Since 1965 the Rutgers Gardens has invited the gardening public to the Open House to see the latest floral introductions and suggestions on how they can be displayed. This year, the annuals in the Donald B. Lacey Garden will be as bright and beautiful as ever! The gardens theme, “Color My World”, is an opportunity for our gardeners to ignite their creative flow and self-expression through the use of color in the gardens. I also invite you to see the colorful new plantings throughout the Gardens, as we expand our focus on adding plants of interest to your garden.

Join us for the day to learn more about the Gardens and everything we have to offer!

• Tours of the Donald B. Lacey Display Garden
• Wine Tasting and Sales
• Ask the Experts Clinic
• Gardens Seminars
• Garden marketplace - Vendors with specialty items
• Plant Sales
• Fresh Local Produce
• Food and Music
• Children's Activities

Schedule of Events

9:15 AM   Hourly tours of the Donald B Lacey Display Garden from 9:15 am- 2:15 pm

10:00 AM Garden Highlights Tour of the Rutgers Gardens with Ted Pickering, Superintendent

11:00 AM "New Introductions Tour" with Ira Grasgreen, Eason Horticultural Resources

11:45 Bartlett Tree Experts– Root Invigoration. The Bartlett Root Invigoration program is a newly developed treatment regime intended to promote root growth.  The program has been successful on declining trees and large transplants.  When properly applied, these treatments can increase fine root density up to five times.  This leads to higher levels of water and nutrient uptake resulting in an overall improvement in tree health.

12:45  PM  Composting – What’s it all about – Monmouth County Master Gardeners

1:45 PM    Grounds Keeper – Ponds 101.  Ponds 101 takes you step by step on how to create a natural ecosystem pond that has you sitting back and enjoying the good life while Mother Nature does all the work for you.Participants will receive a helpfulOwner's Manualwithstep by step construction techniques and maintenance tips for seasonal care of your water feature.

2:00 PM    A Future Perspective of the Rutgers Gardens Tour with Bruce Crawford, Director, Rutgers Gardens

New Jersey Wine Tasting and Sales

Rutgers Gardens is proud to host the following wineries at this years Open House Festival. The Wine tasting and Sales will take place from 11 am until 3 pm. in the Sun and Shade Garden. Tasting admission at the gate is $5.00 (tasters 21 and older).

Auburn Road Vineyards

Bellview Winery

Chestnut Run Farms- Asian Pear Wines

Heritage Winery

Plagidos Winery

 

Jersey Fresh Produce

Fruitwood Farms, Monroeville, NJ

Woodland Produce

 

Market Place Vendors

Ask the Experts-

Bartlett Tree Experts

Bistro Blends - aged balsamic Vinegar and olive oil Blends

Groundskeeper, inc

Middlesex County Master Gardeners

State Master gardeners

The Robot Authority - LawnBott line of automated robotic lawnmowers

Rutgers University Campus Information Services -Info on programs and services at Rutgers

Rutgers NJAES Soil Testing Laboratory

Thomas Maugham - photographs of the Rutgers Gardens

Yours Truly - Garden and other outdoor accessories

                                               

 Vendor Registration Forms

If you are interested in becoming a vendor for our Garden Marketplace, Wine Tasting or Local Fresh Produce and have questions please contact:

mary Ann Schrum

 

 

Last years committee beds conveyed the year's garden theme "The nature of Our Heritage" with our smaller committee beds (next to the raised beds) featuring plants native to Puerto Rico, India, Mexico and China, countries that are representative of the demographics of this area. The right raised bed featured the year, 2007, planted in Santolina gray surrounded by Mercardonia "Gold Flake". The left raised bed saluted our country.

Our deepest gratitude to all of our volunteers, "Garden Guardians" and plotless ones-without you there would be no garden. Thanks to the lecturers and Master Gardeners for their continued support. We encourage you to join our community of volunteers!For information on our volunteer program please contact our volunteer coordinator MaryAnne McMillan.

We have more gardens to grow with your help!