Explore the Historic Gardens

Reimagining the past. Recreating for the future.

Three gardens at Reeves-Reed Arboretum—the Azalea Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Rock Garden—maintain their historic footprint, though many plantings have evolved over the years. Changes have occurred due to storm damage and the introduction of disease-resistant cultivars, enhancing the beauty and resilience of these cherished spaces.

Gretchen Keller Azalea Garden

During the Reeves era, what is now known as the Azalea Garden was simply referred to as the Flower Garden. It served as the property’s focal point—the garden that Mrs. Reeves admired each morning, where she dedicated much of her time and energy, and the site of her daughter’s wedding in 1940. The millstone that once graced the Rose Garden is now embedded in the landing of the stone steps at the western end of the garden. Bluestone borders outline the perennial beds created by Mrs. Reeves, which she later abandoned due to maintenance costs and labor. This garden, established in the 1920s, embodies the concept of the “garden room,” flourishing with an abundance of azaleas, deutzia, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, crabapples, and lilacs.

Susie Graham Reeves Rose Garden

Now known as The Susan Graham Reeves Rose Garden, this beautifully symmetrical garden, likely designed by Carl Pilat and installed around 1925, reflects Mrs. Reeves’ passion for rose cultivation. As president of the Summit Garden Club, she was encouraged by her fellow members to showcase her roses at the New Jersey Rose Show in nearby Morristown, where she received numerous honors.

In keeping with her legacy, we honor the spirit of this historic garden by focusing on sustainability. We cultivate disease-resistant roses that thrive without the need for pesticides. Visitors can enjoy dozens of roses in full bloom during June, with intermittent displays of color throughout the year.

Richard, Graham, & Susan Reeves Rock Garden

Now known as the Rock Pool, this feature was adapted by Carl Pilat from Ellen Biddle Shipman’s design and installed around 1925, during the same era as the Rose Garden. Originally a traditional rock garden filled with alpine plants, the space has transformed into a serene retreat with a pond and waterfall that provide a shady habitat for birds and garden visitors alike. Named after the three Reeves children, this tranquil garden room offers a peaceful escape, embodying the charm of the 1920s.

Herb Garden

Shortly after the Arboretum became a public conservancy, founders Enid Belding and Ruth Ann Oliver restored the Herb Garden, replanting a diverse array of medicinal, aromatic, and culinary herbs. Inspired by a sketch from Charles Reed and a mandala design, they created a stunning “garden room” on the property. This 1960s garden, developed by Charles and Anne Reed, features perennial medicinal and culinary plants and has been lovingly maintained by the Summit Garden Club since 1980, ensuring its enduring popularity.

Daffodil Bowl

A paved serpentine path winds through a gently rolling landscape, leading to a glacial kettle that hosts tens of thousands of daffodils blooming sequentially throughout April. This kettle, a depression formed approximately 17,000 years ago when the Wisconsin glacier retreated, is a naturalized setting rich with history. Originally planted by the Wisners, the collection was expanded by Susie Graham Reeves when the Reeves family acquired The Clearing in 1916.

Now, the daffodils, first planted by Susie Graham Reeves in the 1920s, create the Arboretum’s first major spring display, attracting a steady flow of visitors each season. This vibrant bloom not only delights the eye but also supports native New Jersey wildlife, from butterflies and birds to foxes and groundhogs.

Serpentine Perennial Border

The Perennial Border began as a barberry hedge, originally planted to deter Wisner and Reeves children from sledding down the hill into the glacial kettle. Susan Graham Reeves later removed the barberries and transformed the area into a trial bed for daffodils, which were eventually relocated to the bowl. Over time, the garden evolved into a two-level perennial border, a configuration it retains today.

A serpentine concrete pathway makes this garden accessible and easy to navigate for visitors with mobility issues. In 2020, it was included as phase two of RRA’s Accessibility Project, alongside the Cho Amphitheater. The Perennial Border delights with blooms from April to October, offering a vibrant display throughout the growing season.