History of the MG Tour Committee

By Pat Lagunas

The MG Tour Committee has been functioning since 1994 and continues to this day. There have been 169 tours conducted within the twenty year history from 1994 to 2013. Conducting these tours were 10 different Master Gardeners. Marjorie Merriam acted as chair for four years and co-chair for one with Sharon Knill. Louise Witonsky, who acted as chair for six years from 2002 to 2007, proudly states that within that time she never repeated a tour. Mary Lee Eldridge and Pat Lagunas also acted as co-chairs for six years, from 2008 to 2013, and abided by Louise Witonsly’s rule of never repeating a tour within the six years they were co-chairs.

Chairs

Year Tour Committee Chair 1994 Marjorie Merriam 1995 Marjorie Merriam 1996 Marjorie Merriam/Sharon Knill 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan 1999 Marjorie Merriam 2000 Marjorie Merriam 2001 Judy Hemley 2002 Louise Witonsky 2003 Louise Witonsky 2004 Louise Witonsky 2005 Louise Witonsky 2006 Louise Witonsky 2007 Louise Witonsky 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge/Pat Lagunas 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge/Pat Lagunas 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge/Pat Lagunas 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge/Pat Lagunas 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge/Pat Lagunas 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge/Pat Lagunas

Tour Spreadsheet

The spreadsheet that accompanies this narrative lists all of the tours ever offered, showing when each was conducted, month and year, and noting the location. The spreadsheet was devised to help future tour co-chairs plan their tours. Recording the year notes how long it has been since a tour to the location was conducted and the listing of the month notes the season when visited. If recent tours to a popular location have taken place in the spring, it might be time to visit in the fall.

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Favorite Tour Locations

The favorite spots to visit are probably gauged by those most frequently visited. Mt Cuba and Wave Hill are tied for the most frequently visited, 4 each within twenty years. Eight other locations were visited at least 3 times and 19 at least twice. The remaining 130 out of 169 tours given in 20 years were held only once.

Tours Conducted at Least Twice within Twenty Years

Location Number of Times Conducted Mt. Cuba 4 Wave Hill 4 Bartrams 3 Chanticleer 3 Cloisters 3 Duke Gardens 3 Leonard Buck 3 Morris Arboretum 3 Mueller’s Bulbs 3 NYBG 3 Bowman’s Wildflower Preserve 3 Rare Find Nursery 3 Winterthur 3 Brooklyn Botanical 2 Colonial Park 2 David Culp 2 Derek Fell 2 2 Eve Thyrum 2 Frelinhuysen Arboretum 2 Green Acres Country Club 2 Hortulus 2 Kube Pak 2 Liz Filo 2 Longwood 2 Medford Leas 2 Sayen Gardens 2 Scott Arboretum 2 Stonecrop 2 2 Willowwood 2

2 of 9 Tour Trivia

• Longest distance traveled (154 miles one way) - Dumbarton Oaks & National Arboretum in Washington DC 1997

• Favorite locations - Mount Cuba in Delaware & Wave Hill in NYC visited 4 times

• Favorite private gardens in PA - Eve Thyrum’s, David Culp’s, and Derek Fell’s each visited twice

• Bucks County favorites - Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Derek Fell’s Garden, Mille Fleur, Linden Hill Garden, and Hortulus

• No longer in existence– Greenhouses at Duke Gardens in Somerville, NJ and Mueller’s Bulbs in New Hope, PA

• Favorite NJ Parks – Sayen Gardens in Hamilton, Willowwood, and Leonard Buck Garden in Far Hills, and Colonial Park in Somerset

• Favorite NJ private gardener - Liz Filo - tours at two different locations in Princeton in 1995 and 2011

• Nurseries that bear repeat visits – Kube Pak in Allentown, NJ and Rare Find in Jackson, NJ

• Still in development and worth another visit – The Highline in NYC

• Of historical significance – Bartrams in

• One of the most unique tours – Herbarium at the NYBG in 2012

• Can never tire of repeat visits – Chanticleer in Wayne, PA

• Collector’s gardens – Ed Shinn and Japanese maples in Wall, NJ ; Wyn’s Eden and hosta in Chadds Ford, PA and dwarf conifers at Watnong Garden in Parsippany, NJ.

