New Jersey boasts scenic landscapes and lush woodlands, highlighted by its blossom gardens and arboretums serving as centers for botanical research and conservation. Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick, part of Rutgers University, features plant collections and theme gardens like the Bamboo Forest and Ornamental Tree Collection, plus a seasonal farm market. The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands Manor in Ringwood offers 96 acres of specialty gardens in the Ramapo Mountains. Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit features historical gardens and woodland trails, notably the Daffodil Bowl with thousands of blooming daffodils each spring. These gardens are vital for conservation, education, and provide habitats for native species, offering a peaceful escape and inspiration for all visitors.

13 Gardens and Parks to Explore With the Family!

Rutgers Garden: The Official Garden of Rutgers University
Take a stroll through the gardens, plant collections, and natural areas year-round with no admission cost. Your generous support will help Rutgers Gardens remain a treasured resource for all to enjoy!

New Jersey Botanical Gardens At the Skylands
Consider a day out at New Jersey State Botanical Garden, part of Ringwood State Park, New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, Department of Environmental Protection. The New Jersey State Botanical Garden has tons of fun for young people, too, with tours designed especially for children ages 8-12.

Reeves Reed Arboretum, Summit NJ
Enrich your floral appreciation at The Reeves-Reed Arboretum. The Arboretum offers a wide range of programs for children ages 3 and up, all designed to make the most of our unique natural setting. From exploring animal adaptations in the woodland forest to facilitating seed germination in the Louise B. Roehm Greenhouse, each program provides hands-on learning experiences. Kids can engage in physical activities on the Great Lawn or join in seasonal festivities like maple sugaring.

Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown NJ
Share a day throughout a majestic 124 acres, this arboretum offers a serene setting for relaxation. This non-profit organization is dedicated to fostering public awareness, knowledge and enjoyment of horticulture and the natural world.

Bamboo Brook Education Center, Chester Township, NJ
Enjoy a respite from the busy world with fields, gardens and landscapes designed by a groundbreaking female landscape architect. Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center has a charm rarely found in the midst of New Jersey’s hustle and bustle. The property, designed by one of America’s first female landscape architects, Martha Brookes. The Gardens are restored to their 1945 appearance and listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne, NJ
Appreciate this 30-acre botanically diverse arboretum is located in Northern New Jersey and features woodland trails and gardens, wildlife, two ponds, streams and hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other unusual species of plants and trees. There are also gravel paths wind and connect through the arboretum, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers, hikers, runners, birdwatchers, artists and photographers.

Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Montclair
Reap the benefits beauty, this garden is known for its stunning collection of irises that bloom during the spring.  This garden is referred as “The Rainbow on the Hill,” the 6.5-acre garden contains more than 14,000 irises of about 3,000 varieties. Throughout the spring season (May 11-June 2)- there will be more than 100,000 iris blooms. Be sure to visit the Bloom Room Gift Shop which is also on the grounds, located in the 1851 historic Walther House.

Branch Brook Park, Newark
Take a stride through Branch Brook Park, this park was envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. in 1867, this is largest park in the Essex County Park System. This landscape is surrounded by the reservoir, a large lake, several meandering streams, a meadow, pedestrian bridges, and curving paths and roadways.   The park is most known feature is a collection of flowering cherry trees donated by Caroline Bamberger Fuld in 1928. It began with 2000 cherry trees, the plantings also include a diverse range of evergreen trees and shrubs to offset the pale cherry blossoms. Today the collection is the largest on the East Coast, with more than 4,000 trees and over 20 varieties. Branch Brook Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The park has the largest collection of Japanese flowering trees in one location in the United States, even more than Washington, D.C. The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one of the largest Gothic-style churches in the country adjoins the park. Visitors are able to bike, walk or jog on miles of pathways. Other park activities including skating at the roller rink, baseball, tennis, bocce, tennis and softball on the recently updated fields and courts. Enjoy concerts, movies or dancing under the stars.

David C. Shaw Arboretum, Holmdel
Spend a day at this 22-acre public arboretum of flowering trees and cherry blossoms. Approximately one million visitors enjoy the entire park yearly. The park also include Historic Longstreet Farm, , fishing, picnic areas, four tennis courts, two playgrounds, ice skating, sledding and 10 miles of trails. There is also a 1/2 mile paved loop linking the Pond View and Forest Edge areas of the park with group picnic facilities and playgrounds.

Sayan Park Botanical Garden, Hamilton Township
Enjoy time with you family at this municipal park and botanical garden which is open year-round from dawn to dusk and is free for all visitors. This park is very busy during the spring.  This garden has more than 1,000 azaleas and about 500 rhododendrons thriving under the Saven Garden groundskeepers.  Saven House and Gardens hosts its annual Azalea Festival each Mother’s Day and is open to the public from 10am-4pm.

Riverview Fish Park, Jersey City
Relax the day away at this scenic spot! Riverview fish Park is located at the edge of the Heights on Palisade Ave and provides gorgeous views of both the Hudson River and New York Skyline as well as the Verrazano and George Washington Bridge.  In addition to magnificent views, this park is well known it’s spring row of gorgeous cherry blossoms!

Van Vorst Park, Jersey City
Savor the day at this beautifully maintained public space in Jersey City located on a rectangular city block between York Street, Jersey Ave, Montgomery Street and Barrow Street. The leafy streets are lined with 19th-century row houses, converted factories, spectacular townhomes, beautiful gardens and world-class restaurants that residents of the neighborhood love. Spanning over two acres, this park features gardens, walking paths, and a central gazebo.

Verona Park, Essex County
Take joy in this park’s Children Garden, located on the smaller slope east of Verona Lake in front of the playgrounds and tennis courts.  This garden consists of ornamental trees, shrubs, perennial and annual flowers, herbs and vegetables. Every year new plants are introduced as well as new arrangements. Local Girl Scout groups maintain the garden.

Wagner Farm Arboretum, Warren
Experience this organic green space where you can connect with nature. This arboretum features pollinator and butterfly beds, an oak tree alley, vibrant hedges and shrubs, a boxwood maze, life-sized cow sculptures, outdoor musical instruments, a gazebo, a sensory garden, birdhouses, and plenty of space for children to explore. The garden is filled with mostly native plants, allowing people of all ages to learn about their beauty and ecological benefits. Scout projects have enhanced the Children’s Garden, including the addition of two Purple Martin birdhouses by Eagle Scout Tyler Eng, benches beside the musical instruments by Eagle Scout Elliott Baratta, and a blueberry patch in raised beds by Andrew Cantone and the Boy Scouts of Troop 228 Warren.

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