Day Trip to the Gardens of Ken Druse and Friends 

Enjoy a springtime day trip to “upstate” New Jersey for a rare opportunity to visit three truly unforgettable gardens and to meet the creators. Read on to get a glimpse of what’s beyond the garden gate at each of these unique destinations.

Ken Druse & Louis Bauer

First stop is the garden of Ken Druse, award-winning garden writer and educator, and Louis Bauer, former director of horticulture at Wave Hill, the public garden in The Bronx. This garden is nestled on an island in a river, between a fast-flowing branch and a slower part that had been dammed for a long-gone mill. A charming stone footbridge spans a canal filled with primroses that connects one branch of the river with the other. Crumbling stone walls built around part of the property served to keep the sandy soil in and the river out – most of the time. The walls have recently had some renovation, but a year ago September, the river won – again. “We garden in partnership with nature, but it’s clear we are the junior partners.”

Ken describes the garden design as “plant-driven.” Plants are the stars here and it’s easy to see that when meeting well over a thousand species and varieties – many for the first time – on two-and-a-half shaded acres.

Marty Carson

Marty Carson's charming garden is located in the historical town of Stillwater, NJ. A visit presents a rare chance to see a mature garden with its maker. There are many built environments, each exhibiting a great deal of thought and planning. Marty is recipient of the American Horticultural Society Award "Skillful Design with Environmental Stewardship" and the Springfest Garden Show People's Choice Award. She has a design and maintenance business and is the local distributor of North Country Organics products.

Ricky Boscarino, Luna Parc  https://www.lunaparc.com/

Luna Parc is the semi-private museum, atelier, and private home of 21st century American multimedia artist Richard "Ricky" Boscarino located in Sandyston Township, New Jersey. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in 1982, Ricky continues to create whimsical, sophisticated work in a variety of media including metal, clay, glass, wood, and cement. Among the features (and there are many) at Ricky Boscarino's Luna Parc are some of his latest concrete and glass garden light constructions.

Ricky will have jewelry and ceramics for sale including articulated insect brooches and his unique portrait face pots. https://www.lunaparc.com/limited-editionone-of-a-kind Be sure to see the bathroom with over 250,000 pieces of tile.

This event is for Members only. Registration is required. The cost is $50 per person. Maximum number of guests is 30.  Carpooling is a must. A waitlist will be available if needed.

This event is full.  Contact Nora Sirbaugh to be added to the waitlist.  Click here if you would like to become a member of HPS/MAG before registering for this event.

This is a rain or shine event.

Address and parking directions will be sent to all registrants in their confirmation email. 

Contact: Nora Sirbaugh at [email protected]