The Friends Plant Sale
 April 12 - Raffle Prizes
1st Prize: EVERGREEN MARLOWE GARDEN BENCH
Donated by Smith & Hawken
Retail Value - $349
2nd Prize: $300 DINING CREDIT at ARTHUR's TAVERN, Morris Plains
Donated by Master Gardeners of Morris County - Classes of 2006 & 2007
3rd Prize: TWO PAEONIAS ("Golden Wheel" & "White Jade")
Donated by Peony's Envy
Retail Value - $134
4th Prize: A SPECIAL OCCAION FLORAL ARRANGEMENT
Donated by Marge Hulstrunk
Date to be selected by winner - Value $125
 April 9 - 2008 Plant Sale Preview
The 2008 Plant Sale is fast approaching. This year we have taken “New” to new heights by adding 5 new vendors. Yes… five! What we have to offer is the broadest variety of plant material possible. Of course we still have our tried and true sources, but this year be sure to look for more and rare peony varieties, water plants, Stepables® (dwarf plants suitable for groundcover and container gardening), and dwarf conifers and shrubs for small spaces and container or bonsai gardening. These selections are all in keeping with the 2008 theme – “The Garden in Miniature”
Many of plants will be available only in very limit quantities. If you are a member, be sure to attend the Friday Members Only event. Don’t miss the opportunity to have the very best selection.
 This year at the Members Only event we will again be awarding door prizes to attendees, including gardening books, tools, and crafts. All Friday attendees are eligible for the door prize drawings.* One prize per participant. New to the Members Only Party will be the addition of a Silent Auction of two rare peonies – ‘Golden Wheel’ and ‘Finest Black Jade’ (a tree peony) – our featured plant.
The Friday raffle is being moved to Saturday at noon. Four, rather than three, great raffle prizes will be awarded. You can purchase tickets through the members’ party invitation mailing, at the front desk at the Arboretum, or at the Friday event and Saturday morning at the plant sale. You need not be present to win but come anyway to get a second look at what is available.
*You can become a member up to the start of the Friday sale. Non-members will not be allowed to attend or purchase at the Friday night sale.
Select the link below to take you to additional information about this year’s sale:
-- Karin & Marla
Plant Sale Chairs
NEW! We have begun to update the plant list for the upcoming Plant Sale. Click on the link (here or in the top right corner) and start planning your own plant-finding expedition.
Before you know it the scent of lilacs and the twinkle of redbud blossoms
will again grace the Arboretum. It will be time for the Annual Plant
Sale in the Tent. So mark your 2008 calendar for the Members Only Preview
Party on Friday evening, May 2. In the meantime spread the word to fellow
gardening enthusiasts and novices you know, who might not yet be members,
so they too can take advantage of this key membership benefit. Stop
by the reception desk to get extra “Mark the Day” bookmarks to pass
out to others.
This year’s theme is “The Garden in Miniature.” We are identifying
sources so we can offer new plant material in conjunction with the theme
including: bonsai-size conifers, plants whose botanical name include
the word ‘nana’ (which indicates a miniature variety), other dwarf versions
of plants, and SteppablesTM. Steppables are a variety of miniature ground
cover that can tolerate moderate foot traffic, grow in areas where grass
is a challenge, or be used in dish gardening.
Last year our featured plant material was herbs. This year we are excited
about peonies! We have already ordered a large variety of rare and unusual
tree and herbaceous varieties from a new source. This includes a variety
that is suitable for the border and requires no staking…not quite a
‘nana’ but keeping with our theme nonetheless. As a tie-in, Kathleen
Gagan from Peony’s Envy will be speaking on February 2, 2008. See page
2 for more information about this program. Don’t miss this chance to
get a preview of what might be offered at the plant sale. We are hoping
to organize other educational programs tied to this coming year’s theme
and plants.
Behind the scenes we will be assisted by some new people: Heather Wyse-Emelander
in plant ordering and Ron Basista in event set-up and floor management.
Toni Rinehart will serve as Raffle Chair. This extra help will allow
us to spend time adding some new vendors so we can continue to offer
you varied and uncommon plant material.
If you peruse the gardening catalogs this winter and something strikes
your fancy, let us know and we will add it to our search list. We have
already contacted some of our previous suppliers and highlighted some
special interests for them to consider. Our goal is to make this coming
year’s plant sale the most successful ever.
Thanks again to last year’s sponsors, donors, volunteers…and customers.
We look forward to seeing you again
this spring.
—Marla Jackson and Karin Rindal
 Rare & Unusual Peonies
At the 2008 Plant Sale in the Tent we will be offering an exciting array of rare and unusual peonies -- both Herbaceous and Tree Peonies. Our shopping list includes: ‘Golden Sash’, ‘Bronze Stemmed Purple’, ‘Rare Flower of Frosty Dew’, ‘Cinnabar Red’, ‘Buddha’s Lotus Seat’ and tree peony varieties: ‘Lavender Champion’ and ‘Brightly Colored Painting’, among others. If you search the Internet you will only find these varieties available in China. Two rare varieties (Tree Peony – ‘Finest Black Jade’ and Herbaceous Peony – ‘Golden Wheel’) will be offered only through silent auction at the Members Only Preview Party on Friday May 2. Become a member today!
 Tree peonies are a type of deciduous woody shrub with huge, fragrant flowers on strong woody stems. They bloom before herbaceous peonies throughout the month of April, giving the peony aficionado an additional four weeks of peony bloom. These stately bushes continue to add to the structure of the garden with deep green leaves in the summer and rusty, red or yellow foliage well into the fall. At full maturity, they will reach between three and seven feet depending on the variety and will be covered with over one hundred plate-sized flowers, smell beautifully, and stop traffic. All of tree peonies at the sale are hardy varieties grown on their own rootstock.  They grow well in full sun, but prefer dappled shade. Given well-drained fertile soil, they will remain fantastic for centuries.
Herbaceous peonies bloom throughout the month of May and into June just after the latest tulips and daffodils have faded. They are known for their astoundingly huge and plentiful flowers that once enjoyed are never forgotten. Not only will these plants be a joy in the garden, they will also produce some of the best cut flowers available.
The extensive history of peonies and their cultivation has resulted in a dazzling array of cultivars for your garden. Colors range from snow white to deep merlot, including brassy red, bright magenta, deep fuchsia, baby girl pink and even key lime. Flower shapes range from large simple daisy-like flowers to huge globular masses of petals. Peonies are cold hardy and versatile, growing vigorously from zone three to zone eight. They are a true perennial, cultivated by root division and passed from generation to generation. Talk to any group of gardeners and you’ll hear again and again how they have their great grandmothers’ peonies still growing in their gardens, blooming profusely with little care. Peonies have the added advantage of being naturally deer resistant.
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Visit these links for more information:
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These great peonies are available due to the addition of a new supplier for this season, Peony’s Envy Nursery and Display Garden of Bernardsville. Peony’s Envy begins its second season on May 1. Whether you are interested in specific heirloom varieties, rare new cultivars, or just looking for beautiful plants for your garden Peony’s Envy plants are not to be missed.
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The 2008 Plant Sale Dates Are:
- Members-only Preview Party - Friday, May 2nd
- The Main Event (Public Plant Sale)- Saturday, May
3rd.
Past Plant Sales
Over the last 10 years, we have had hot days, cold days, rainy days and sunny ones, but do your know what? Everyone enjoyed themselves and found a great collection of plants any gardener or collector would be proud of. Click on the image below for a gallery of pictures from a number of these wonderful past sales:
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