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Summer 2011 Newsletter

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FOLA TO CELEBRATE LINNAEUS DAY

Linnaeus Day, the 306th birthday of Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, is Thursday, May 23, and Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) is sponsoring an educational program at 4 pm in the arboretum to mark the occasion. Michael Wilson, Professor of Environmental Horticulture at Ramapo College, will talk about the Latin classification system Linnaeus devised and why it is still used by horticulturalists today.

Carl Linnaeus is one of the best-known Swedes who has ever lived. Not only was he a scientist, botanist, zoologist and geologist, he was also a skilled doctor, health worker and philosopher. His era was characterized by an ambition to catalog, organize and give names to the whole natural world. Linnaeus is known as the father of modern taxonomy, a system for the orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships. Many of his writings were in Latin, and his name in Latin is Carolus Linnæus.

The FOLA program will be held in the pavilion. It is free for FOLA members and $15 for nonmembers.

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5/6/13

FOLA PLANS PEAK BLOOM PHOTO WALK THROUGH LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) will sponsor a Photo Walk through Laurelwood Arboretum on Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m. Dawn Healey, president of the Essex Photo Club, will lead a workshop to show how to capture the beauty of Laurelwood Arboretum in the season of its peak bloom. “Bring a camera with charged battery and memory card, comfortable walking shoes, and a good eye,” said Dawn. “Join us as we capture on film the Spring flora, fauna and wildlife at its best.”

Laurelwood is overflowing with colors, textures and aromas as the flowering trees, early spring bulbs and perennials burst into bloom. The arboretum is home to hundreds of varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons, including many unique hybrids. Dozens of native dogwoods, oakleaf and climbing hydrangeas, hostas, daylilies, lilacs, irises and other plants will be flowering in May.

The workshop is open to the public and is free for FOLA members and $15 for nonmembers (who are welcome to join for $25. at the start of the workshop).

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4/29/13

FOLA HOSTS ANNUAL PLANT SALE AT LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) will host its annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale will feature popular annuals and perennials at reasonable prices. Included will be some special plants grown in the arboretum’s greenhouses. There will also be a bargain table of home-grown plants and garden related items, a container garden display, and plant arrangements for children to purchase as Mother’s Day gifts.

Visitors to Laurelwood Arboretum, a 30-acre oasis tucked away in the Pines Lake section of Wayne, can enjoy one of the area’s best-kept botanical secrets. In May, Laurelwood is overflowing with colors, textures and aromas as the flowering trees, early spring bulbs and perennials burst into bloom. Laurelwood is home to hundreds of varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons, including many unique hybrids. Dozens of native dogwoods oakleaf and climbing hydrangeas, hostas, daylilies, lilacs, irises and other plants will be flowering in May.

All proceeds from the plant sale will benefit FOLA.

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4/20/13

FOLA PLANS EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) has planned a Family Fun Day on Sunday, April 21, to celebrate Earth Day. The program will begin at 1 p.m. in the arboretum. Dr. Wallace, former chair of the Biology Department at William Paterson University, will lead a special tour of the arboretum’s spring-flowering trees.

Also on the schedule is a scavenger hunt for children led by former teacher and FOLA board member Sara McHugh. The Earth Day Celebration is free for FOLA members and children. (Children must be accompanied by an adult) and $15 for non-members.

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4/8/13

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM

April is National Volunteer Month, and the volunteer season has begun at Laurelwood Arboretum. Volunteers are welcome to work in the arboretum any Tuesday from now through October and on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Individuals are welcome to join in and to bring small hand tools if they have them. Groups are asked to call 973-202-9579 to make arrangements in advance.

In addition to gardening, there are a number of construction projects to maintain the bridges, paths, greenhouse and other Laurelwood structures. FOLA also invites volunteers to join a committee or share special skills in communications, fundraising, membership development or any other area.

