Places to Visit: Skylands

(NJ Botanical Gardens)

New Jersey’s Botanical Garden (NJBG) is also known as Skylands. It is a part of the Ringwood State Park and includes 96 acres of specialty gardens surrounded by 1000 acres of woodlands. The property was acquired in the early 1900s by Francis Lynde Stetson, a prominent New York lawyer. It was sold in 1922 to Clarence McKenzie Lewis, an investment banker who set out to make it a botanical showplace.

“Lewis stressed symmetry, color, texture, form and fragrance in his gardens. He wanted to appeal to the senses. For thirty years, Lewis collected plants from all over the world and from New Jersey roadsides. The result is one of the finest collections of plants in the state. Lewis had over 60 gardeners working in peak seasons.” In 1966, the 1,117 acres of Skylands was purchased by the State of New Jersey under the Green Acres program. In March 1984, Governor Thomas Kean designated the central 96 acres surrounding the manor house as the State’s official botanical garden.

Today, Skylands has 13 distinct areas of attraction including the Annual Garden, Perennial Border, Crab Apple Allée, Hosta/Rhododendron Garden, Moraine Garden, Wildflower Garden, Lilac Garden, Peony Garden, Summer Garden, Azalea Garden, Magnolia Walk, Octagonal Garden and Winter Garden. Special attractions for the holiday season include Family Woodland Hikes, a Wreath Making Workshop, and a Holiday Open House from December 5-8 at the splendidly decorated Skyland Manor.

The NJBG at Skylands is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm and admission is free. Parking is $5 for NJ plates and $7 for out of state cars. The GPS street address is 2 Morris Road, Ringwood, N.J. 07456 Please visit njbg.org for more information.