• One bus tour offered each year since 2007

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Tour Location Month Year Chairs Cloisters & Wave Hill NYC, NY May 1994 Marjorie Merriam Stonecrop & Boscobel Cold Sprig, NY/Garrison, NY June 1994 Marjorie Merriam Robin Meadow Farm Ringoes, NJ July 1994 Marjorie Merriam Rodale Institute Kutztown, PA August 1994 Marjorie Merriam Trees of Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville, NJ August 1994 Marjorie Merriam Mt. Cuba Hockessin, DE May 1995 Marjorie Merriam Stony Brook Farm & Princeton, NJ June 1995 Marjorie Merriam Derek Fell's Garden Pipersville, PA June 1995 Marjorie Merriam Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve New Hope, PA May 1996 Marjorie Merriam/Sharon Knill Mueller's Bulb Garden New Hope, PA May 1996 Marjorie Merriam/Sharon Knill Joanna Reed's Garden Malvern, PA May 1996 Marjorie Merriam/Sharon Knill Wave Hill and Cloisters NYC, NY June 1996 Marjorie Merriam/Sharon Knill Dumbarton Oaks Washington, DC April 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow Bartram's Garden Philadelphia, PA May 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow Sayen Gardens & Barbara Bromley/Agnes Naughton Hamilton, NJ May 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow Trees of Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville, NJ June 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn, NY October 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow Drumthwacket & Morven Princeton, NJ December 1997 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow Duke Gardens Hillsborough, NJ February 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan Winterthur Winterthur, DE April 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan Leonard J. Buck Garden & Pvt. Garden Far Hills, NJ May 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan Last Stop Garden ? June 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan Stover Mill Daylily Gardens Bucks, PA July 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan NY Botanical Garden NYC, NY September 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan Morris Arboretum Philadelphia, PA October 1998 Sharon Knill/Gail Critchlow/Karen Colihan Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve New Hope, PA April 1999 Marjorie Merriam Mueller's Bulb Garden New Hope, PA April 1999 Marjorie Merriam Chanticleer Wayne, Pa May 1999 Marjorie Merriam Trenton Marsh Trenton, NJ May 1999 Marjorie Merriam Lawrenceville School Arboretum Lawrenceville, NJ June 1999 Marjorie Merriam

4 of 9 Tour Location Month Year Chairs Lewis Barton Arboretum - Medford Leas Medford, NJ June 1999 Marjorie Merriam Chanticleer Wayne, Pa September 1999 Marjorie Merriam Mt. Cuba Hockessin, DE October 1999 Marjorie Merriam Frank Lewis's garden ? May 2000 Marjorie Merriam Willowwood Arboretum Morristown, NJ May 2000 Marjorie Merriam Colonial Park/Rudolf van der Goot Rose Garden Somerset, NJ June 2000 Marjorie Merriam Meadowbrook Farm Meadowbrook, PA September 2000 Marjorie Merriam Princeton Nurseries Allentown, NJ October 2000 Marjorie Merriam Duke Gardens Hillsborough, NJ February 2001 Judy Hemley Scott Arboretum Swarthmore, PA May 2001 Judy Hemley Rare Finds Nursery Jackson, NJ May 2001 Judy Hemley Campus Princeton, NJ August 2001 Judy Hemley Swiss Pines Japanese Garden Malvern, PA September 2001 Judy Hemley Longwood Gardens Kennet Square, PA September 2001 Judy Hemley Philadelphia Horticultural Center Philadelphia, PA November 2001 Judy Hemley Drumthwacket Princeton, NJ December 2001 Judy Hemley Stony Brook Orchids Pennington. NJ January 2002 Louise Witonsky Kube Pak Nursery Allentown, NJ February 2002 Louise Witonsky Stony Brook Orchids Pennington. NJ March 2002 Louise Witonsky Skimmer boat trip -Maurice River Millville, NJ April 2002 Louise Witonsky Peek Preserve Millville, NJ April 2002 Louise Witonsky Winterthur Winterthur, DE May 2002 Louise Witonsky Mt. Cuba Hockessin, DE May 2002 Louise Witonsky Frog Hollow Garden Wilmington, DE May 2002 Louise Witonsky Wave Hill Bronx, NY June 2002 Louise Witonsky Hortulus Wrightstown, PA July 2002 Louise Witonsky Dam sites and parks Mercer County August 2002 Louise Witonsky Scott Arboretum Swarthmore, PA September 2002 Louise Witonsky Tyler Arboretum Media, PA September 2002 Louise Witonsky Rutgers Ext. Cranberry/Blueberry Gardens Chatsworth, NJ October 2002 Louise Witonsky Cranberry Harvest Haines, NJ October 2002 Louise Witonsky