“Laurelwood is tended by a horticultural manager and a small gardening staff, but volunteerism is the lifeblood of Wayne’s 30-acre horticultural treasure,” said Deb Bryant, volunteer coordinator for Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA). “Our volunteers prune, thin and propagate; divide and replant perennials; plant bulbs; mulch the gardens; and eliminate invasive weeds. There is always work to do, something new to learn and someone new to meet,” she said.

FOLA volunteers include students, scouts, corporate groups, Passaic County Master Gardeners and private citizens of all ages. For further information about volunteering and to be directed to the area that best fits your needs, interests and talents, please send an email to info@laurelwoodarboretum.org or call 973-202-9579.

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3/26/13

FRIENDS OF LAURELWOOD SALUTES VOLUNTEERS

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Saturday, March 16. The program featured a talk and slide show, about landscape design presented by Elaine Fogerty, County Agricultural Assistant, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Passaic County. Ms. Fogerty is also Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program of Passaic County and has taught many of the Master Gardener classes.

“We are very proud of our dedicated group of volunteers who have put in so many hours in the gardens and greenhouses of Laurelwood Arboretum, as well as those who serve on the FOLA Board of Directors,” said Debra Bryant, FOLA’s Volunteer Coordinator. “In 2012, FOLA volunteers contributed 10,343 hours of work in the arboretum. This translates into an estimated value to the community of $265,200.

This year’s Volunteer Kick-Off in Laurelwood Arboretum is Tuesday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are welcome any Tuesday from now through October or on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. (Volunteer groups must make arrangements ahead of time by calling 973-202-9579 or sending an email to info@laurelwoodarboretum.org).

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3/17/13

FOLA ‘THANK YOU’ PROGRAM FEATURES TALK ON NATIVE NEW JERSEY PLANTS

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) jump started its 2013 membership year with a talk entitled, “Berries, Bark and Blooms.” Guest speaker was Kathleen Salisbury, Team Leader of Education at Duke Farms in Hillsborough NJ, president of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and an Adult Education Instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. Mrs. Salisbury’s talked focused on exploring the diverse world of native plants for year round garden interest. “Even a small landscape can be filled with enticing textures, beautiful blooms and gorgeous berries all year long if one learns how plants change throughout the seasons,” she explained. Mrs. Salisbury also talked about the diversity of native plants in New Jersey and the many reasons to plant species that are native in this area.

More than 65 people attended the program, which was planned as a special thank you to FOLA members and the Master Gardeners of Passaic County, who have done so much to support the organization’s efforts to preserve and maintain Laurelwood Arboretum.

Mrs. Salisbury is an organic gardener who raises vegetables and chickens on 1¾ acres in southeastern Pennsylvania, where she moved recently after living in Wayne for ten years. In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking and snowboarding, depending on the season. Mrs. Salisbury holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Delaware Valley College and a Master of Science Degree in Public Horticulture Administration as a Longwood Graduate Fellow at the University of Delaware. She gardens, fends off deer and tends to her chickens with the help of her husband Michael DeVos, an ecological landscape designer, and her cat Emerson — who is purely decorative.

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2/16/13

LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM REOPENS

Laurelwood Arboretum is now open after a closure of several months due to damage from Hurricane Sandy. Some trees that were downed have still not been removed, but none are blocking pathways. Visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately for snow, mud and cold.

Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage in the arboretum. At least 15 large trees were felled by the high winds, crashing into smaller trees and falling across pathways. In time, the damaged areas will be restored. Trees will be replanted and understory shrubbery revitalized.

FOLA welcomes donations to its Horticultural Preservation Trust to help fund the restoration of the arboretum’s trees and gardens. Contributions can be mailed to FOLA, PO Box 2433, Wayne, NJ 007474-2433.

Laurelwood Arboretum is open year-round from dawn to dusk for visitors who wish to enjoy the ever-changing landscape. The winter scene has its own special beauty, with sightings of birds and wildlife against the snow-covered trees and shrubs.

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum continues to be committed to its mission of maintaining and preserving this beautiful space and ensuring a beautiful, peaceful environment for the entire community. FOLA welcomes new members, volunteers, school groups, students, scouts and people with special skills who would like to be part of this organization.

