<p>Hi All,</p>
<p>I am thinking Spring thoughts! It would be nice to have an archive of gardens to visit in your States which allow a quality time with family and friends at low costs.</p>
<p>Here are a few links to gardens in our Garden State of NJ. </p>
<p>[Cherry</a> Blossom in New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.shltrip.com/Cherry_Blossom_in_New_Jersey.html]Cherry”>Cherry Blossom in New Jersey - More than 5,000 Cherry Trees)</p>
<p>[The</a> Presby Memorial Iris Gardens](<a href=“http://www.presbyirisgardens.org/]The”>http://www.presbyirisgardens.org/)</p>
<p>[If</a> Plants Could Talk: New Jersey Gardens and Arboretums](<a href=“http://www.ifplantscouldtalk.rutgers.edu/njfgaa/]If”>http://www.ifplantscouldtalk.rutgers.edu/njfgaa/)</p>
<p>[NJAS:</a> Cape May Bird Observatory](<a href=“http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/#goshen]NJAS:”>http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/#goshen)</p>
<p>Happy Spring, everyone!</p>
<p>pharmagal–thanks so much for giving a shout out to the gardens of the much maligned Garden State. We must be neighbors somehow, as I live near both the Iris Garden and the Cherry Blossoms. Additionally, I spend almost every weekend near CM, and I absolutely love the Bird Observatory!</p>
<p>Ever hear of Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills?</p>
<p>I tried to make tour reservations last year and never got a response.</p>
<p>[Greenwood</a> Gardens, a historic public garden of Short Hills, New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.greenwoodgardens.org/index.php]Greenwood”>http://www.greenwoodgardens.org/index.php)</p>
<p>In NYC area:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.nybg.org/]The”>http://www.nybg.org/]The</a> New York Botanical Garden<a href=“right%20next%20to%20Fordham%20U’s%20main%20campus”>/url</a></p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.bbg.org/]Brooklyn”>http://www.bbg.org/]Brooklyn</a> Botanic Garden<a href=“right%20behind%20Brooklyn%20art%20museum,%20not%20too%20far%20from%20Pratt%20and%20Long%20Island%20Univeristy”>/url</a></p>
<p>and my personal favorite - with great views of the Hudson: [url=<a href=“http://wavehill.org/home/]Wave”>http://wavehill.org/home/]Wave</a> Hill: New York Public Garden and Cultural Center<a href=“not%20far%20from%20Manhattan%20College%20and%20College%20of%20Mount%20Saint%20Vincent”>/url</a></p>
<p>Couple more links on parks and wild life in NJ</p>
<p>[Romance</a> of Orchid in Dearborn Farm Market in Holmdel, New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.shltrip.com/Romance_of_Orchid.html]Romance”>Romance of Orchid in Dearborn Farm Market in Holmdel, New Jersey)</p>
<p>[More</a> on Flowers and Bird Watching in New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.shltrip.com/More_on_Flowers_and_Bird_Watching_in_NJ.html]More”>More on Flowers and Bird Watching in New Jersey)</p>
<p>[Beautiful</a> Harlequin Ducks at Barnegat Light in New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.shltrip.com/Harlequin_Ducks.html]Beautiful”>Beautiful Harlequin Ducks at Barnegat Light in New Jersey)</p>
<p>[Autumn</a> Foliage in Garden State](<a href=“http://www.shltrip.com/Autumn_Foliage.html]Autumn”>Autumn Foliage in Garden State)</p>
<p>[Many</a> Colorful Waterfowl in Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.shltrip.com/Water_Fowl_in_Barnegat.html]Many”>Many Colorful Waterfowl in Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey)</p>
<p>Garland, </p>
<p>Unfortunately, most of the OOS visitors only see the landscape by NJ Tpke. They don’t realize that there is a valid reason why the most heavily commuted highway is closer to the Industrial area; that is primarily because NJ’ites want to keep the highway away from our pristine residential areas and wild woods. Most of the OOS’ers who call NJ the ‘armpit of America’ have only seen the Tpke area and heard about the pollution at Tom’s River.</p>
