This holiday season, Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA) volunteers decorated the main entrance and grand stairway at historic Skylands Manor for the annual Holiday Open House, sponsored by the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. This year’s theme is, “A Gardener’s Holiday.” The Manor has been decorated floor-to-ceiling to create a warm and welcoming start to the holiday season.

“A Winter Holiday Greenhouse” is the theme of Laurelwood Arboretum’s decorations. “A greenhouse is a wonderful place year ‘round, but winter is especially busy, pleasant, warm and inviting,” said Sara McHugh, Chairperson of FOLA’s Holiday Open House Committee. “In Laurelwood’s greenhouse, we nurture plants for our Sensory Garden, start cuttings from “mother plants” to set out in the arboretum after the winter, and plant seeds that begin to sprout in the spring. Our recreated greenhouse at the Manor brings a bit of nature’s magic indoors.” FOLA volunteers will also serve as docents at the Holiday Open House.

The Holiday Open House will be open December 1 through 4. Daytime self-guided tours are from 10 am to 4 pm daily. An evening reception is scheduled for Friday, December 2 and Saturday December 3 from 6 pm to 8 pm with reservations required. For information go to www.njbg.org or call the NJBG office at 973-962-9534.