News
THE SENSORY GARDEN is progressing with the help of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, The Wayne Lions Club and the Township of Wayne, along with contributions from the general public and local nurseries and the efforts of FOLA volunteers.
The Sensory Garden is designed to delight all the senses and invite visitors of all abilities to enjoy the garden and nature in a variety of ways.
Construction is scheduled to commence in mid-May 2011.
LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM VISITORS CENTER plans received a tremendous boost with a recent grant of $472,250 from the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. This project has the enthusiastic support of Wayne Township officials and particularly Mayor Christopher Vergano. The Visitors Center will help bring Laurelwood into the limelight as one of the finest Arboretums in the Northeast. Our volunteers are planning educational programs to be held in the new building for all ages from grade school to seniors. The refurbished greenhouses will enable us to grow plants for the Sensory Garden and other areas of the Arboretum and to continue the horticultural work started by John and Dorothy Knippenberg. We will work with the Wayne Historical Committee to determine how to use portions of the Old Milk Barn (previously on Hamburg Turnpike), in the Visitors Center construction. Every effort will be made to be as “green” as possible in the construction of the building.
FOLA SALUTES ITS VOLUNTEERS. Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Saturday, March 19. The program featured a presentation titled “Botanic Gardens to See Before You’re Planted” by Christopher Rubino of Monrovia Growers.
Volunteers honored for having logged 100 or more
hours at Laurelwood Arboretum were, from left:
Helene Christie and Margaret Kerstner of Wayne,
Isobel Wayrick of Pompton Plains, Jeanne Pisatowski,
Mary Riley, Bob Shine, and Barbara Hegranes of
Wayne, Jean Reynolds of Pompton Lakes, and
Carol Huber and Jane Van Eeuwen of Wayne.
Nancy Fadynich and Dick Watts of Wayne and Sunny Brennan of Bloomingdale received special recognition for 250 hours as volunteers in Laurelwood Arboretum. Also honored at the event were volunteers who logged 100 hours or more.
“Volunteerism is the heartbeat of Laurelwood Arboretum,” said FOLA’s volunteer coordinator, Deb Bryant. The dedicated corps of volunteers includes students, scouts, corporate groups, Passaic County Master Gardeners and private citizens. In 2010, more than 200 volunteers contributed 13,981 hours. This contribution represents a $352,600 benefit to Wayne Township and the community. “Many of our volunteers work in or for the Arboretum year round,” Bryant noted. “If you compare the budget for Laurelwood to those of arboretums of similar size, we are operating at one-third of their cost thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.”
Volunteers pruned, thinned and propagated; divided and replanted perennials; planted bulbs; mulched the gardens; and eliminated invasive weeds. Others helped repair the greenhouses, paths, bridges and waterways. Members of FOLA’s hard-working Board of Directors helped manage Laurelwood’s employees, worked with Wayne Township to maintain the 30-acre property, gave tours of the Arboretum and planned outreach activities for the community.”
The mission of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is to help preserve and maintain Laurelwood Arboretum in partnership with Wayne Township. With the approach of spring and a new season in the Arboretum, FOLA pauses to thank its many volunteers, as well as ever-growing number of members and contributors. To volunteer, to become a member of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum or to make a donation, please send an email to info@laurelwoodarboretum.com or call 973-202-9579.