Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum volunteers are decorating the Center Hallway at historic Skylands Manor for the annual Holiday Open House, sponsored by the Skylands Association of the New Jersey Botanical Garden. This year’s overall theme is Holiday Fantasy! Skyland Manor will be decorated floor-to-ceiling to create a warm and welcoming start to the holiday season.

A group of more than 25 Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum volunteers, under the direction of Georgette Moesch, are creating The Enchanted Forest and have been busy fashioning handcrafted fairies and fairy houses for the Center Hallway. The Enchanted Forest lies deep in the primeval forest, with enchanted fairies and nature spirits amidst the laurel, moss and pines. Legend has it that if one should find oneself in such a place and is very quiet, one just might catch a glimpse of them dancing and hear their magical song.

The Great Hall will be aglow with iridescence and sparkle. Several additional Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum volunteers are decorating the Main Fireplace in the Great Hall with wood creations, dried and painted hydrangeas and unusual greenery.

The Holiday Open House can be visited from December 5 through December 8 from 10 am to 4 pm daily. An evening reception is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 from 6 pm to 8 pm, with reservations required. For information go to www.njbg.org or call 973-962-9534.