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Friday, February 9, 2018

Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum


Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum is on the campus of Georgian Court University in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. Originally, it was the landscaped park for the winter home of George Jay Gould, son of railroad tycoon, Jay Gould.

In 1896 architect, Bruce Price, was hired to create a replica of an English estate from the Georgian period. Since the New Jersey soil isn't great for planting native English plants, 5,000 cartloads of soil were brought in. Four major gardens were created:  the Italian Garden, Sunken Garden, Formal Garden, and Japanese Garden.


In 1924, the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey bought the estate and it became the campus of what is currently Georgian Court University.  An additional Wellness Garden was added by students in 2008. The place is a National Historic Landmark.

The garden is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. 

14 comments:

  1. Can you imagine bringing all that soil over back in that day and age?

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  2. "If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn
    They will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem."
    That's from Leonard Cohen's Sisters of Mercy. How fitting!
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s strange Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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  3. I'm struck by how green it is - looks lovely.
    Thank you, Sherry.
    Have a great Friday and weekend.

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  4. wow. I hope students there raise their heads from their phones and look around the grounds. How lovely.

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    1. I know. Such a pretty campus. I hope they appreciate it.

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  5. I love sunken gardens. The one at Butchart Gardens was massive and so beautiful.

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  6. That's such a peaceful looking place, I truly love it!

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    1. It looks like a good place to study. Very restful!

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  7. Hi Sherry - bucket loads of soil ... amazing - but at least they seem to be keeping the gardens up, and introducing the new Wellness one .. fascinating to see - cheers Hilary

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    1. I can't even imagine how tedious it was to import all the soil!

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