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1/10/13

NEW OFFICERS ELECTED AT FOLA’S ANNUAL MEETING

Members of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) elected a new slate of officers for 2012-2014 year at the November 19 annual meeting. They are: Jim McHugh, president; Deb Bryant, first vice president; Dawn Healey, second vice president; Carol Huber, recording secretary; and Peter Lowry, CPA, treasurer. Elected to the Board of Directors were Alex Fadynich, Dr. Alexander Fitzburgh, Sara McHugh, Barbara Hegranes, Alice Moskowitz, Roland Reynolds, Ruth Hayden and Bill Mains.

President-elect Jim McHugh presented outgoing board member, Bonnie Joachim, with a framed photograph of Laurelwood Arboretum and a certificate of appreciation for her many years of service on the FOLA board.

Highlights of the meeting were a slide show spotlighting Laurelwood Arboretum throughout the seasons and a PowerPoint presentation by Jim McHugh to accompany the President’s Report for 2012.

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11/20/12

GIFT MEMBERSHIP TO FOLA IS A UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFT

A gift membership to Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) is a unique holiday remembrance that makes a perfect stocking stuffer or last-minute gift idea. Membership in FOLA helps fund ongoing horticultural and site-improvement projects at Laurelwood Arboretum. In addition, members are entitled to a 10% discount at all FOLA plant sales and special events, at Blooms of Wayne, Chestnut Ridge Nursery, Gro-Rite, Riverside Nursery, Strawberry Blossom Farms, and a 20% discount at Chef Express. They can also participate in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Program, which gives FOLA members discounts on admission and sales at more than 100 gardens and arboreta throughout North America.

To order a gift membership, please send a check made out to FOLA for $25 to Box 2433, Wayne, NJ 07474-2433, along with the name and address of the gift recipient, who will receive a membership card and benefits information.

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11/19/12

FRIENDS OF LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM DECORATES LIBRARY AT SKYLANDS FOR ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) is once again decorating a room at historic Skylands Manor for the annual Holiday Open House, sponsored by the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. The Holiday Open House will be held from November 29 through December 2. Skylands Manor is located on Morris Road in Ringwood, NJ.

This year’s Holiday Open House theme is World of Wonder, and the decorations are designed to reflect the warm and festive feel of the season. Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum volunteers are decorating the manor’s stately library in a natural style, using woodland greens and materials. The room will feature bird houses donated by FOLA volunteers and bird house ornaments crafted by the Bloomingdale Seniors and Passaic County Master Gardeners. There will be a desk with bird information to peruse and a bird-lovers raffle basket donated by FOLA and Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Store of Paramus.

Skylands Manor, a 45-room Tudor-style country estate built in the early 1920s, features many fine historic architectural elements and is an elegant backdrop for this celebration of the holiday season. Daytime tours of the NJBG Holiday Open House are available Thursday through Sunday, November 29-December 2, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children under six. No babystrollers, please. Group tours are also available by appointment. The last tour begins at 4 p.m.

Evening ‘Champagne and Candlelight’ Receptions are also available on Friday and Saturday evenings, November 30 and December 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. During these special evening showings, the Manor will be open for leisurely enjoyment with champagne, light refreshments and valet parking. Tickets are $35 and reservations are required. To reserve tickets, please call 973-962-9534 or visit the website www.njbg.org.

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11/15/12

LETTER FROM THE BOARD REGARDING HURRICANE DAMAGE

We are very eager to reopen Laurelwood Arboretum, but it will be some time before it is safe for visitors. Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage in the arboretum. At least 15 large trees were felled by the high winds, crashing into smaller trees and falling across pathways. Our horticultural staff and FOLA board members worked long and hard all last week to clean up debris, but a great deal remains to be done. Some of the work will require heavy duty equipment that can only be done by Wayne Township, so we have to be patient.

