Marian Jordan and Meredith Koenig at the raised bog garden.
Three members of the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society (VHAS) recently took a trip to Linwood Arboretum. On a cool May morning, the trio—Naomi Ingraldi, Meredith Koenig, and Deb Boerner Ein— met with Friends of the Linwood Arboretum volunteer Marian Jordan at one of the smallest public gardens in America—less than one acre. The purpose of the VHAS members’ visit was to educate themselves and collect ideas for gardens on the VHAS grounds. Both objectives were accomplished.
Nestled between Bellhaven Avenue School and the Linwood bike path, the arboretum was transformed beginning in 2009 from a “brownfields” site and former electrical substation to a green oasis. This well-situated triangular piece of property is highly visible to both foot traffic and vehicles.
Linwood Arboretum is one of 28 Garden State Gardens, a consortium of New Jersey public gardens dedicated to creating public awareness and appreciation for the beauty and horticultural, educational, artistic and historic value public gardens in New Jersey.
Jordan provided a tour of the garden, where the focus is on collections of species and cultivated varieties (cultivars) within particular genera with both North American and East Asian representatives. There is a strong emphasis on plants that bloom in autumn and mid-winter.
From left: Koenig, Naomi Ingraldi, and Deb Ein among the flowering trees and bushes.
The winding paths encourage you to stop, look and listen. Park your bike at the bike rack and wander. Birds and bees abound. Shrubs, trees, and plants are clearly identified with specimen markers. The thoughtful design of the space provides a landscape of changing colors and smells. Benches allow for quiet reflection. A raised bog garden is full of native pitcher plants. A picnic table is situated under a pergola. So many inviting spots are packed into this space, yet it doesn’t feel crowded. It’s blissful.
The Linwood Arboretum is open 365 days of the year from dawn to dusk. It is located at 1410 Wabash Avenue, Linwood, NJ 08221.
