New Jersey Botanical Garden hosts holiday open house

"Historic Skylands Manor in the New Jersey State Botanical Garden will be filled with a display of holiday décor during its annual Holiday Open House from November 30 to December 3." For more information, go to the full story here.

Upcoming Events and Activities

Here is a short list of events for the next few weeks. Please add other events that you know of in the comments section.

• 5th Annual House Tour Of LBI. Saturday, September 16. 10am to 3pm.
  
  Tour newly constructed homes on Long Beach Island — beach front and bay front. St. Francis Community Center, 47th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, Brant Beach, (609) 494-8861. Tickets are $35. Proceeds benefit programs and services offered at St. Francis Community Center.



• War on Trash. Saturdays, September 16 and September 23
  
  Help clean up the Delaware River. Rain or Shine. More information at the Delaware River Journal.



• Gourmet Chefs in Designer Kitchens Tour. Saturday, September 16. 10:30am to 3pm.
  
  Tour six kitchens in Toms River, Island Heights, Seaside Park and Bayville. Each home will have a local Chef who will prepare and serve a specialty from their area restaurant. Sponsored by the White Pine Twig of the Community Medical Center Auxiliary Association.



• Walking Tour: Broad Street Highlights. Thursday September 21. 1pm to 2:30pm.
  
  Re-Discover Newark: Explore its architecture, history, and importance as an American city since 1666. Run by the New Jersey Historical Society. The tour is free.



• Lilac Restoration Project. Saturday, September 23. 10am.
  
  The New Jersey Botanical Garden Lilac volunteers "invite you to a hands-on learning experience in the Lilac Garden with Dan Ryniec, Lilac Curator at Brooklyn Botanical Garden." Free.



• Colts Neck Kitchen Tour. Wednesday, September 27th 9:30-2:30.
  
  Explore ten kitchens throughout Colts Neck. Complimentary wine and food sampling at Four JGs Vineyard (on Hillsdale Road) with chef Chris Brandl of Brandl Restaurant in Belmar as guest chef. Tickets are $45 each. Sponsored by the Colts Neck PTO.

Organic Garden Tour in Montclair

Pat Kenschaft of Montclair is inviting “Everyone and their friends” to her Open Garden next Saturday, September 23, 2006. Kenschaft is a Mathematics Professor at MSU and spends her spare time tending her garden, among other things. She has raised all of her family’s vegetables organically for over 25 years.

The Open Garden tour last spring was quite interesting and this falls tour looks just as promising. In her email announcing the Open Garden Kenschaft says, “This year's garden is different from others because of the wild rain, wind, and woodchucks. The garden isn't as planned as usual, but we are still eating feasts every evening.” Current crops include collards, kale, chinese cabbage, Malabar spinach, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and climbing beans. Some of these will be harvested all winter.

The garden will be open September 23, from 2-5pm. It is located at 56 Gordonhurst Avenue in Montclair.

News from Other Blogs

A Current View of the NY Botanical Gardens - OldRoses over at A Gardening Year recently visited the NY Botanical Gardens. She has posted some great pictures of the gardens in late August. It is definitely worth a Click.

Tracking Ernesto Up the Delware - The Delaware River Journal is keeping track of possible flooding along the Delaware River, among others.

Fall Garden Workshops and Tours

The Somerset County Parks Commission has two gardening workshops scheduled this fall, Autumn in the Perennial Garden and Putting Your Garden to Bed. Both workshops will be held at in the Perennial Garden at Colonial Park in East Millstone.

Autumn In the Perennial Garden is a field study of fall blooming perennials including butterfly bushes, asters, and ornamental grasses. Plant care and gardening techniques will be discussed. Staff will be on hand to answer gardening questions. Saturday, September 9 from 9am – 11am.

Putting your Garden to Bed is a hands-on workshop demonstrating techniques used to winterize the garden. Participants are requested to bring pruners, loppers, and gloves. Saturday, November 11 from 10am – 12noon.

Registration is required for both programs. The cost per program is $12 ($10 for seniors and students). 150 Mettlers Road, East Millstone, NJ 08873. Park in Parking Lot F. (732)873–2459.

Frelinghuysen Arboretum also has a guided fall tour, Trees & Shrubs with Fall Interest, highlighting plants that have flowers, fruit and/or spectacular fall color. Friday, October 27, Noon–1pm. Directions.