Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program

Garden lovers have unique opportunities to explore six private gardens through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program.

Open Days offers a unique opportunity for visitors to peek behind the garden gates of otherwise private gardens for one day only, and to explore a variety of garden styles and horticultural traditions.

The featured gardens are: 

The Secret Garden @ 377
The Gotelli Garden at Harrison Park
East Orange
This formal Italianate garden, designed by William T. Gotelli, will celebrate its 74th anniversary in 2025. A unique feature, this one-acre garden is situated atop a parking garage at Harrison Park Towers, with entry accessible through the building’s lobby. It boasts a notable collection of dwarf conifers and other shrubs, some of which originated from Gotelli’s personal gardens in South Orange before his donation of plants and trees to the National Arboretum. Gotelli himself spent his final years residing in the building, allowing him to appreciate his lifelong achievement in rooftop garden design. The garden recently underwent significant restoration following a major construction project in 2009 that involved the drainage system and garage. Visitors can explore its extensive collections of azaleas, hydrangeas, lilacs, hostas, peonies, tree peonies, and spring-blooming trees. This space serves as an amenity for the residents of this almost 300-unit cooperative apartment community.

Anna’s Pollinator Haven
Montclair
This quarter-acre garden represents a journey in learning the art of gardening, marked by both accidental discoveries and deliberate choices. It features a collection of small trees and an abundance of native plant species, reflecting the owner’s aspiration to attract monarch butterflies and evoke the nostalgic charm of childhood gardens. The vision for this space was to create a peaceful retreat that offers year-round visual interest and can accommodate large outdoor sculptures. After seven years of nurturing, the garden has matured into the envisioned sanctuary, providing a tranquil environment for observing birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and various other insects.

Evelyn’s Garden
Montclair
This 1.5-acre garden resides within the Estate Section of Montclair. When the current owners acquired the property nearly 13 years ago, the landscape was an unkempt expanse of overgrown shrubs, poorly arranged perennials, and pervasive ivy engulfing the beds and brick walls. Originally built in 1893 with an addition in 1998, the property blends historical and contemporary elements. The initial year was dedicated to intensive pruning, relocating plants, and eliminating the extensive ivy. The garden features a pool enclosed by original brick walls, a tennis court, and a caretaker’s cottage with its own intimate garden. A small water feature adds to the ambiance in the back, complemented by an original pergola and a grape arbor adorned with mature vines.

The Cottage
Montclair
Nestled on an L-shaped quarter-acre property, The Cottage garden unfolds from a long, shady path through mature oaks and spruces. Woodland favorites line the route, leading to a Victorian planter. The garden features an al fresco dining area, graveled parking screened by hornbeams, and a terraced area with a splashing fountain. A Glass House studio connects to the back garden with a hot tub, opening to a kitchen patio with planters. The sunken garden, guarded by cherubs, boasts abundant flowers and a mural. Southern magnolias soften the garage, behind which a private, cedar-covered patio offers a secret retreat.

The Garden of Elaine H.
Oradell
In 1971, a significant transformation began on what was once an overgrown property, marked only by two straggly azaleas. The initial effort involved clearing the land, and while those azaleas still thrive, the garden has since evolved dramatically. A fenced backyard, once home to childhood play, now hosts diverse gardens. A unique pond, a family project involving rocks collected from around the world, remains a beloved feature, even housing a resident bullfrog. Over the last two decades, a large perennial garden and an arbor adorned with a climbing rose have enhanced the front yard. A brick patio, edged with azaleas, now extends from the kitchen, and the expanded backyard boasts a wide array of evergreens, trees, roses, and perennials, offering numerous spots for relaxation and wildlife observation.

The Mountsier Garden
Nutley
This two-acre garden, cultivated for over two decades, is a testament to the collaboration between owners Silas Mountsier and Graeme Hardie and noted landscape designer Richard Hartlage. In June, visitors can enjoy the beauty of roses, iris, and the elegant Kousa dogwood. Principally designed as a stroll garden, it offers numerous focal points, intimate seating areas, and impressive vistas. Drifts of variegated hakonechloa subtly soften the garden’s architectural framework. A collection of small sculptures and artworks are thoughtfully placed throughout, adding delightful touches of humor and interest to this verdant space.

The gardens will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. for registered guests. Tickets for garden visits are $10 per person, or $5 for members of the Garden Conservancy. Children 12 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. All registrations must be processed online through the Garden Conservancy’s website.