Ras Al Hanout, Sumac and Leeks. Attendees reported that the food was delicious. There was a bit of unplanned excitement when the fire alarm was accidentally set off!

Thanks to Judy Snow for the photographs of the class.

Spring has definitely sprung at the Arboretum, two beautiful Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) plants are blooming in the area between the Haggerty Education Center and Matilda’s Cottage: Hamamelis vernalis ‘Red Imp’ and Hamamelis intermedia ‘Sunburst’. With spring officially here, make plans to visit the Arboretum soon to see all that’s blooming!

Thanks to Heather Emelander for these photographs.

Bus Trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show

The Friends ran our annual bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show last week. By all accounts, this year’s Show, Gardens of Tomorrow, was one of the best ever! Judy Snow was kind enough to share some of her pictures of the Show; if you weren’t able to attend in person, enjoy Judy’s photos!

Community Garden Conference – 3/1/25

The 15th Annual Community Garden Conference held last Saturday was a success and very well attended. The Keynote Speaker this year was NJ State Climatologist, Dr. David A. Robinson, who delivered a very timely and informative talk on New Jersey’s changing climate. Other speakers included Peter Nitzsche and Shaun Ananko. The Conference concluded with the Coordinator’s Round Table led by Ned Gardner and Mike Dziomba.

Also in attendance were representatives from Grow It Green Morristown (GIG), Rutgers Soil Test Lab, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County Master Gardeners. In the photos below, Shaun Ananko and Kim Haupt are seated at the GIG table; Director of the Rutgers Soil Test Lab, Dr. Stephanie Murphy is at the Rutgers Soil Test Lab table; Edwin Muniz, State Soil Scientist, is manning the NRCS table and last but not least, Master Gardeners Mary Albright (red apron) and Candice Bolte are shown at the Master Gardeners table. 

Photos courtesy of Judy Snow.

At the Arboretum 2/19/25

Although the Haggerty Education Center is scheduled to close in April for some much needed HVAC work, the magnificent carriages on exhibit in the building can still be enjoyed until then. Along with the Colonial Revival mansion, the carriages are a reminder of a bygone era when the grounds of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum were the site of Whippany Farm.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.