Programs

Programs

Each season, Greenwood offers a wide range of on-site programs intended to inform and entertain. You won’t want to miss our special guided tours, engaging lectures, interesting workshops, uplifting musical events, and more.

Download the 2026 Program Flyer

For Members

COFFEE AND MEMBER ORIENTATION

Thursday, February 26
Session 1: 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Session 2: 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Whether you are a new or long-time member, take this opportunity to discover all the benefits your Greenwood Membership has to offer. Join us for coffee and conversation in the dining room of the 1950’s Main House where in addition to learning how to make the most of your Membership, you can meet and connect with fellow members.

Complimentary and open to 16 members per session

Register for Session 1

Register for Session 2

For Members

Zoom Lecture:
The Peregrine Falcon Project

Tuesday, February 24
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

With Wayne Quinto, Conservationist and Award-Winning Nature Photographer

For the past five years, Wayne has been photographing these iconic birds of prey that call the Palisades their home. Peregrine falcons, the world’s fastest creatures with hunting speeds that can exceed 150 m.p.h., nearly became extinct in the mid-1960’s due to the use of the pesticide DDT. Wayne will share the miraculous story of their return and the powerful beauty they convey in his stunning photographs. Members will have time for questions and answers during this Zoom lecture. Photo credit: Wayne Quinto

Zoom link to be sent to registrants on February 23rd.

Complimentary for members

Register

For Members

The Book Group at Greenwood Gardens

Tuesday, March 17
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

With Patti Manzi, Moderator and Greenwood Advisory Board Member

Enjoy a guided discussion of a pre-selected book with a theme reflective of one or more aspects of Greenwood’s focus on nature, beauty, and history. For this session, The Keeper of Lost Things, by Ruth Hogan, will be discussed. Light refreshments will be served. The Book Group at Greenwood Gardens meets quarterly.

Complimentary and open to 16 members

Register

ZOOM LECTURE:
NATIVE PLANTS FOR BIRDS

Thursday, March 26
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

With Stephanie Punnett, Program Director at New Jersey Audubon, the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary in Bernardsville

This fascinating lecture will focus on the totality of support beyond berries that native plants provide to our resourceful feathered friends, including food, cover, nest sites, and material. Stephanie will also discuss the role natives play hosting insects, an important component of the diet of resident birds, their nestlings, and migratory birds passing through in summer. Photo credit: Mary Birrer, NJ Audubon

Zoom link to be sent to registrants on March 25th.

$15 members; $20 non-members

Register

Birder’s Walk

Thursday, April 2
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

With Dave Hall, Naturalist, New Jersey Audubon

Immerse yourself in nature on a guided walk through the garden with avian expert Dave Hall. Discover the diverse bird species that frequent Greenwood’s tranquil woodlands and the surrounding 2,100 acres of protected parkland in South Mountain Reservation. Whether you are a seasoned birdwatcher or simply curious, this is a unique opportunity to learn more about the feathered visitors that call this area home. Photo credit: Chris Neff, NJ Audubon

$15 per person

Open to 15 participants

Register

ART IN THE GARDEN SERIES

FLORAL ARRANGING DEMONSTRATION USING GARDEN FLOWERS

Sunday, April 19
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

With Thomas Guzio, Freelance Floral Designer

With 48 years’ experience creating floral designs for local flower shops and events, Thomas will demonstrate techniques using flowers from both your garden and local markets for tablescapes and placement throughout your home. A former flower shop owner in West Orange and Roseland, Thomas showcases his natural floral designs at The Emerald Garden in Springfield, Flower Power event designers in Short Hills, and Polycarp Floral Studio in Summit.

$25 per member; $30 per non-members

Open to 25 participants

Register

For Members

CASCADE FOUNTAIN RESTORATION TOUR

Friday, May 1
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

With Rich Murphy, Deputy Director, Greenwood Gardens 

Discover the fascinating story behind the restoration of Greenwood’s iconic seven-tiered, gravity-fed Cascade water feature. Join Rich for an in-depth look at the restoration process – from initial planning to completion. As you tour the site, you will be able to compare historical photos from the Day and Blanchard family eras with current-day Greenwood to see how this 110-year-old fountain has evolved over time. The tour begins at the Main House and guides participants down the fully restored Cascade, flowing once again for all to enjoy.