<p>I encourage them to wander away from the Tpke, stroll through the parks, meander through our Piedmont sections.</p>
<p>Strawberryblonde, I haven’t been to the Short Hills gardens although that’s a lovely area. Used to work very close to it with my old employer before, down in Summit. So, I am familiar with that area.</p>
<p>First title for NJ being the ‘Garden State’, personally, as a Pharma Researcher, I prefer calling NJ the ‘Medicine Chest of America’ as a second title - We take pride in improving the duration and quality of peoples’ lives!</p>
<p>Longwood Gardens! [Longwood</a> Gardens - Home Page](<a href=“http://www.longwoodgardens.org/]Longwood”>http://www.longwoodgardens.org/) Easy visit from Phila.</p>
<p>In WA, Washington Park Arboretum near UW is full of spectacular colors in April-May:</p>
<p>[Washington</a> Park Arboretum ~ Center for Urban Horticulture ~ UW](<a href=“http://depts.washington.edu/wpa/index.htm]Washington”>Washington Park Arboretum | University of Washington Botanic Gardens)</p>
<p>A little bit to the south, the Weyerhauser Rhododendron Species Gardens is the place to visit for rhododendron enthusiasts:</p>
<p>[Rhododendron</a> Species Foundation](<a href=“http://www.rhodygarden.org/page/page/1083572.htm]Rhododendron”>http://www.rhodygarden.org/page/page/1083572.htm)</p>
<p>Washington D.C. is loaded with spring flowers (thanks to Mrs. Eisenhower) as well as the spectacular Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin.</p>
<p>There’s also these:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.gardens.si.edu/horticulture/gardens/Haupt/hpt_home.htm]Horticulture[/url”>http://www.gardens.si.edu/horticulture/gardens/Haupt/hpt_home.htm]Horticulture[/url</a>] (behind the Smithsonian Castle)</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.usna.usda.gov/]US”>http://www.usna.usda.gov/]US</a> National Arboretum :.<a href=“which%20nobody%20seems%20to%20know%20about”>/url</a></p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/gardens.html]Hillwood”>http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/gardens.html]Hillwood</a> Museum Gardens<a href=“another%20hidden%20wonder”>/url</a></p>
<p>Also in Washington DC, small, but sweet. The gardens at [Gardens</a> | Dumbarton Oaks](<a href=“http://www.doaks.org/gardens/]Gardens”>Dumbarton Oaks Gardens — Dumbarton Oaks)</p>
<p>Did anyone used to watch Dynasty? We were living in the Boston area at the time, and I used to watch the opening credits just to catch a glimpse of Filoli, which is right up the road from where I grew up. The gardens are spectacular about 9 months of the year. [url=<a href=“http://www.filoli.org/]Filoli[/url”>http://www.filoli.org/]Filoli[/url</a>]</p>
<p>And of course you can’t come to San Francisco without going to Golden Gate Park. If you are a garden lover don’t miss Strybing Arboretum, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the Conservatory of Flowers. Oh yeah, and the living roof on the Academy of Sciences - it is worth the price of admission all by itself.</p>
<p>the Huntington gardens and museum here in the beautiful San Gabriel Valley
[The</a> Huntington Library](<a href=“http://www.huntington.org%5DThe”>http://www.huntington.org)
as well as the Descanso Gardens
<a href=“http://www.descansogardens.org%5B/url%5D”>www.descansogardens.org</a>
and the lovely
[The</a> Arboretum of Los Angeles County](<a href=“http://www.arboretum.org%5DThe”>http://www.arboretum.org)</p>
<p>Im fortunate to have all three gardens, just a 10 to 30 minute drive from my house.
But the real “garden” is in the mountains today. I just got back from a hike and we have the most spectacular display of wildflowers this spring. It’s a veritable explosion of color in the hills.</p>
<p>Musicamusica,
Been many times to your lovely gardens! DS lives in Pasadena.</p>
<p>In S FL, Morikami Gardens is a must! Includes a gallery, too.</p>
<p>Bookworm—I assume he is at Cal Tech! I hope he takes advantage of a hike in Eaton Canyon this spring! It is gorgeous right now.</p>