Reeves-Reed Arboretum

ARBORETUM DEDICATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION OF AN HISTORIC COUNTRY ESTATE.

HORTICULTUREREEVES-REED ARBORETUM IS A 13.5 ACRE ESTATE. IT WAS SELECTED TO BE PUT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1993 AND ON THE NJ REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1993 AS WELL. TODAY THE ESTATE IS A SUBURBAN ARBORETUM, PUBLIC GARDEN, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER.THE MAIN HOUSE (WISNER HOUSE) WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1889. IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF BABB COOK AND WILLARD AND IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE COLONIAL REVIVAL STYLE HOUSE. THIS STYLE HOUSE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARCHITECTURE THAT WAS PREDOMINANT IN THE NORTHEAST DURING THIS PERIOD.THE FORMAL GARDENS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 1920S ERA OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. A FORMAL ROSE GARDEN, AZALEA AND RHODODENDRON, PERENNIAL BORDERS AND ROCK GARDENS COMPRISE THE FORMAL AREAS. SOME OF THE AREAS ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE, AND IN 2017 AND 2020; THE ARBORETUM COMPLETED PHASE ONE AND TWO OF A 3-PHASED ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT. BEYOND THE FORMAL GARDENS, MANY EDUCATIONAL GARDEN AREAS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO TEACH THE PUBLIC ABOUT PLANTS THAT ARE USED HORTICULTURALLY, AS WELL AS NATIVE SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN REINTRODUCED INTO THE GARDEN. THE COLLECTIONS ARE APPROPRIATELY IDENTIFIED AND SIGNAGE IS UTILIZED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. THERE IS A 672 SQUARE FOOT GREENHOUSE THAT HOUSES COLLECTIONS OF ORCHIDS, CACTI, CARNIVOROUS PLANTS, AND SUCCULENTS. IT IS ALSO USED AS A CLASSROOM. THERE IS ALSO A 300 SQUARE FOOT HOOP HOUSE THAT IS USED FOR PROPAGATION AND THE OVERWINTERING OF TROPICAL PLANTS USED IN THE DISPLAY GARDENS.FOR 10 MONTHS OF THE YEAR THE GLACIAL BOWL TO THE SOUTH OF THE MAIN HOUSE IS A CERTIFIED NATIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT THAT HAS BEEN PLANTED TO ATTRACT SONG BIRDS, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES. WILDFLOWERS AND FERNS HAVE BEEN PLANTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NATIVE LANDSCAPING. WE MANAGE 6 ACRES OF NATIVE HARDWOOD FOREST AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO TEACH THE MANY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHO COME TO THE ARBORETUM.

EDUCATIONEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN THE MARY REINHART STACKHOUSE EDUCATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS INCLUDING:HANDS TO NATURE, A FIELD TRIP PROGRAM FOR NEWARK, ELIZABETH AND PLAINFIELD ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS;NATURED-THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTIES; A SERIES OF NATURE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES;A SERIES OF SUMMER CAMP OPTIONS INCLUDING: ELEPHANT TREE NATURE CAMP FOR AGES 4-8; THEATRE AND FINE ARTS CAMPS WITH A FOCUS ON NATURE AND THE NATURAL WORLD (AGES 4 TO 11); AND COOKING CAMPS FOR AGES 5-10 WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTHY EATING.SQUARE FOOT GARDENING WORKSHOPS.HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS INCLUDING YOGA AND FOREST BATHING.PHOTOGRAPHY - LEARN HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH FLOWERS AND GARDENS.INTERPRATIVE SIGNAGE HAS BEEN INSTALLED THAT DESCRIBES THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FROM A LANDSCAPE DESIGN.AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS, LECTURES, AND EVENTS FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES.

PUBLIC RELATIONSTHE ARBORETUM GROUNDS ARE OPEN FROM 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM FROM NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH MARCH 31, AND FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM FROM APRIL 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 31 FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AND STUDY WITHOUT AN ADMISSION CHARGE. THE ARBORETUM ALSO HOSTS TWO MAJOR GALLERY EXHIBITIS PER YEAR, ALIGNING WITH THE MISSION OF THE INSTITUTION, PROVIDING THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR CURRICULUM, AND DRAWING ON ARTWORKS FROM NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS. IN 2021, RRA WELCOMED OVER 100,000 VISITORS TO THE GROUNDS, AND HAS SUSTAINED THAT GROWTH.