Rose Pruning, Woodland Walks, Yoga Among Spring Activities Planned at Somerset County Parks

Can’t wait for spring to finally begin? Somerset County’s beautiful array of parks and gardens will play host to a wide variety of educational and recreational programs this season. Here’s an overview of parks programs happening in March, April, and May.

Duke Island Walkers

A weekly walking group will meet every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Duke Island Visitor’s Center for a healthy walk through Duke Island Park off Old York Road in Bridgewater along a beautiful stretch of the Raritan River. Coffee, tea, and treats will be provided. For information call 908-722-1200, ext. 226. The walk is free of charge.

Maple Sugaring

The Somerset County Park Commission invites children and adults to a 90-minute program to witness how Maple Trees are tapped, learn about sap collecting methods from the past and present, and experience the boiling process that produces delicious New Jersey Maple Syrup.

The ”Sugar Shack,” run by the Somerset County Park Commission Naturalists, is a one half-mile walk through the forest from the Environmental Education Center at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, NJ. Programs take place at the sugar shack on Saturdays and Sundays through March 15, at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Suggested donation is $1 per person.

Art & Photography Exhibit

Showcasing the four seasons at Leonard J. Buck Garden, the exhibit will feature photographs, paintings, and drawings of Buck Garden from Monday, Feb. 23 to Friday, March 13. See the Garden’s many faces through the works of talented artists and photographers.

This exhibit will be held at the Leonard. J. Buck Garden Visitor Center, 11 Layton Road in Far Hills. The exhibit is free to public from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. For more information, call 908-234-2677.

Rose Pruning Workshop

This combination lecture and hands-on workshop on Saturday, March 14 from 9 to 11 a.m. (rain date March 21) presented by the Horticulture staff will give you all the basics needed to help ensure a season of healthy roses in your garden. Bring your leather gloves and pruning equipment, and remember to dress warmly.

The program will be held in the Rose Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A. Fee is $12 per person (limit 30 people). Register by calling 732-873-2459, ext. 21.

Pruning Fundamentals

On Wednesday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Leonard J. Buck Garden staff will demonstrate the basic pruning techniques that are used in the Garden. The program will take place at 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, NJ.

Proper pruning tools will be discussed. Participants will learn how to maintain the health and beauty of their home garden. Fee is $12 per person. Pre-registration is required 908-234-2677.

Woodland Walks at Leonard J. Buck Garden

Brighten your spring with a captivating and informative tour of the Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road in Far Hills on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. in April and May. Enjoy the magnificent drifts of native wildflowers and spring perennials blooming throughout the garden, as well as azaleas, dogwoods, and many colorful flowering shrubs and trees.

Discover the great variety of plants growing among the rock formations and woodlands; immerse yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Tours begin on April 12 and continue on April 19, 26, and May 3, 10, and 17. The fee is $4 per person.

Eco-Rally

From April 1 to April 15, participating individuals, families, and work, social, or school groups will have an opportunity to maintain a daily log of everyday tasks that serve to reduce the use of energy and promote a greener lifestyle.

Recommended actions include turning off lights when leaving a room, cycling or walking instead of driving, utilizing reusable bags when shopping, planting a native garden or tree, carrying lunch in reusable containers, and other methods of saving energy.

Participants are asked to create a display of posters or pictures representing their contribution to the environment. Projects will be exhibited at the Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

Spring Pruning Demonstration

Horticulture staff at the Colonial Park Gardens will demonstrate and discuss basic pruning techniques and the proper tools to use on Saturday, April 4, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (rain date: Saturday, April 11). The program will be held in the Arboretum in Colonial Park at Parking Lots A and F. Please meet at the entrance to the Rose Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A Fee is $12 per person (limit 30 people). Register by calling 732-873-2459, ext. 21.

Spring Yoga

Classic Hatha Yoga is a low-impact program to introduce adults to the healthful benefits of Yoga and improve on existing skills for those who previously participated. The 10-week evening program will be held on Wednesday evenings beginning Wednesday, April 15.

The Beginner class runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at a fee of $80. The Experienced class will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will cost $100. The program will be offered at Park Commission Headquarters at North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Road in Bridgewater.

3rd Annual Sourlands Smackdown

New Jersey’s only outdoor bouldering competition is schooled for Saturday, April 18 at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Registration is at 9 a.m. It’s a fun day for participants and spectators. Call 908 231-0802, ext. 22 for information.

