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Park Commission Press Releases

Sunday, June 29
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
$30.00 per house
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 E. Hanover Ave.
Morristown, NJ 07960

Register online at:  www.arboretumfriends.org

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township has a long history of fairy inhabitants.  Since it was built in 1891, as a summer home for the Frelinghuysen family by Scotsman James McPherson, garden fairies have resided there.  

Families are invited to the Frelinghuysen’s Sylvan Terrace to build homes for these ephemeral visitors.  Summon the fairies with music and fairy snacks and learn which plants and trees will attract them to your own backyard.  All supplies – bark, branches, lichens, mosses, feathers, stones and leaves – will be provided, or bring your own as long as they’re natural.  All the fairy houses will be on display through the end of July. 

To see photos of previous Fairy Houses or to get ideas for your own house visit www.arboretumfriends.org.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey.  It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!


Biblical Botany Walking Tour - The Old Testament comes to life in our gardens
Sunday, June 29
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
$15
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 East Hanover Avenue
Morristown, NJ

Register online at:  www.arboretumfriends.org

View The Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s plant collections through the lens of the Old Testament.  Biologist, agronomist, Bible scholar and most articulate plant geek, Dr. Jon Greenberg, returns to The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township to once again walk us through more than 5,000 years of history.  Touring the gardens at their mid-summer peak with Jon is a multi-faceted pleasure.  His knowledge of botany and the Talmud combine to make a fascinating walk, even for experienced horticulturists.  Learn something new from a very old source!  Participation is limited, so register early.  Please wear a sun hat and good walking shoes.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey.  It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!
Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life - Much More than Just Peter Rabbit!
Sunday, June 22
1:00 pm
$25.00
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 E. Hanover Ave.
Morristown, NJ 07960

Register online at:  www.arboretumfriends.org

If when you think of Beatrix Potter, you imagine blue-jacketed bunnies and other fuzzy fauna, prepare to be amazed at this talk about her life at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township.  Beatrix Potter was also quite interested in plants and gardens.  This lecture explores Potter’s botanical art, the flora and horticulture that appear in her “little books” and Potter’s own garden in England’s Lake District.  Marta McDowell is a garden consultant, writer, lecturer and resident of Morris County.  She teaches landscape history and gardening at the New York Botanical Garden and Drew University.  She is particularly interested in the relationship between the pen and the trowel – authors who garden.  A book signing follows the lecture.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey.  It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is Coming to Morris County
MORRISTOWN, NJ – The revolution is coming to Morris County, the Food Revolution that is! In conjunction with The Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Foundation, the Morris County Park Commission is hosting a series of Food Revolution events throughout May. So get ready and arm yourself with information that’s key to preventing diet-related diseases and obesity.
Kick off the festivities with a Food Revolution Day at Cooper Gristmill on Saturday, May 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Chester Township. Discover the ways in which grains were processed in the late 1880’s, and how it relates to the gains we eat today.

On Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. at Historic Speedwell in Morristown, learn about agriculture in New Jersey at the event, ‘That Grows in New Jersey?’ This presentation features information about crops that were grown in New Jersey both in the 19th century and today.

Celebrate being connected to your food on Saturday, May 17, at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at ‘Farm to Table: A Food Revolution Day!’ Explore the process from food production to consumption, and the benefits and value of sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and eating locally. Enjoy fun-food demonstrations, a wood burning stove demonstration, and play a matching game to connect the food from the table to the farm. Engage in fitness activities, games, and exhibits on diet and health. According to Mark Sutherland, Historic Sites Manager for the Morris County Park Commission, “It is essential that we, as a community, support our local farmers and educate ourselves on sustainable farming practices. We’ve seen the adverse effects of genetically modified and processed foods. It is time to unite through knowledge and education and set a positive example for future generations.” Join us for three amazing programs in May and arm yourself with useful information about the Food Revolution. For program information or information on volunteering, please call 973.631.5077.


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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Spring Brings New Additions to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, home to an array of farm animals, welcomes two beautiful, healthy lambs to the family. The lambs, which are almost four weeks old, can be spotted frolicking and playing in the pastures, basking in the sun, and catching some ZZzzs next to their dutiful moms.



These happy lambs will have to share the spotlight soon enough! Oreo, the beloved Hampshire pig, is pregnant and due in early May. A litter of piglets will shortly liven up the farm with their playful squeals and silly antics. Stay connected to the Morris County Park Commission through Facebook and Twitter to receive the most up-to-date information on all animal happenings at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm.

Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, in Morris Township, is opening Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens (65+), $4 children (4-16) $2 (children 2&3) and FREE for children under 2. Please note the farm will be closed on Friday, April 18.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Make a Culinary Herb Strawberry Jar - Use your own fresh grown herbs
Friday, May 9
10:00 - 11:30 am OR 6:30 to 8:00 pm
$40.00
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 E. Hanover Ave.
Morristown, NJ 07960

Register online at: www.arboretumfriends.org

Be rewarded with cuttings of fresh sage, oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary, all the herbs you need to create memorable summertime meals when you grow a culinary herb strawberry jar. Plant your strawberry jar filled with choice culinary herbs at this hands-on workshop at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township, led by Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education. These classic terra cotta containers often frustrate gardeners as they can be difficult to maintain. You will learn the professional’s tricks for creating successful strawberry jars and your jar will flourish all summer. Fee includes all materials and a terra cotta strawberry jar which can be re-planted next year.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Wildflower Walk at Tourne County Park
Sunday, April 27
1:00 – 3:00 pm
$10
Tourne County Park
41 McCaffrey Lane
Boonton, NJ