We are fortunate that many of the arboretum’s plantings survived the hurricane, and we look forward to repairing and restoring Laurelwood as quickly as possible. We continue to count on our dedicated members and friends. If you’re able and wish to support our clean-up efforts, you can make a contribution to FOLA on our Membership/Donations page or send your donation to FOLA, PO Box 2433, Wayne, NJ 07474-2433.

We appreciate your patience and support during this difficult time.

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11/8/12

FRIENDS OF LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM TO HOST ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) will be held on Monday, November 19, at 7 p.m. in the Wayne Public Library Meeting Room, 461 Valley Road, Wayne. All FOLA members, as well as guests and members of the public, are invited to attend. A special feature of the meeting will be a slide show highlighting the beauties of Laurelwood Arboretum and FOLA’s events and activities throughout the year.

In the business portion of the meeting, Jim McHugh, president of FOLA, will talk about this year’s accomplishments as well as the problems facing the organization in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. He will also discuss plans for the Visitors’ Center. FOLA members will then elect a slate of officers and members of the Board of Directors for 2013-2015.

At the conclusion of the meeting, there will also be an opportunity for people to ask questions and exchange ideas and light refreshments will be served.

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11/6/12

FOLA WELCOMES EVERYONE TO DAFFODIL DAY

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) will sponsor a family Daffodil Day event on Sunday, October 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. Everyone—young and old—is invited to join FOLA volunteers in planting daffodil bulbs for spring display along the west side of Laurel Pond. Please bring garden gloves, a small shovel and a lot of enthusiasm.

Daffodil Day is one of a series of programs for the community sponsored by FOLA.

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10/2/12

WPU PROFESSOR EDITH WALLACE TO LEAD TREE WALK

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) invite the public to join a “tree walk” through Laurelwood Arboretum with Dr. Edith Wallace on Wednesday, October 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. Dr. Wallace, former chair of the Biology Department at William Paterson University, is an author, speaker and past-president of Passaic County Master Gardeners. During the walk, she will point out some of the arboretum’s unusual trees and discuss their significance and how to identify them. The program is $15. per person and free for FOLA members and children. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

The tree walk is one of a series of programs for the community sponsored by FOLA. The next event will be Daffodil Day on Sunday, October 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to join this daffodil-planting celebration at the arboretum.

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9/27/12

VOLUNTEERS PULL WEEDS AT lAURELWOOD ARBORETUM

On one of the hottest days of summer, a group of intrepid volunteers posed behind the piles of weeds they had pulled from one of Laurelwood Arboretum’s garden areas. The group included Passaic County Master Gardeners, Honor Society students from Wayne Hills High School, and volunteers from Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum. The students, who were fulfilling a community service requirement for the Honor Society, were Nina Bochna, Vagdevi Kondeti, Thomas Mattera, Nicole Stammer, Keri Kurpick, Anthony Disteso, Alisha Gomez-Shaw, and Tyler Janoski. FOLA welcomes students and all other volunteers to work in the arboretum on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon or the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon throughout the season until October.

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9/24/12

FRIENDS OF LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM DEDICATE SENSORY GARDEN

On a brilliantly sunny Sunday afternoon, FOLA dedicated its long-awaited Sensory Garden. “This special place became a reality because of the extraordinary efforts of four groups working together—the Township of Wayne, the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Wayne Lions Club, and FOLA volunteers,” said Jim McHugh, President of FOLA.

Wayne Mayor Christopher Vergano described the Sensory Garden as a small miracle in Wayne Township. “When we were working on this project, I never thought it would be this beautiful, this touchy-feely,” he said. “This is a wonderful place, and Wayne is very fortunate to have it,” said Pat Lepore, Chairman of the Passaic County Board of Freeholders. “This was a community effort, and we applaud that,” he said.

The late Henry “Hank” Wilczewski, who was president of the Wayne Lions Club from 2009 to 2011, was a prime mover in the Lion’s involvement in the Sensory Garden. “Never before had the Wayne Lions taken on an assignment so huge and different from our past experiences,” noted Albert Ruffini, current president of the club. “A bronze plaque near the Sensory Garden’s fountain commemorates the extraordinary efforts of King Lion Hank.”

