Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Encyclopedia
The George Griswold Frelinghuysen Arboretum (127 acres) is an arboretum
located at 53 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown
, New Jersey
. It is open daily without charge. It is also the headquarters of the Morris County Parks Commission.
The arboretum features thematic collections of plant life, including ornamental grasses, spring-blooming shrubs and perennials, summer shrubs and cutbacks, fall fruit and foliage, shade trees, and a garden called the "promising plants garden" which has underused plants supplied by nurseries, growers, and breeders. In front of the large main house there is the Great Lawn, a large gently sloping manicured grassy expanse in the style of an English county manor landscape; it is the site of outdoor concerts in the warmer months. There are different nature and horse trails. There is a Braille Nature Trail in a small wooded hollow just off the Great Lawn which was designed for hands-on exploration. The Kathryn A. Porter "Branching Out!" Garden is worked on by children ages 5–13 during a spring after-school and summer program; the course of study includes cooking and crafts. Participants grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers to take home. The Patriots' Path is a network of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails and green open spaces, and links to other parks in New Jersey
.
The arboretum was established on the site of Whippany Farm, owned by George Griswold Frelinghuysen (1851-1936), son of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
, and a New York City
patent
attorney and president of Ballantine Brewing Company from 1905 until his retirement, and Sara Ballantine (1858-1940) of Newark, New Jersey
, granddaughter of the founder Peter Ballantine
of the Ballantine Brewing Company. In 1920, Mrs. Sara Ballantine planted roses, and the rose beds were laid out between the spokes of a Chippendale style brick wall set in a basket weave pattern. In 1964 their daughter, Matilda Frelinghuysen (1887-1969) began plans to turn the estate into an arboretum. Today's Frelinghuysen Arboretum was dedicated in 1971.
Trees in the park include willow, magnolia, bald cypress, beeches, crabapples, and flowering cherries. There are wide swaths of the park which have woods only. The months of September through March are a good time to see the ornamental grasses; in December, hollies are of interest. In January and February, Witch-Hazels and early Flowering Bulbs can be seen. March through April is when Hellebores, Cornelian Cherries, and spring Bulbs are in bloom or of peak interest. In late April through May, see the flowering Cherries, Magnolias, Crabapples, and Spring Bulbs. In May through June, look at the Rhododendrons, Dogwoods, Lilacs, Viburnums, Azaleas, Hostas, and Stewartias. Roses are beautiful from May through October. When the leaves turn color in October, Maple trees are particularly impressive. And conifers are on the property year round.
Today, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum is also a regional center for horticultural activities, including educational programs, special tours, group tours, special events, and a comprehensive collection of botanical literature. The Joseph F. Haggerty Education Center and Home Demonstration Gardens have been designed to expand the Park Commission's services to the gardening public in a barrier-free environment. The Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum Commission was founded in 1972. There is a gift shop and carriage house. The Haggerty Education Center has meeting rooms for meetings. There are several parking lots. To the west there is a meadow and a swamp. The arboretum is bordered by Interstate 287, East Hanover Avenue, and Whippany Road.
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
located at 53 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. It is open daily without charge. It is also the headquarters of the Morris County Parks Commission.
The arboretum features thematic collections of plant life, including ornamental grasses, spring-blooming shrubs and perennials, summer shrubs and cutbacks, fall fruit and foliage, shade trees, and a garden called the "promising plants garden" which has underused plants supplied by nurseries, growers, and breeders. In front of the large main house there is the Great Lawn, a large gently sloping manicured grassy expanse in the style of an English county manor landscape; it is the site of outdoor concerts in the warmer months. There are different nature and horse trails. There is a Braille Nature Trail in a small wooded hollow just off the Great Lawn which was designed for hands-on exploration. The Kathryn A. Porter "Branching Out!" Garden is worked on by children ages 5–13 during a spring after-school and summer program; the course of study includes cooking and crafts. Participants grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers to take home. The Patriots' Path is a network of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails and green open spaces, and links to other parks in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Background
The arboretum surrounds the Frelinghuysens' Colonial Revival mansion and its formal gardens, and features nature trails with labeled trees and shrubs.The arboretum was established on the site of Whippany Farm, owned by George Griswold Frelinghuysen (1851-1936), son of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen was a member of the United States Senate representing New Jersey and a United States Secretary of State.-Early life and education:...
, and a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
attorney and president of Ballantine Brewing Company from 1905 until his retirement, and Sara Ballantine (1858-1940) of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, granddaughter of the founder Peter Ballantine
Peter Ballantine
Peter Ballantine was founder of Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey.-Biography:...
of the Ballantine Brewing Company. In 1920, Mrs. Sara Ballantine planted roses, and the rose beds were laid out between the spokes of a Chippendale style brick wall set in a basket weave pattern. In 1964 their daughter, Matilda Frelinghuysen (1887-1969) began plans to turn the estate into an arboretum. Today's Frelinghuysen Arboretum was dedicated in 1971.
Trees in the park include willow, magnolia, bald cypress, beeches, crabapples, and flowering cherries. There are wide swaths of the park which have woods only. The months of September through March are a good time to see the ornamental grasses; in December, hollies are of interest. In January and February, Witch-Hazels and early Flowering Bulbs can be seen. March through April is when Hellebores, Cornelian Cherries, and spring Bulbs are in bloom or of peak interest. In late April through May, see the flowering Cherries, Magnolias, Crabapples, and Spring Bulbs. In May through June, look at the Rhododendrons, Dogwoods, Lilacs, Viburnums, Azaleas, Hostas, and Stewartias. Roses are beautiful from May through October. When the leaves turn color in October, Maple trees are particularly impressive. And conifers are on the property year round.
Today, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum is also a regional center for horticultural activities, including educational programs, special tours, group tours, special events, and a comprehensive collection of botanical literature. The Joseph F. Haggerty Education Center and Home Demonstration Gardens have been designed to expand the Park Commission's services to the gardening public in a barrier-free environment. The Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum Commission was founded in 1972. There is a gift shop and carriage house. The Haggerty Education Center has meeting rooms for meetings. There are several parking lots. To the west there is a meadow and a swamp. The arboretum is bordered by Interstate 287, East Hanover Avenue, and Whippany Road.