The 15th anniversary of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum will be marked by the dedication of a Founders’ Garden at Laurelwood Arboretum, 725 Pines Lake Drive, Wayne on Saturday, September 15, at 4:30 pm. This new garden is located in a peaceful wooded area adjacent to the Sensory Garden. The Founders’ Garden will honor the nine people who played a leading role in established the Friends organization in 2003—Nancy Alexander, Howard Aschoff, Nancy and Alex Fadydnich, Betsy Hayes Gatti, Bonnie Joachim, David Kooistra, Joan Scott-Miller and James E. Taylor. The public is welcome to attend the dedication.
The Festival of Friends Anniversary celebration will follow the dedication from 5 pm to 7:30 pm at the Knippenberg Center for Education. Tickets to the Festival are $60 per person and can be ordered online at www.laurelwoodarboretum.org. All proceeds of the event will benefit Laurelwood Arboretum. For additional information, please call 973-831-5675.
The Festival of Friends will feature an exhibit of paintings and photographs by local artists and photographers. For refreshments, there will be hors d’oeuvres by Viaggio Ristorante of Wayne accompanied by wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. Jazz pianist Gary Mancinelli will entertain on the piano. A highlight of the event is a Silent Auction of carefully selected items. The Festival of Friends is sponsored by Lakeland Bank.