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| The Leonard J. Buck Garden BUCK GARDEN ON PBS TELEVISION (view with Quick Time) |
In many trips, the U shaped glacier bed was the relic of ice age landscape. Until recently I saw one
in the next county and it has been transformed into a rock garden with all the plants planted along
the exposed rock outcropping, so naturally, like they have been there for thousands of years. Yet,
your head tells you that, it is not like this rock garden anywhere else, for this is the result of years
and years of selection, trials and painstaking maintenance to obtain the result today. The garden
began in the 1930s when geologist Leonard J. Buck, a trustee of the New York Botanical Garden,
met landscape architect Zenon Schreiber. The two created varying exposures and microclimates.
The garden is sculpted from a glacial stream valley known as Moggy Hollow Natural Area, where
waterfalls once cascaded, leaving behind rock faces, outcroppings, ponds and a stream. They
worked by eye and proportion, with never a drawing on paper. Mr. Schreiber designed the
plantings and Mr. Buck worked the rock. Their vision was to produce a woodland garden,
composed of many individual gardens. After Mr. Buck's death in 1974, the garden was donated by
Mrs. Buck to the Somerset County Park Commission. It opened up to the public in 1977. Located
at 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, New Jersey, the garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the
United States. The best time to visit is spring, but take a look at it in the fall......10/24/2010.
Start along the base of visitor center, go further west....., as you step down to the ravine, turn your
head back.....
in the next county and it has been transformed into a rock garden with all the plants planted along
the exposed rock outcropping, so naturally, like they have been there for thousands of years. Yet,
your head tells you that, it is not like this rock garden anywhere else, for this is the result of years
and years of selection, trials and painstaking maintenance to obtain the result today. The garden
began in the 1930s when geologist Leonard J. Buck, a trustee of the New York Botanical Garden,
met landscape architect Zenon Schreiber. The two created varying exposures and microclimates.
The garden is sculpted from a glacial stream valley known as Moggy Hollow Natural Area, where
waterfalls once cascaded, leaving behind rock faces, outcroppings, ponds and a stream. They
worked by eye and proportion, with never a drawing on paper. Mr. Schreiber designed the
plantings and Mr. Buck worked the rock. Their vision was to produce a woodland garden,
composed of many individual gardens. After Mr. Buck's death in 1974, the garden was donated by
Mrs. Buck to the Somerset County Park Commission. It opened up to the public in 1977. Located
at 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, New Jersey, the garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the
United States. The best time to visit is spring, but take a look at it in the fall......10/24/2010.
Start along the base of visitor center, go further west....., as you step down to the ravine, turn your
head back.....
You will meet Dawn Redwood, this
giant Chinese Deciduous Conifer,
Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Life
fossil and protected species. 水杉
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Metasequoia_glyptostroboides
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E6%B0%
B4%E6%9D%89
giant Chinese Deciduous Conifer,
Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Life
fossil and protected species. 水杉
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Metasequoia_glyptostroboides
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E6%B0%
B4%E6%9D%89
This is the down stream of the Buck
Garden water, also a segment of the
North Branch of Raritan River.
Garden water, also a segment of the
North Branch of Raritan River.
A pink Labium growing
among the daylily leaves.
among the daylily leaves.
The biggest body of water
in the park.
in the park.
Canna of various color were the perennials around Lower Pond. They add lots of interest.
This spirals of white Orchid
flowers, is called Splendor Ladies
Tresses, Spirenthes lacera is
quite a rare specimen.
flowers, is called Splendor Ladies
Tresses, Spirenthes lacera is
quite a rare specimen.
More than once this flower caught my eye, an umbel
on top of an umbel. I have not seen before.
on top of an umbel. I have not seen before.
West View of the lower pond.
At Central South part of the park, the glacier wall is called Polypody. About 2-3 story high, electric fence were
erected beyond. You can here the car rushing on 287 here.
erected beyond. You can here the car rushing on 287 here.
Beautiful Begonia with fruits ready.
A:MaMa Wo Ai Ni mother-daugher pair was playing model-photographer, thoroughly enjoy each other's company.
Wood Bridge No. 1.
Looking upstream.
West end of Azalea Field.
Showy Aster
Mountain Winter berry
Japanese Beautyberry
Oak Leaf Hydrangea in front
of the Gazebo.
of the Gazebo.
We finished the east bound of the
garden tour, now we go back west
on the norther edge/wall of the park,
so we climb up the Helen Buck trail.
garden tour, now we go back west
on the norther edge/wall of the park,
so we climb up the Helen Buck trail.
Mrs. Helen Buck
donated the garden to
the Somerset county
1974 after the passing
of Mr. Buck.
donated the garden to
the Somerset county
1974 after the passing
of Mr. Buck.
The Dwarf Boxwood is
so lush green and fits
beautifully around rocks.
so lush green and fits
beautifully around rocks.
The upper entrance to the garden. The rocky
wall of the U Valley.
wall of the U Valley.
The varied terrain is
what made Buck
Garden different and
attractive. The
changing
perspectives allows
new appreciation of
the scenery.
what made Buck
Garden different and
attractive. The
changing
perspectives allows
new appreciation of
the scenery.
The cyclamen is very small comparing the
commercial ones. Mine bloom this year
also.
commercial ones. Mine bloom this year
also.
The Tree Doctor, Mr. Woodpecker
worked hard here. The top of this oak is
doing fine.
worked hard here. The top of this oak is
doing fine.
Fall blooming Anemone.
I really like how the witch Hazel bend
and branched. It is blooming now and
will continue to bloom at least through
February, even after the leaves drop.
金鏤梅.(與梅花無關)
and branched. It is blooming now and
will continue to bloom at least through
February, even after the leaves drop.
金鏤梅.(與梅花無關)
Bit-O-Rock, scatter before
the Big rock, a stront
contrast.
the Big rock, a stront
contrast.
West side of the Big Rock, has a
sign. Here you see higher plant with
lichen, all is carefully selected, only
chosen plants get to remain. That
means a tremendous amount of
work was spent on weeding.
sign. Here you see higher plant with
lichen, all is carefully selected, only
chosen plants get to remain. That
means a tremendous amount of
work was spent on weeding.
T's rare to see a citrus in temperate
climate. I found on web: In temperate
regions, citrus is not grown commercially,
although Satsuma mandarin on trifoliate
(Poncirus) rootstock can tolerate
temperatures below zero. The fruit is
fragrant and sweet.
climate. I found on web: In temperate
regions, citrus is not grown commercially,
although Satsuma mandarin on trifoliate
(Poncirus) rootstock can tolerate
temperatures below zero. The fruit is
fragrant and sweet.
I am grateful for the people donate such beautiful grounds to the public and for all to enjoy. I hope you
have a chance to enjoy it. Certainly, I will visit again next spring.
Buck Garden, 11Layton Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931, 908-235-2677.
have a chance to enjoy it. Certainly, I will visit again next spring.
Buck Garden, 11Layton Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931, 908-235-2677.