The Sensory Garden was created through FOLA’s efforts with generous help from the Lions Club of Wayne and the Passaic County Open Space Commission. Ryan Edge, Supervisor of Landscape and Park Development for Wayne Township, and Deb Bryant, 1st Vice President of FOLA, designed the hardscape. All the planning, installation, and planting was done by volunteers. They will also ensure the ongoing upkeep of this very special space.

The Laurelwood Arboretum Sensory Garden is one of very few public parks in the area that features a space designed specifically for children and adults who are visually or physically challenged. The signs in the raised beds will be in large letters, and pathways are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Raised planting beds invite those who might not have the physical strength to walk through the arboretum.

The Sensory Garden incorporates many sensory experiences including touch, smell, sound and sight. It is designed to be both stimulating and relaxing. There are areas in which plants invite visitors to touch so as to experience the feeling of soft, fuzzy, spiky varieties or rippled edges and thick stems. Bright colors intermingled with borders of soft silver hues and delicate blues stimulate the eye but also suggest tranquility. Soft grasses provide visual texture and the sound of gentle rustling as wind passes through them. A fountain bubbles faintly in the background, while fragrant lavender, rosemary, lemon thyme and mint offer scents and an opportunity to taste throughout the growing season.

Members of FOLA’s Sensory Garden Committee, from left: Horticultural Manager Joan Scott-Miller of Newfoundland, Nancy Fadynich, Margaret Kerstner and Alex Fadynich of Wayne, Tina Califano of Bloomingdale, Jean Reynolds of Pompton Lakes, head gardener Daniel Sanchez of Paterson, Jan Van Eeuwen, Helene Christie, Sara McHugh and Carol Huber of Wayne and Sunny Brennan of Bloomingdale. Standing at the back is Eagle Scout Ryan Bishop, who built the Sensory Garden archway. Not pictured, Debra Bryant, FOLA Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator.

Although the design of the Sensory Garden addresses the needs of visitors with visual or physical challenges, it will also provide volunteer and educational opportunities for the general public. The “learning circle” in one area of the garden is a place for quiet contemplation and will also serve as the setting for educational gatherings.

“This garden is a barrier-free place where all people can learn how to experience nature,” said Kathleen Salisbury, Team Leader, Education, Duke Farms, an advisor to FOLA on the Sensory Garden. “Visitors, students, and families can take what they learn here by touching, smelling, tasting, hearing and seeing living plants and apply the experience to nature near them…their local park, local street tree, or their own backyard. We want to give all people the tools to experience, enjoy and continue to visit the natural world around them.”

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9/17/12

LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM FEATURED ON TV

Neighborhood Journal, a program on Cablevision channel 78, features Laurelwood Arboretum and a recent program on herbal remedies given there by Robin Rose Bennett. The segment airs through August 25th at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

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8/14/12

CAREER CAMPERS LEARN VOCATIONAL SKILLS AT LAURELWOOD ARBORETUM

A group of seven energetic campers spent a hot summer day working side by side with Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum’s adult volunteers to help clear weeds and unwanted growth. The Career Camp is a program for students ages 14 to 21 designed to teach vocational skills and work-appropriate behavior.

“We had a wonderful day,” said Lauren Klein, Coordinator of Rehabilitation Services for Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest (JVS), an agency of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ. “For our staff, it was great to see the campers interacting and working together to help each other. For our campers, it was wonderful to be outside, help with a project to beautify the arboretum, learn about weeding and to continue to work on social and team building skills.”

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8/9/12

FOLA TO HOST MONARCH BUTTERFLY LECTURE AND TOUR

On Wednesday, August 15, Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) will host a program, about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. The event, presented by Wayne resident Robert Simpson, will include a walk through the arboretum. It will begin at 4 p.m. at the pavilion. The cost is $15 per person, but the program is free for FOLA members and children accompanied by an adult. To reserve space on the mobility cart, please call 973-202-9579.

“This will be a wonderful educational event for children,” says Bonnie Joachim, FOLA’s program chairperson. “What more wondrous thing is there in nature than the life cycle of butterflies!”

Bob Simpson has lived in Wayne for more than 40 years and taught music in the public school system for 30 years. After retiring, he became a solar energy advocate and consultant. He is a member of the Wayne Environmental Commission, a hiker and Supervisor of High Mountain Park trails and maintainers for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Raising Monarch butterflies is one of his hobbies.

“It’s hard to find a butterfly that is not beautiful, but Monarchs stand out for more reasons than their beauty,” Simpson says. “Their life cycle amazes us: from a tiny egg not much larger than a grain of sand to a captivating striped caterpillar to a chrysalis and finally a butterfly.  Imagine that simple creature flying all the way to Mexico — not every Monarch, but only one generation of several each year makes the trip from as far away as Canada all the way to Mexico, where it winters and then starts back toward where it was born.”

Simpson will talk about the life cycle(s) of the Monarch; how to grow and harvest milkweed, the caterpillar’s favorite food (which is poisonous); and how to find Monarch eggs and caterpillars and protect them from their enemies. The group will walk to two areas of Laurelwood Arboretum where milkweed is growing.

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7/30/12

SUMMER VOLUNTEERS

On one of the hottest days of summer, a group of intrepid volunteers posed behind the piles of weeds they had pulled from one of Laurelwood Arboretum’s garden areas. The group included Passaic County Master Gardeners, students from Wayne Hills High School, and volunteers from Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum. Anyone is welcome to volunteer on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, or the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12 noon throughout the season until October. For further information, call 973-202-9579.

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7/18/12

COME AND ENJOY OUR NEW SENSORY GARDEN

The Laurelwood Arboretum Sensory Garden is nearing completion, although it will be a work in progress that will be planted out over the season. It is one of very few public parks in the area that features a garden designed specifically for children and adults who are visually or physically challenged. The signs in the raised beds will be in large letters, and pathways are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Raised planting beds invite those who might not have the physical strength to walk through the Arboretum.

The Sensory Garden incorporates many sensory experiences including touch, smell, sound and sight. It is designed to be both stimulating and relaxing. There are areas in which plants invite visitors to touch so as to experience the feeling of soft, fuzzy, spiky varieties or rippled edges and thick stems. Bright colors intermingled with borders of soft silver hues and delicate blues stimulate the eye but also suggest tranquility. Soft grasses provide visual texture and the sound of gentle rustling as wind passes through them. A fountain bubbles faintly in the background, while fragrant lavender, rosemary, lemon thyme and mint offer scents and an opportunity to taste throughout the growing season.

Although the design of the Sensory Garden addresses the needs of visitors with visual or physical challenges, it will also provide volunteer and educational opportunities for the general public. The “learning circle” in one area of the garden is a place for quiet contemplation and will also serve as the setting for educational gatherings.

The Sensory Garden was created through the efforts of Friends of Laurewood Arboretum (FOLA) with generous help from the Lions Club of Wayne and the Passaic County Open Space Commission. Ryan Edge, Supervisor of Landscape and Park Development for Wayne Township, and Deb Bryant, 1st Vice President of FOLA, designed the hardscape. All the planning, installation, and planting was done by volunteers. They will also ensure the ongoing upkeep of this very special space.

“We believe our Sensory Garden will have a lasting impact on visitors far beyond the day of their visit,” said Bryant. “Students will learn to touch and smell plants; seniors will make friends in their gardening groups; special needs visitors will explore nature in the ways that best suit them; people with visual impairments will experience the sounds, fragrance and textures of the natural world. Most of all, it will be a peaceful place to sit, relax and enjoy the wonders of nature. We encourage all visitors to Laurelwood to stop by to enjoy our unique Sensory Garden.”

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6/19/12

See older news in our News Archive.