Garden Photography Workshop

The Flower & Landscape Photography class is being offered to beginner and intermediate photo enthusiasts by professional photographer Brien Szabo of Nature Images, Inc. at Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road in Far Hills, NJ

The class held on Tuesday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. will include technical instruction followed by outdoor photography of plant close-up and landscape scenes. For both digital and film photographers. Fee is $35 per person. Pre-registration required call - 908-234-2677.

Spring Plant Sale and Earth Day Celebration

Enhance your garden with some spectacular new plant treasures, and help us celebrate Earth Day at Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road in far Hills, NJ on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 from noon to 5 p.m.

Weekend highlights include a plant sale featuring many choice selections of perennials, ferns and woody plants, inspiring garden lectures, and guided tours of this magnificent naturalistic rock garden. This event is co-sponsored with Watnong Chapter North American Rock Garden Society. There is no admission charge. For additional information, please call Buck Garden at 908 234-2677.

Project E.A.R.T.H - Swamp Search!

Join the Naturalists for an exciting scavenger hunt on Sunday, April 26 from noon to 3:45 p.m. at the Environmental Education Center trails at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, NJ to learn about the importance of the Great Swamp as an ecological and recreational resource.

Enjoy environmental activities and games for children of all ages. Try your “eco-skills” on our scavenger hunt and learn how you can promote positive environmental actions. Be back at the EEC by 3:15 p.m. for an eco-skills challenge game to win cool prizes From 3:45 to 4:30 p.m., join Travis Gale for his Mammal Mania program with live mammals. The Mammal Mania program will be presented rain or shine. The program is free.

Family Fun Day at Lord Stirling Stable

The 32nd Annual Family Fun Day will be held on Sunday, May 3 at Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge. In addition to games on horseback for current riding students, this unique community event features free pony rides and hay rides from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m., local groups and organizations presenting demonstrations and sharing information, and child-friendly arcade games where everyone is a winner.

Food, beverages, and gift items will be offered for sale by the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable as well as gently used riding apparel. For more information, please call the stable office at 908-766-5955.

Adult Bocce League

Teams of 4 players made up of adults 18 years of age and older will meet once a week on Thursday evenings at the Colonial Park Bocce Courts at Parking Lot f in Somerset, NJ Registration deadline is Friday, April 26, 2013. League play will begin on Tuesday, May 5. For information, call 908-722-1200, extension 226

Make a Hypertufa Mini-Trough


Hypertufa is a handmade material that resembles “tufa” (too-fa), a rugged volcanic rock used to make troughs. These containers are especially suited for small rock garden plants.

On Friday, May 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road in Far Hills participants will learn how to make a hypertufa mini-trough with instruction for curing and completing it at home. Workshop fee of $35 includes the cost of materials and plants. Pre-registration required call 908-234-2677. Enrollment is limited to 10 participants.

Mother’s Day Trail Ride

This is the perfect opportunity for non-equestrian family members to join “the rider in the Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge, NJ. The ride, sponsored by The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable, will be conducted on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10. Registration is necessary; forms and additional information are available in the Stable office and on the Friends’ website.

Garden Photography Workshop - Flower & Landscape

The Flower & Landscape Photography – Alternative Approaches class will involve technical instruction focusing on alternative approaches to landscape and flower photography, exploring the abstract side of photography from multiple exposure images, using filters, blur techniques and more.

The class at Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, NJ will include a lecture and shooting session taught by professional photographer Brien Szabo of Nature Images, Inc. The class, designed for all levels of digital and film photographers, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $35 per person. Pre-registration required call - 908-234-2677.

Flower Buds – Children’s Garden Workshop

Children age 5 to 8 accompanied by a parent will join the Horticulture staff on Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon (rain date May 23) and create Colonial Park’s first Children’s Garden.

Children will be creating a butterfly, hummingbird, and goldfinch friendly garden that will be enjoyed by visitors throughout the growing season. Participants will sow seeds, plant annuals and perennials and will take home a flower of their choice from seeds. All supplies will be provided. The program will be held in the Colonial Park Morgan Pellowski Playground, Parking Lot C. Fee is $12 per child, (limit 10 children). Pre-registration by Friday, May 8 is required.

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