Princeton NJ Garden Tours

Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve

The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is a unique blend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst private residential space. With campuses in Medford and Lumberton, NJ, spanning more than 200 acres, the Arboretum offers visitors a diverse horticultural array of designed gardens, landscaped grounds, meadows, natural woodlands and wetlands, and one of the most extensive plant collections — including natives — in all of southern New Jersey.

Drumthwacket

Sited on land that witnessed the 1777 Princeton battle for American independence, Drumthwacket is the stately home that is today the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey. Drumthwacket is one of the most fabled and elegant of America’s executive residences, and in it's history lies the stories of three unique families that made immense contributions to New Jersey’s, and America’s, history. Docent-led tours of six public rooms in the 1835, Greek Revival - style mansion are available on Wednesdays by reservation only. Visitors may also walk through the formal gardens and see Olden House, the original restored farmstead built between 1759 and 1765.

Pratt Gardens

Pratt Gardens, Located In "Sharptown," Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey Is The Pratt Family Homestead. In The Early 1970'S Jay Pratt, A Chemist By Profession, Started Hybridizing Azaleas As A Hobby. After Propagating Over 100 Different Varieties, He Began Planting Them On The Rolling Hills Behind The Family Home. The Gardens Are Open To The Public For Viewing During The Last 2 Weeks Of April And The First 2 Weeks Of May, Depending On The Bloom Time.

Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

The Presby Gardens features a collection of more than 4,000 varieties of world-famous irises, some dating back to the 1500's. The Gardens also boasts an unmatched array of well-known and rare irises, which has earned it National Historic Site designation.

Avis Campbell Gardens

The Avis Campbell Gardens recreate superb English-style gardens.

Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center

Once the home of Martha Brooks Hutcheson, one of the first American female landscape architects, these 100 acres include fields, woodlands and formal, yet naturalistic gardens which demonstrate classic design principles using a palette of primarily native plants.

Branch Brook Park

One of New Jersey's greatest hidden treasures can be found in Newark’s Branch Brook Park, which boasts the biggest collection of cherry trees anywhere in the world. Visitors flock to the park each spring to view the reddish-pink large white blossoms.

Buccleuch Mansion Gardens

With its recurring motif of stone lions at entranceways, Buccleuch Park, the largest city park in New Brunswick, is a beautiful recreation spot for residents, visitors, and college students. Of special note to flower lovers and gardeners is the Buccleuch Mansion gardens.

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary

The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary, also known as the Hartshorn Arboretum, is an arboretum and bird sanctuary located at 324 Forest Drive South, in the Short Hills section of Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Its trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk without charge.

Deep Cut Gardens

Deep Cut Gardens is dedicated to the home gardener. The 54 acres of gardens and greenhouses are planned as a living catalog of cultivated and native plant materials to be observed through the seasons. Whether identifying the specimens in the gardens, questioning the horticultural staff, or perusing the books and magazines in the horticultural reference library, you will discover ways to improve your home garden.

Ferry House Kitchen Garden

This early 18th-century gambrel roof farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River was owned by Garret Johnson, who operated a 490-acre colonial plantation and a ferry service across the river in the 1700s. The site also includes an 18th-century kitchen garden.

Frelinghuysen Arboretum

This 127-acre facility includes a Colonial Revival home on the National Historic Register, many nature trails, themed gardens, plant collections, an art gallery and gift shop. Year round classes for all ages and a horticultural reference library make The Frelinghuysen a regional center for horticulture.

Greenwood Gardens

Greenwood Gardens, once a grand estate of croquet terraces, tea houses and fountains enjoyed by a lucky few, is now a 28-acre garden open for guided tours, horticultural workshops and cultural events. Owned and operated by a nonprofit organization working to forward conservation throughout the region, Greenwood is a secret garden just waiting to be discovered by you.

Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds For Sculpture, a 35-acre sculpture park and museum, has captivated visitors since 1992, and has only gained in popularity as more of the public discovers its tranquil setting and engaging sculpture.  Indoor Exhibitions of emerging and well-known artists are shown throughout the year in two expansive, glass-walled buildings that were once exhibit halls for the New Jersey State Fair.  Over 230 contemporary sculptures, from monumental to smaller scale, can be found on the beautifully landscaped grounds. Open Tues-Sun 10-6 Nov-March and Tues.-Sun. 10-8 April-Oct.

Leonard J. Buck Garden

Leonard J. Buck Garden is a 29-acre rock and woodland garden developed by its namesake during the mid-twentieth century. The garden features naturalistic plantings of native wildflowers, shade perennials, ferns and rock garden plants.

Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is dedicated to preserving the spirit and beauty of the early 20th century gardens of Pierre S. du Pont. Today Longwood Gardens consists of 20 outdoor gardens and 20 indoor gardens within 4 acres (16,000 m©˜) of heated greenhouses, known as conservatories. It contains 11,000 different types of plants, fountains and has extensive educational programs including horticultural career training and internships. It hosts 800 horticultural and performing arts events each year, from flower shows, gardening demonstrations, courses, and children’s programs to concerts, organ and carillon recitals, musical theatre, and fireworks displays.

New Jersey State Botanical Garden

Once known as Skylands Farm, an estate in the grand manner, this 96-acre garden features a 44-room Tudor Revival granite mansion designed by John Russell Pope. Skylands has formal and naturalized gardens and is surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of meadows and woodlands containing approximately 5,000 species and varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers.

Prospect Gardens

The grounds surrounding Prosepct House present an array of trees, bushes, plants and flowers from the commonplace to the exotic. While the garden has been shaped and changed over the years by Prospect’s various owners and residents, many of its trees predate the house, notably the Tulip trees and the American Beech, which are native to the area. The flower garden at the rear of Prospect was laid out in approximately its present form by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson after her husband had the iron fence erected around the garden’s perimeter. Mrs. Wilson was the one who laid out the garden in the shape of the University Seal, so that, when viewed from above, the pathways define the shield outline.

Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Reeves-Reed Arboretum is comprised of a historic home, restored formal gardens, greenhouse and woodlands. Its mission is to provide horticultural and environmental education and to foster the enjoyment of nature through professional care and preservation of the property.

Rockingham Herb Garden

The Rockingham State Historic Site is a recreated farmstead that contains a Mansion House, Children's Museum and gardens. The property adjoins the D&R Canal towpath in Somerset county and provides a combined natural and cultural experience for visitors. Visitors can explore the use of medicinal herbs, vegetables used for meals and field crops while exploring the recreated 18th century kitchen garden.

Rutgers Gardens

This 50-acre garden opened in the 1930’s as a series of teaching collections in currently being re-designed to serve both students and the community. Included are shrub, annual, perennial, mixed border, rhododendron, evergreen and bamboo gardens. Adult education classes, tours, special events and rentals are offered.

Sayen House and Gardens

Sayen House and Gardens is a beautiful attraction throughout the spring. Filled with azaleas and rhododendron brought from China, Japan and England they highlight a collection of colorful blossoming species providing a feast for the eyes. The gardens hold some 2,000 azaleas and 1,500 rhododendrons of hybrid and native species. The grounds are dotted with fishponds, gazebnos and walking trails. The house was built in 1912 in the bungalown style and Hamilton's annual Azalea Festival takes place here each Mother's Day.

The Cross Estate Gardens

The Gardens are located on the Cross Estate, site of the New Jersey Brigade Unit of Morristown National Historical Park, on Old Jockey Hollow Road in Bernardsville, NJ. The Gardens are open from dawn to dusk. Parking is free, and there are no entry fees. The early twentieth-century landscape of the Cross Estate, characteristic of the Arts and Crafts period, includes a formal perennial garden, a wisteria-covered pergola, a mountain laurel allee, and a garden of native plants.

The David C. Shaw Arboretum at Holmdel Park

The David C. Shaw Arboretum at Holmdel Park was established in the fall of 1963. Its 22 acres contain hundreds of species, cultivars and varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs. The Arboretum is an educational and horticultural display devoted to the culture and study of many kinds of trees, shrubs and other woody plants that grow in Monmouth County.

Van Vleck House & Garden

Van Vleck House & Garden is dedicated to preserving for public enrichment, the spirit and beauty of this late 19th and early 20th century house and gardens. Continuing the Van Vleck family’s commitment to the community and to horticultural excellence, the house serves as a center for nonprofit organizations and the gardens are open to the public for display, education and research.

Wagner Farm Arboretum

Currently in development, the Wagner Farm Arboretum plans to open in 2007. It is dedicated to the environmental and horticultural education of children and adults through the collection, study and display of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plant life in order to promote community involvement and environmental awareness. Please call for updated information.

Wallbridge Rose Garden

The Wallbridge Rose Garden is located at the entrance to Millburn Township's Taylor Park. With a gift from a generous member and her husband in 1979, a gazebo and four quadrant rose garden was created. Since that time, the club has maintained and enhanced the rose beds, along with many of the perimeter plantings, including the installation of the sprinkler system. The club's ongoing spring, summer, and fall commitment to the garden includes pruning, weeding, replacing diseased/dead plantings, and general clean-up. The club completed documentation of the Wallbridge Rose Garden for the Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Gardens in 2010.

Well Sweep Herb Farm

The farm features a multitude of herbs and perennials, display gardens and gift shop. The shop is filled with an assortment of dried flowers, wreaths, statuary, hard-to-find potpourri supplies and unusual gifts for all ages. The farm also has high-quality plants and a broad selection of craft, garden, plant and medicinal herb books.

Willowwood Arboretum

More than 3,500 kinds of native and exotic plants may be seen at this 134-acre property, which includes a Federal style residence, circa 1783. Collections include lilacs, hollies, magnolia and viburnum. The arboretum is home to many Champion trees, an assortment of garden statuary and a small jewel-like conservatory, Willowwood is a plant lover’s dream.