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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.

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!

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.

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.

This past Saturday the Friends hosted the Annual Benjamin Blackburn Scholarship Lecture with well-known Photographer, Rob Cardillo as our guest speaker. As you know, this is an annual fundraiser to provide a scholarship to a student or students in the Landscape and Horticultural Technology Program at County College of Morris. Thank you so much to all who purchased tickets to the event, or simply made a contribution. Also many thanks to Mendham Capital Management for their generous sponsorship of the program.

Mr. Cardillo presented a wonderful talk to a very engaged audience, offered books and calendars for sale after his talk and all attendees enjoyed light refreshments following the presentation. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who make everything run seamlessly!

Marge Hulstrunk and Russell Gatzke created the lovely centerpieces which were raffled off during the event. Judy Snow took the photo of one of Marge’s whimsical arrangements, love all the detail, right down to the tiny little newspaper on the garden bench!  Another arrangement was captured by Lisa Bencivengo, including a tiny birdbath, stepping stone path and garden gate. The photo of Judy Snow, Rob Cardillo and Kerry Mellot from Mendham Capital Management, was taken by Member Debby Juterbock. Thank you all.

Just a few winter images taken at the Arboretum last week. The gorgeous exfoliating bark of Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) at the entrance to the Haggerty Education Center; there used to be two of them, sadly the one on the left suffered damage during a storm and had to be removed. The fuzzy buds of the Magnolia x ‘Butterflies’ (Hybrid Magnolia) photographed against a bright blue sky. Last but not least, the Barkman Vegetable Garden sleeping under a blanket of snow. In case you’re wondering, that’s the Ficus carica (Fig Tree) all wrapped up in burlap as protection against the winter chill.

Picture Credits: Margery Ennist.

No chance to visit the Arboretum this week, but here are some photos taken of the grounds following snowfalls in past years. The herm at the end of the Holly walk wearing a jaunty snow cap; the red barn in the hollow on the left as you drive up the road to the Haggerty Education Center; the Mansion following a winter storm; the frozen pond in front of Matilda’s Cottage surrounded by snow. These timeless images are repeated over the years as the grounds are blanketed with freshly fallen snow. Schedule a visit soon, and enjoy the quiet beauty of the grounds in winter.

Picture Credits: Margery Ennist

The annual Members Only New Year’s Party was held at the Arboretum on Sunday, January 12. Attendees were treated to an interesting and informative talk by Kristin Ace, Chairperson, Morristown Shade Tree Commission as well as an array of sweet and savory treats, hot beverages and Prosecco. The lovely table arrangements were created by Marge Hulstrunk and Russell Gatzke; The arrangements were raffled off and ten lucky winners got to take one home. Upon departure, attendees walked out to the parking lot down the festively lit walkway and were treated to a dramatic skyscape.

Picture Credits: Margery Ennist

A visit during Monday’s snowy weather, was chilly but quiet, lovely and relaxing. A curious Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) flitting about in the shrubbery at the entrance to the Haggerty Education Center, practically begged me to take its photograph! The dried flowers on a Hydrangea paniculata cv. Zwijnenburg (Limelight Panicle Hydrangea) were extra pretty with a light coating of snow as were the buds on the Pieris japonica cv. Valley Rose (Japanese Pieris). The lightly falling snow covered everything with delicate white snowflakes, from the branches of the Cedrus deodara cv. Snow Sprite (Himalayan Cedar) to the Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar), everything looked as if it had received a dusting of powdered sugar.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

In Jenny Rose Carey’s newsletter this week, she posted the following quote from Marion Henderson’s book, Pot-Pourri:

“The year drips its life slowly away from naked trees where rain hangs in crystal drops. The days are short and seem bereft of light. Yet there are times when winter’s beauty cannot be denied and trees in their dark tracery are etched against the cold blue sky. If the sun shines, the world of nature, sleeping, seems to stir and almost to wake and live again.”

Ms. Henderson’s words reminded me of a recent trip to the Arboretum on a grey, rainy day, when I snapped the following photographs. The bare branches of Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Sons Tree) reaching up against a slate grey sky presenting a beauty not seen when the tree is leaf covered. The vibrant red berries of Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ (Winterberry Holly) dripping with rain drops providing a bright spot in the garden on a dreary day. No sun appeared during my visit, but I was struck by the beauty of various plants in close proximity to one another: a Blue Spruce in front of a large clump of dry ornamental grasses, the delicate branches of a tree in front of a dark green Spruce tree, all coming together in a mix of shape, color, texture, size to create a beautiful winter vignette.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist