My Garden State--Basking Ridge

Yesterday I stopped for a bit in the village of Basking Ridge. I went specifically to take pictures of the White Oak that has lived there for more than 600 years. Known as 'The Old Oak', this ancient tree has been growing and shading the sacred ground that is the Presbyterian Church graveyard for almost 300 years before the first person was buried there in 1733.


I have a fondness for old graveyards, and the Old Oak made my visit incredibly special. At lunchtime, I was the only living person there and the noise of traffic and the bustle of noontime activity in the village seemed distant, event though the church and cemetery are at a busy crossroad.


Standing next to it, this American native tree's trunk is more than 6' in diameter--its branches are supported by crutches and cables.


The raw power of the oak's presence combined with the remnants of 18th and 19th century lives lovingly carved into the headstones is hard to describe. For me, it was an emotionally charged experience full of reverence for nature and respect for those who had been.

My Garden State--Jockey Hollow

The footpath to the Cross Estate Gardens in Jockey Hollow

This lovely garden is about 20 minutes from my studio on the way here and there. It is on National Park Service land and is maintained by a staff of dedicated volunteers. I stop there often. There are other elements not shown here, a walled formal garden with two beautiful terra cotta urns and a view east over the foothills and a three story fieldstone water tower. Perhaps another time or visit for yourself...

Spring in the wildflower garden at the Cross Estate Gardens

Massed ferns at the base of a Metaseqoia glyptostroboides

The Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) allee before it blooms next month

The Garden State--It's Not What You Think

I have lived on both sides of this continent as well as on a completely different one. I have lived in New York and Los Angeles. There are still other places I dream of living--Italy for one. The fact is that most of my life has been spent in the most maligned state in the union.

When you tell people you live in New Jersey the conversation changes course. I have never gotten and 'Oh, I've always wanted to live there' or 'Wow, that's so cool.' Most people think of New Jersey as the state sandwiched in between New York and Philadelphia--a place so uninteresting that their best course of action is to get on the NJ Turnpike and travel just as fast as they can through it.

New Jersey is probably not what you think it is. It's diverse, historic and yes overcrowded in many areas. There is beauty to be had in its cities as well as in its countryside. It is a place in danger of becoming so altered by urban sprawl that it will never be able to find its way back. I am thankful for the Farmland Preservation Program or much of our open land would become more subdivisions of houses too big for their lots. I wish some of our cities would enact historic architecture preservation laws--a small 19th century farmhouse and barn just down the street from me was knocked down and a generic faux stone clad beast went up in its place.

As a landscape designer, I drive over a significant part of the state searching for plants and materials, meeting clients and just going places. I have resolved to remember to put my camera in my bag and over the next few months I'm going to share images from my summer journeys through the state that seems to draw me back.

Big Garbage Day--A Backyard Observation

Big garbage day comes on the first Thursday of the month in my neighborhood. Regardless of my own history of incredible finds in other people's cast offs, I have become more and more mystified by the paradox of some what is being thrown out. I first started thinking about this a few months ago when all three houses in the dead end across from my front garden put pink plastic playhouses out for pick-up.

Eager to give their children a safe and fun backyard experience many well meaning parents purchase plastic toys and play equipment which are inexpensive and plentiful in the marketplace. Even if these toys are made with recycled plastic, they are ultimately not recycled. Parents who normally recycle, are environmentally aware and have switched to refillable water bottles don't even consider the impact of these toys on the environment their children will inherit once the toys are outgrown and tossed out.

The oh so common and (bleck!) cute turtle sandbox (photo via Little Tykes) below, along with easels, lawn mowers and plastic basketball hoops, racing car beds, and yes, another playhouse were on the curb this morning. Every single one was in good enough shape to be passed on to some other child instead of ending up in the landfill.