VIEWS FROM THE BENCH
SAYEN GARDENS
by Florence W Deems
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Continuing the Views from the Bench series, we now come to Sayen Gardens, a 30-acre public park in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, only about 15 minutes by car from my home. The park contains more than 1,000 azaleas and nearly 500 rhododendrons. In the spring, a magnificent display of color and beauty from more than 250,000 flowering bulbs, as well as dogwoods, heirloom azaleas and rhododendrons transforms Sayen Gardens into a magical land. Every Mother's Day they sponsor an Azalea Festival. Throughout the year the groundskeeping staff, work release prisoners and volunteers change the flowering displays with seasonal annuals and perennials. In late fall, after the other deciduous trees have shed their autumn glory, the woods are ablaze with varieties of Japanese maples and large leafed hydrangeas. There are several walking trails, a large fish pond and three gazebos. Space in the house and gardens can be rented for weddings and other special private events.
The image below shows Sayen House during the spring. Click on it to see a larger version. |
