Two recent presentations at Laurelwood helped gardeners learn about numerous plants they could add to their gardens.
In Perennials as Problem Solvers, Brian Oleksak, Associate Professor and Chair of the Landscape and Horticultural Technology Department at The County College of Morris, instructed participants regarding beautiful, resilient plants that could survive numerous challenging sites from wet to dry soils and sun to shade. He also discussed invasive plants that should be avoided.
Another presentation, Discovering Native Treasures: Small Trees For Your Home Garden, discussed redbuds, dogwoods and several other native trees that will beautify home gardens and also benefit pollinators and birds without requiring too much room in the landscape. This presentation by Mike Lefebvre, a naturalist for NJ Audubon’s Lorrimer Sanctuary and The New Weis Center for Education, Arts, & Recreation, was followed by a walk to view these trees growing in the arboretum. On this rainy evening, not only did attendees learn all about trees, but one commented on how lovely it was to experience the arboretum in the rain. | 
