Joe Di Giacomo

Laurelwood Arboretum is the home of 20 rhododendrons hybridized by Allan and Shirley Anderson, a retired chemist and science teacher respectively, who gardened and raised rhododendrons at their home in Franklin Lakes for over 40 years. We were invited to remove rhododendrons growing in their garden before the home was sold and the property redeveloped. […]

Our rhododendron propagation team has successfully rooted several stem cuttings taken from R. ‘County of York’ in the arboretum last September. The stem cuttings were placed in a rooting box, cared for in our propagation greenhouse and potted by our volunteer team in February. The cuttings developed a significant root ball and are expected to

One of the earliest blooming rhododendrons in Laurelwood Arboretum is ‘Cornell Pink’ which is known as a truly pink form of R. mucronulatum. The species R. mucronulatum has flowers that appear in late winter or early spring often on the bare branches before the foliage unfurls. Its native geographic region is Korea, China, and Japan. 

The name Rhododendron comes from the Greek words “rodon” which means “rose” and “dendron” which means “tree”, hence Rose Tree. There may be no better example of a “Rhododendron Tree” in Laurelwood Arboretum than R. ‘Babylon’ located on Long Valley Road.  It was hybridized in 1955 by G. Reuthe, Ltd. in Kent, England.  The new

Have you ever wondered why the leaves of your rhododendrons curl up in very cold weather? You may observe that the leaves on your plants are drooping down and curling up. Is something wrong with these plants? Do not panic. What you are observing is the plant protecting itself. They practice thermotropism. Thermotropism or thermotropic movement

Known for its clusters of violet trumpet-shaped flowers, R. ‘Blue Peter’ is one of the classic American “Iron Clads” meaning it is cold hardy. It has been used in the endless attempt by hybridizers to achieve a true blue large evergreen rhododendron. It is, however, like most so-called blues, not quite blue, but rather cobalt

Joseph Di Giacomo, Master Gardener and chairperson of the Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum Rhododendron Study Team, will share information about the legacy of John and Dorothy Knippenberg and the development of the rhododendron gardens at Laurelwood Arboretum. Click here to watch the Wayne Public Library / Laurelwood Arboretum presentation. R. ‘Paul Vossberg’

Newly planted R. ‘Cynthia’ on Ridge Road in the arboretum was blooming in July although its recorded blooming period is Midseason from approximately the first week to the second week in May. The plant was purchased last fall from a nursery in Albany, Oregon and was over-wintered in the propagation greenhouse and planted in the

Ever wonder the best time to see the most rhododendrons in bloom in Laurelwood Arboretum? The answer is: Now. The rhododendron collection in Laurelwood Arboretum includes more than 400 named rhododendron hybrids and species which were planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s by John and Dorothy Knippenberg, the former owners of Laurelwood Gardens who donated