Cultivating and studying plants goes back more than 11,700 years in human history to the last Ice Age.  From this perspective, Rutgers Gardens is just a blip on the screen – a mere 110 years of testing and research.  This is also true of other Horticultural standouts along Route 1, including:

Montgomery Botanical Center (Coral Gables, FL, 1936)

New York Botanical Garden (NY, NY, 1891)

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center-West (Beltsville, MD, 1910)

U.S. Botanic Garden (Washington, DC, 1820)

Arnold Arboretum (Boston, MA, 1868)

George Washington’s River Farm (Alexandria, VA, 1922)

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Coral Gables, FL 1938)

Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA, 1907)

Bartram’s Garden (Philadelphia, PA, 1728)

But together, these venerable places have conducted research in myriad corners of the agricultural and landscape flora of the world.

At various times during its history, Rutgers Gardens has been at the forefront of of holly trees, peaches, iris, cotoneaster, tomatoes, apples, American chestnut, beech, oak, hickory, maple, magnolia, rhododendron, Ben Franklin tree, dogwood, and more as its acreage expanded from 84 to 180.

Rutgers officials and the Garden Club of New Jersey (GCNJ) joined together in 1981 to celebrate the official opening and dedication of Holly House, formerly Horticulture House, as the GCNJ headquarters.  This infusion of energy led to new initiatives and opened the Gardens more broadly to public visitation.

Since 2005, a number of popular new garden additions were endowed by donors to Rutgers, including the Otken Garden, the Rain Garden, and the Pollinator Garden.  In contrast, the vast tracts of holly trees have become overgrown and neglected, despite their notable history.

Under the guidance of Rutgers Gardens staff, Student farmers have grown organic seasonal vegetables, herbs, and flowers since 2016.  The student program uses about two acres of fields, and distributes their harvest at the Rutgers Community Farmers Market, and to local emergency food providers.

I used Rutgers Garden as a convenient meetup point between Philadelphia and Brooklyn, about an hours’ drive from each.  It turned out to be a great place to spend some time outdoors to break up a sizable drive.  Our “grand dog” got to stretch her legs with us and explore the water garden and the pollinator garden with us.

There’s a garden area and a season for everyone at Rutgers Gardens.  Parking and admission are free.  Inspiration for your yard and garden are everywhere you look.  The entrance is clearly marked at the Ryders Lane intersection of Route 1.  Follow the signs for Log Cabin Road.  Open seasonally, Tuesdays through Sundays:

October 14, 2025 to March 29, 2026 open 8:00am to 5:00pm

March 31, 2026 to to October 1, 2026 open 8:00am to 7:00pm

More here: https://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/visit/