Skylands New Jersey Botanical Gardens

We visited the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens also known as Skylands in August 2009. It is located in Ringwood in the north western section of the state. We only walked around the exterior of the manor house, since tours are only one Sunday a month, but managed to visit most of the gardens.

Thought this was the Gate House, but it was the Pump House. Inside there was a 8-10 foot diameter well. Looks like a Hobbit House. I would love to live there.

This is the Pump House from the other side. There is a clock in the tower.

This is the front of the Carriage House which is used as the Visitor Center.

A view of Skylands Manor, to the left of the main front entrance.

Here is the main front entrance below the oriel, it would look better without the pickup in the picture. The Skylands Manor page has descriptions about the interior, exterior and the people involved with the building of the manor

Front entrance smiley face and lantern. The other side of the entrance has a matching set.

Secondary entrance to the right of the main entrance of Skylands Manor.

Another oriel

Timer framed construction round back

Behind the manor house were formal gardens, there was a very small rock garden, a long shade garden with hostas and caladium and the water garden seen in the following 2 photos.

Past the boy with the swan at the end of the perennial garden was the dry meadow, which was quite damp the day we were there. We walked along the Crab Apple Allèe to the statues of the 4 Continents, Asia, America, Africa and Europe.

There were plenty of benches around to relax on.

 

Another view of the Carriage house.