Register online at: www.arboretumfriends.org

The Emilie K. Hammond Wildflower Trail at Tourne County Park is home to over 200 varieties of wildflowers which thrive there because of its unique habitat. Late April is the perfect time to encounter native plants like trout lilies, blue bells, trilliums, violets, blood root, wild azalea, jack in the pulpit and bleeding hearts. Lee Gaitskill, of the Rockaway Valley Garden Club, which sponsors and maintains the Wildflower Trail, takes us on a tour and shares her unique perspective. Meet at the Pavilion off of McCaffrey Lane near the ball field.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Changing Climates, Changing Gardens: Protecting Plants in the 21st Century
Thursday, April 17
1:00 – 3:00 pm
$20
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 East Hanover Avenue
Morristown, NJ

Register online at: www.arboretumfriends.org

New pests and diseases are on the rise, and our favorite garden plants are the target. Plant pathologist and author, Margery Daughtrey, shares her perspective and insights on how gardeners need to deal with threats such as rose rosette virus, impatiens downy mildew, boxwood blight and Asian long-horned beetle in a fascinating talk at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township. Margery is the Senior Extension Associate with the Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University; she has conducted a research and extension program on the management of diseases of ornamental plants since 1978, at Cornell’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center in riverhead, NY. This program is eligible for 2.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Born to be Shorn: Live Sheep Shearing
MORRISTOWN, NJ –Witness the hand-shearing of live sheep, up close and personal, as it was done in the past. At Born to Be Shorn on Saturday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cooper Gristmill in Chester Township take advantage of the opportunity to experience something unique and wonderful.


According to Mark Sutherland, Manager of Historic Sites for the Morris County Park Commission, “It is extraordinary to see the sheep shearing practices of the past come to life in modern day. Most people are quite amazed by the calm, almost meditative, state of the sheep as they are being sheered.” Sutherland continued, “The shearers, with no electricity work with only a pair of shears quickly and calmly, with skill and precision. It is astonishing to witness the trust demonstrated between human and animal in order to complete the job.” Without a doubt, the sheep are more comfortable after their annual shearing, and the fleece is ready to be put to good use!

Following the shearing, visitors enjoy many hands-on activities, such as skirting and washing the fleece, and carding, spinning, and weaving the yarn. Watch how the fleece/yarn turns amazingly brilliant natural colors as it is dyed in a pot over an open fire. Make a sheep craft, and other fascinating fiber crafts to take home. Top off your day with a tour the 1826 water-powered Cooper Gristmill, the only fully water-powered gristmill in New Jersey that produces flour.         

Admission to the event is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors (age 65 and over), and $1 for children (ages 4 - 16). Children under age 4 are admitted FREE. For more information, please call 908.879.5463, or visit morrisparks.net.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Annual Plant Sale: Add Oomph to Your Garden!
MORRISTOWN, NJ – ‘Plants with Pizazz’ is the theme for the 2014 Annual Plant Sale at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pizazz has been defined as charm, style, flair, glamour, or simply put – oomph. Some examples of plants with pizazz that will be for sale are Pow Wow Wild Berry Coneflower, and Molten Coral Coleus, two ‘knock your socks off’ high performers.

According to Leslie Parness, Superintendent of Horticulture for the Morris County Park Commission, “People are excited for this annual plant sale because they understand these are excellent plant choices for our area! Additionally, they will receive expert advice on the best plants to select to achieve their dream garden based upon factors, such as sun and soil. We encourage people to bring photos and talk to our plant experts.”

Whether you select annuals to dress up containers, perennials to fill borders, a vine for softening hard edges, or a shrub to fill out an empty space, you can be certain that your plant is well-suited for New Jersey’s climate. Parness added, “It is interesting to note that recently, the American Horticultural Society re-assigned its Growing Zones. The impacts of climate change necessitated this re-thinking of what will grow successfully here.” Plants are carefully selected based on their vigor and suitability – in other words, all the hard work is done for you. Just come and exercise your personal style with confidence that your plants will thrive. Not sure what the proper care of your new purchases is? Ask a Plant Expert. Unlike big box stores or nurseries that hire seasonal sales staff, this Plant Sale is staffed by knowledgeable gardeners and garden professionals. 

Bring your container along and we help you to create something special. Bring photographs or drawings of your garden and we help you to fill in the blank spaces. Shopping at the Friends Plant Sale is not just a consumer experience – it’s an education!

For more information, call 973.326.7601 or visit morrisparks.net.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!




Find Unique Treasures and Antiques at the All-County Garage Sale
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Get ready, get set, and GO! To the All-County Garage Sale as it returns by popular demand to Mennen Sports Arena, in Morris Township, on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last year, over 3,000 people attended the sale; many satisfied shoppers left with designer handbags, interesting antiques, delightful home goods, unique collectables, and so much more. Take the travel time out of shopping and find a variety of wonderful goods, at bargain prices, in one convenient location. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity; it’s a one-day shopper’s paradise!

All proceeds from the All-County Garage Sale benefit the Historic Speedwell educational programming and historic preservation projects. The Factory Building, located on the Morristown site, is a National Historic Landmark featuring a brand new, hands-on, interactive exhibit on the telegraph and the development of modern communications.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, and children 12 and under are admitted FREE. For more information on attending, or becoming a vendor, please call 973.285.6534.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!