Many programs on horticulture topics, for beginners as well as experts, are offered at the three horticultural sites of the Morris County Park Commission:
- The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township
- Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center in Chester Township
- Willowwood Arboretum in Chester Township
Programs include lectures by renowned horticulturists, hands-on gardening workshops, landscape design, an annual community garden conference, seasonal cooking demonstrations, floral design, garden art, kids programs for schools, scouts, and budding young gardeners, and many special events.
- Private, guided group tours at any of the three sites are available from April through October. For reservations and fee information, contact 973.326.7601
- From May through October, tours of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum are given for the public by volunteer tour guides at 2:00 pm on the first Sunday of the month. See calendar for details.
- “Branching Out!” hands-on gardening program for young people has been encouraging children to play in the dirt for more than 40 years! Gardeners may register for spring, summer, fall or all three seasons.
- Badge-related workshops are available for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Staff work with leaders to design a workshop that meets the needs of a troop or den.
- Plant the seeds for a love of nature at Seedlings. Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers discover the wonders of nature with a staff guide.
- School class field trips are available during the school year Tuesday through Friday. These workshops are designed to stimulate an appreciation and interest in plants, horticulture, and the natural world while covering state and federal curriculum standards. Click here for lesson list.
- Workshops are offered for home-school students to add plant science to the home curriculum. See calendar for details.
- Horticulture therapy programming is offered in the Scherer Garden for special needs populations to provide opportunities for vocational, life, and recreational skills, as well as a unique, sensory experience.
- The Community Garden is a place where community members can rent a plot of land to garden. Certain plots are grown exclusively for the local food pantry and are maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers.
For more information on any of these programs, contact afahey@morrisparks.net