5 of 9 Tour Location Month Year Chairs Green Acres Country Club Lawrenceville, NJ November 2002 Louise Witonsky Waterford Gardens Saddle River, NJ April 2003 Louise Witonsky James A. McFaul Environmental Center Wyckoff, NJ April 2003 Louise Witonsky Benner's Moss Garden New Hope, PA May 2003 Louise Witonsky Hilltown Twp. Bucks County Pearl Buck House & Garden PA May 2003 Louise Witonsky Mueller's Bulb Garden New Hope, PA May 2003 Louise Witonsky Temple U. Ambler Campus Garden Philadelphia, PA June 2003 Louise Witonsky Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn, NY July 2003 Louise Witonsky Willowwood Arboretum Morristown, NJ August 2003 Louise Witonsky Chanticleer Gardens Villanova, PA September 2003 Louise Witonsky Meadowbrook Farm Philadelphia, PA October 2003 Louise Witonsky Green Acres Country Club Lawrencevill, NJ November 2003 Louise Witonsky Rutgers Eco Complex Bordentown, NJ March 2004 Louise Witonsky Rosade Bonsai Studio New Hope, PA April 2004 Louise Witonsky Peony Land Quakertown, PA May 2004 Louise Witonsky Leonard Buck Gardens Far Hills, NJ June 2004 Louise Witonsky Hackensack River Hacensack, NJ July 2004 Louise Witonsky Longwood Gardens Kennet Square, PA August 2004 Louise Witonsky Bartram Gardens Philadelphia, PA September 2004 Louise Witonsky Dancer Farm New Egypt, NJ October 2004 Louise Witonsky Dragon Agro Nursery Somerset , NJ December 2004 Louise Witonsky Rutgers Greenhouses New Brunswick, NJ March 2005 Louise Witonsky Morris Arboretum Philadelphia, PA April 2005 Louise Witonsky Derek Fell's Garden Pipersville, PA May 2005 Louise Witonsky Matterhorn Nursery Spring Valley, NY June 2005 Louise Witonsky Clearwater Schooner Beacon, NY July 2005 Louise Witonsky Leamings Run Gardens Cape May,NJ August 2005 Louise Witonsky Hereford Lighthouse Gardens Cape May,NJ August 2005 Louise Witonsky Staten Island Botanic Garden Staten Island, NY September 2005 Louise Witonsky Chinese Scholar's Garden Staten Island, NY September 2005 Louise Witonsky Triple Oaks Nursery & Herbal Lunch Franklinville, NJ October 2005 Louise Witonsky

