Programs – August & September

Program Calendar – August & September

August 2023

Presentation and Docent-led History Ramble

Saturday, August 12
10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.

Gain an understanding about the garden’s evolution during the short slide presentation, From Pleasant Days to Greenwood, a Century of Change in the Garden, narrated by Executive Director, Abby O’Neill.  Then join a 45-minute guided walking tour of the grounds led by our volunteer docents who will share details about the site’s history, landscape, and architecture.  In the process, participants will learn about the impact two families – the Days and the Blanchards – had on the property and how their efforts set the stage for the Greenwood of today.  The tour ends with discussion time and Q & A session.

Open to 30 participants.
$15 members; $20 non-members.

Register

Creative Arts Day in the Garden

En Plein Air Painting, Sketching, and Photography for Enthusiasts

Wednesday, August 16
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Whatever your preferred mode of creating art, en plein air artists of all skill levels are invited to practice at Greenwood on this day. Watercolors, pastels, pen and ink, photography, sketching, and journaling are welcome. Our century-old site offers magical views, iconic Arts & Crafts follies, stately fountains, and ample space in which to feel at home. What’s more, you might meet up with a skilled photographer for a mini-workshop, a professional botanic artist who can provide some special tips, or former students of our beloved Co-founder, the late Peter P. Blanchard III, who can share the special methodologies and principals he developed over his lifetime growing up on the estate. Artist easels and tripods are permitted provided they are not placed in the planted beds and pathways are not blocked. Drop cloths required for painting.

$10 members; $15 non-members.

Register

Arts and Architecture Walk

Thursday, August 24
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

In this fascinating walk through the garden and the Main House, you will learn about the relevance of such unique terms and names as “whale-back,” “Rookwood,” and “Della Robbia.” Discover the difference between the three homes that have graced the property, hear about the history of the site’s iconic structures, and even find hidden ceramics. A tour of the first floor of the Main House includes a discussion of the hand-painted Zuber wallpaper mural and interior art pieces original to the home.

Open to 15 participants.
$10 members; $15 non-members.

Register

September 2023

Bird Walk

Thursday, September 7
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Immerse yourself in nature as you venture into the garden with New Jersey Audubon Naturalist, Dave Hall. This avian expert will talk about the varied species of birds that visit Greenwood’s peaceful woodlands and the surrounding 2,100 acres of South Mountain Reservation’s protected parkland. End the morning with refreshments at the gift shop.

Open to 15 participants.
$15 per person.

Register

For Members

The Book Group at Greenwood Gardens

Tuesday, September 12
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

September’s book selection is Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver. “An intricate story that entwines considerations of faith and faithlessness, inquiry, denial, fear and survival in gorgeously conceived metaphor. Kingsolver has constructed a deeply affecting microcosm of a phenomenon that is manifesting in many different tragic ways, in communities and ecosystems all around the globe. This is a fine and complex novel.” — Seattle Times

Enjoy a guided discussion led by Greenwood Advisory Board member and Short Hills resident, Patti Manzi.  Light refreshments will be served. The Book Group at Greenwood Gardens meets quarterly.

Open to 16 members. Free to members.

Register

An Enchanted Evening at Greenwood Gardens

Friday, September 22
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

We hope you will join us for An Enchanted Evening at Greenwood Gardens, both a tribute to our late Co-Founder Peter P. Blanchard III, and celebration of our 20th Anniversary on Friday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. With twinkling lights, live jazz, sparkling spirits, and delectable fine passed foods, the evening is sure to be memorable!

You also won’t want to miss the chance to win incredible items and experiences at our silent auction. Sports enthusiasts will go wild for a one-of-a-kind racing experience at Monticello Motor Club, a day of clay shooting at Hudson Farm, or golfing for three at world-class Baltusrol Golf Club. A private tour of MOMA, an original oil painting by our Co-Founder, and an opportunity for a walk-on role in New Jersey Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker, are just some of the exciting items that may appeal to art-lovers. Foodies and wine afficionados will find plenty to bid on as well!

Secure your ticket before they sell out!

More Information

Native Plant Walk

Wednesday, September 27  10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Head of Horticulture, on a walk highlighting many of Greenwood’s favorite native plants and delightful plant combinations in the garden. Natives are integrated throughout our borders as a means of attracting pollinators and showcasing sustainable designs that are both robust and elegant.

Open to 15 participants;
$10 members; $15 non-members.

Register

Peter P. Blanchard III Lecture Series

Gardening Can Be Murder!

Thursday, September 28
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

with Marta McDowell

Made possible in part with a grant from M&T Bank

Reading a murder mystery is a bit like working in the garden! It starts with tangled chaos and ends, at least for a moment, in an ordered universe. Plants, gardens, gardeners, and various garden tools have made frequent appearances in crime fiction, from classic to contemporary. Come sleuth out the genre’s horticultural connections with author Marta McDowell as she shares her latest book, Gardening Can Be Murder.

Open to 50 attendees.
$20 members; $25 non-members.

Register

– CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER –

Music in the Garden Concert Series

New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players

Friday, September 29
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Stone Mountain Properties

Join us for the third in a series of three intimate outdoor concerts featuring music through the ages, including tonight’s special focus on classical chamber music, courtesy of the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players, who will perform and also provide insight into the music and their lives as professional musicians.  Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to stroll through the garden before the concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Wine and cheese will be served under the tent on the West Terrace starting at 6:00 p.m. This will be a magical evening!

Open to 90 attendees.
$30 members; $35 non-members.

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