Complimentary for and open to 15 members

Register

SPRING TEA TASTING IN THE GARDEN

Tuesday, May 5
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

With Vicki Davitashvili, Owner, Stille Essence Tea

Against the backdrop of an enchanted garden setting, explore the rich flavors and wellness benefits of loose-leaf teas. This guided tasting — featuring hand-selected blends and floral teas such as jasmine, rose, green, and white — will emphasize education, mindfulness, and sensory enjoyment, creating a memorable and meaningful connection for all participants.

$35 per person

Open to 25 participants

Register

For Members

Holiday Shopping Hours for Mother’s Day

Wednesday, May 6
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Just in time for Mother’s Day! Members are invited to stop in at the Greenwood Gift Shop where you can find the perfect gift for your loved one. Choose from ginkgo pins, plants, signature soaps, and more! 

BIRDER’S WALK

Thursday, May 7
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

With Dave Hall, Naturalist, New Jersey Audubon 

Immerse yourself in nature on a guided walk through the garden with avian expert Dave Hall. Discover the diverse bird species that frequent Greenwood’s tranquil woodlands and the surrounding 2,100 acres of protected parkland in South Mountain Reservation. Whether you are a seasoned birdwatcher or simply curious, this is a unique opportunity to learn more about the feathered visitors that call this area home. Photo credit Chris Neff, NJ Audubon

$15 per person

Open to 15 participants

Register

For Members

Holiday Shopping Hours for Mother’s Day

Thursday, May 7
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Just in time for Mother’s Day! Members are invited to stop in at the Greenwood Gift Shop where you can find the perfect gift for your loved one. Choose from ginkgo pins, plants, signature soaps, and more! 

For Members

WALKING HISTORY TOUR

Sunday, May 10
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

This one-hour, docent-led guided tour highlights the history, landscape, horticulture, and architecture of Greenwood.

Complimentary and open to 15 members

Register

En Plein Air Arts Day

PAINTING, SKETCHING & PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE GARDEN

Wednesday, May 13
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Join fellow artists for a day of creativity in the open air! Whether you paint, sketch, photograph, or journal, all en plein air enthusiasts – beginner to experienced – are welcome to explore and capture the beauty of Greenwood’s historic gardens. Bring your preferred media – watercolor, pastel, pen and ink, or camera – and find inspiration in our century-old landscape, complete with breathtaking views, Arts & Crafts follies, and stately fountains.

Please note:

* Easels and tripods are permitted (please avoid placing them in planted beds or blocking pathways)

*Drop cloths are required for painting

$10 members; $15 non-members

Open to 25 participants, including five dedicated spots for oil painters

Register

THE PETER P. BLANCHARD III LECTURE SERIES

THE MAKING OF BIRD HAVEN FARM: TALES FROM THE TERRAIN

Sunday, May 17
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Generously Sponsored by Citizens Bank

With Janet Mavec, Author, Jewelry Designer, and Creator of Bird Haven Farm

In her inspiring talk, Janet will provide insight into the evolution of Bird Haven Farm, a historic 100-acre New Jersey farm she reimagined into a celebrated private garden that serves as the subject of her new book, Bird Haven Farm: The Story of an Original American Garden, highlighted by the stunning photography of Ngoc Minh Ngo. Janet, whose lifelong love of nature has also inspired her acclaimed jewelry designs, will explore the intersection of design, sustainability, and personal passion that defines Bird Haven Farm.

$30 members; $35 non-members

Book pre-order: $36

Open to 50 attendees

Register

Music and Dance in the Garden Series

NIMBUS DANCE

Friday, May 22
Rain date, Saturday, May 23

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m

Generously Sponsored by Stone Mountain Properties

Be wowed by the high-energy, evocative dance moves of award-winning Nimbus Dance, our area’s newest resident cultural institution. The program features Dawn Marie Bazemore’s infectiously jazzy work, The After Party, set to the music of Nina Simone and Nancy Wilson, along with Artistic Director Samuel Pott’s deeply ruminative reflection on humanity’s primal connection to the planet in Patch of Turf. The program also features a new work by Houston Thomas, in collaboration with choral composer Saunder Choi, that was recently awarded the prestigious Princess Grace Award in Choreography, and which responds to Emma Lazarus’ poem, The New Colossus, engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Performances by Nimbus Dance crackle with unexpected creativity and rousing athleticism. Don’t miss this one! Attendees are invited to stroll through the garden starting at 5:30 p.m. and then enjoy complimentary wine and cheese on the West Terrace at 6:00 p.m. before the performance begins at 6:30 p.m.

$50 members; $55 non-members

Open to 90 attendees

Register

See additional programs: June & July | August & September | October – December

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