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Tour Location Month Year Chairs Julius Roehrs Nursery Farmingdale, NJ April 2006 Louise Witonsky Jack Miller's Moss Garden Trappe, PA May 2006 Louise Witonsky Pine Barrens NJ June 2006 Louise Witonsky Hildebrandt Nursery Oldwick, NJ July 2006 Louise Witonsky Frelinghuysen Arboretum Morristown, NJ July 2006 Louise Witonsky Princeton, NJ August 2006 Louise Witonsky NYBG Bronx, NYC September 2006 Louise Witonsky Waldor Orchids Linwood, NJ October 2006 Louise Witonsky Insectarium Philadelphia, PA March 2007 Louise Witonsky David Culp Garden Downingtown, PA April 2007 Louise Witonsky Hamilton Estate Philadelphia, PA April 2007 Louise Witonsky Jenkins Arboretum Devon, PA April 2007 Louise Witonsky Hedgleigh Swarthmore, PA June 2007 Louise Witonsky Rick Ray's Garden Swarthmore, PA June 2007 Louise Witonsky Woodside Nursery Bridgeton, NJ June 2007 Louise Witonsky Blue Sterling Nursery Bridgeton, NJ June 2007 Louise Witonsky Oxford Garden (Walter Cullerton) Pineville, PA July 2007 Louise Witonsky Planting Fields (Bus Tour) Oyster Bay, NY September 2007 Louise Witonsky Martin Viette Nursery (Bus Tour with Planting Fields) Oyster Bay, NY September 2007 Louise Witonsky Duke Garden Hillsborough, NJ February 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Kube Pak Nursery Allentown, NJ March 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Sayen Gardens Hamilton, NJ April 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Barnes Philadelphia, PA May 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Mille Fleur & Linden Hill Nursery Bucks County, PA June 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Chanticleer Wayne, Pa July 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Bartram & Shofuso Philadelphia, PA August 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Kykuit & Stone Barn Tarrytown, NY September 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Princeton University Campus Princeton, NJ October 2008 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJ March 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Morris Arboretum Philadelphia, PA April 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas

7 of 9 Tour Location Month Year Chairs Mt. Cuba & Eve Thyrum Wilmington, Delaware May 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Leonard Buck Garden & Colonial Park Somerset County Parks June 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Herronswood Nursery Doylestown, Pa July 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Rutgers Gardens New Brunswick, NJ August 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Wave Hill & Cloisters (Bus Tour) NYC, NY September 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Watnong Gardens Parsippany, NJ October 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Fig Man Flemington , NJ November 2009 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Rare Finds Nursery Jackson, NJ February 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Peace Tree Farm Kintnersville, PA March 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Edgewood the Lonsdale Garden Exton, PA April 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Gounds Keeper, Inc. Matawan, NJ May 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Hortulus Wrightstown, PA June 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Nutley Private Gardens Nutley, NJ July 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Carousel Lavender Farm Mechanicsville, PA August 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Buckingham Valley Vineyard Buckingham, PA August 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Stonecrop Gardens (Bus Tour) Cold Spring, NY September 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Merrin Estate (Bus Tour - with Stonecrop) Cortland Manor, NY September 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Yellow Springs Farm Chester Springs, PA October 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Nemours & Garden Wilmington, DE November 2010 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Carolyn's Shade Garden - Hellebores Bryn Mawr, PA March 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Branch Brook Park Newark, NJ April 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas David Culp Garden Downington, PA May 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Princeton Pvt. Gardens - Liz Filo & David Jacobus Princeton, NJ June 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Highline NYC, NY July 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Lewis Barton Arboretum - Medford Leas Medford, NJ August 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Ladew Topiary Garden & Terrain at Styers (Bus Tour) Monkton, MD & Glen Mills, PA September 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Institute for Adv. Study - Foray to Study Fungi Princeton, NJ October 2011 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Insectropolis Toms River, NJ February 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Colonial Park/Rudolf van der Goot Rose Garden Somerset, NJ March 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas North Creek Nurseries Landenberg, PA April 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Rocky Hills & White Garden (Bus Tour) Westchester County, NY May 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas

8 of 9 Tour Location Month Year Chairs Wyn's Eden Chadds Ford, PA June 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Ed Shinn's Japanese Maples Wall, NJ July 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Lee Turkey Farm East Windsor, NJ August 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Bamboo Brook Far Hills, NJ September 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Whitesbog Village - Cranberry Harvest Browns Mills, NJ October 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas NYBG Herbarium & Holiday Train Show NYC, NY November 2012 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Espoma Millville, NJ February 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Parkside Orchid Nursery Ottsville, PA March 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Bowman's Wildflower Preserve New Hope, PA April 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Frelinghuysen Arboretum Morristown, NJ May 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Old Westbury & Humes Japanese Garden Nassau County, NY June 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Trenton Parks & Community Gardens Trenton, NJ July 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Rare Finds Nursery - Bog Gardens Jackson, NJ August 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Allen Lacy Private Garden & Arboretum Linwood, NJ September 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Garden at Federal Twist Stockton, NJ October 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas Winterthur Winterthur, DE December 2013 Mary Lee Eldridge & Pat Lagunas

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