Sunday, September 23, 2012

Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills, NJ

Oh, my photos of Greenwood Gardens, simply do not do this marvelous garden justice at all.    Greenwood Gardens combines formal gardens, open meadows, woodlands, and is a true time capsule of New Jersey's past.  It was a haven of tranquility for those from the very busy New York Metropolitan area.    As you walked through Greenwood Gardens, which has just completed Phase 1 of its extensive restoration, it is so easy to envision what must have been a glorious estate at one time.  I could easily see the ladies in their finery strolling the grounds and hear the children running and playing.  This is an amazing estate that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Our guides were so enthusiastic and eager to share Greenwood with us and that made the tour even more special.



Greenwood Gardens quickly transport visitors to an era of country estate, gentleman farmers, and elegant tea parties on wide swaths of lawn. Above is a sampling of the historic Arts and Crafts-inspired architecture.


  This out building is the Tea House,  complete with tiled floor, a water source and a fire pit to heat the water.   Below, a rainy day, but an amazing view back toward the house.

2 comments:

Marilyn Miller said...

Oh I would love to have tea in this tea house. Historic parks with tea houses are the very best.

Angela McRae said...

Wow! You say your photos don't do it justice but you've certainly got my attention with them! And like you, I so enjoy imagining what this place was like "back in the day."