Freeman Gardens, at the corner of Hawthorne and Maolis Avenue in Glen Ridge, is open and ready to welcome visitors. This unique public space, which is listed on the state and national registers of historic places, is a horticultural jewel—small enough to fit comfortably within a city block, but large enough to showcase a formal rose garden plus an array of flowering plants, shrubs and trees. It is open to the public every day from morning until dusk.
Maintained by the Freeman Gardens Association and tended by a group of dedicated volunteers, the garden was commissioned by prominent local resident Clayton Freeman and designed in 1935 by landscape architect Ethelbert Furlong. It is full of characteristic Furlong touches, including formal rose beds, subtle changes of level and a whimsical dolphin fountain mounted on the brick wall at the rear. Snowdrops announce the arrival of spring every year, blanketing the naturalized areas at the back of the garden. Daffodils and tulips bloom prolifically, giving way to fragrant lilacs and azaleas. In late spring, the rectangular iris bed along the front (Hawthorne Aveneu) fence glows with colorful, old fashioned bearded varieties. The roses—hybrid teas, floribundas and climbers--bloom for the first time in mid to late May and rebloom at intervals throughout the summer. “The Garden is reborn—beautifully—every year,” said Freeman Gardens Association president Kevin Sherry.
Donated to the Borough of Glen Ridge in 1967, Freeman Gardens serves as a source of respite and inspiration for Borough residents. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, it also plays host to events ranging from an Easter egg hunt to weddings and band concerts. To book an event, volunteer in the garden, donate a rose in memory of a loved one or receive further information, contact Kevin Sherry at (973) 429-7933, or kesherr@aol.com
The Freeman Gardens Association is open to everyone. To join, send your contribution in a suggested amount of $25.00 or more, to the Association at P.O. Box 8113, Glen Ridge, NJ.
