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Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve

of Medford Leas
Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve
of Medford Leas
Gardens
Nature Center
Visitors and Tours
Wildflower Meadows
Nature Preserve

Welcome to the Barton Arboretum of Medford Leas

With an abundance of caution as the guideline,
the walkways and trails of our Arboretum
are closed at present to visitors.
They are open for residents and staff to enjoy
with maintenance of social distancing of a minimum of 6 feet.
Trout Lily
Trout Lily, Erythonium americanum
photo by Jane Bourquin

The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is a unique blend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst private residential space. With campuses in Medford and Lumberton, NJ, spanning more than 200 acres, the Arboretum offers visitors a diverse horticultural array of designed gardens, landscaped grounds, meadows, natural woodlands and wetlands, and one of the most extensive plant collections — including natives — in all of southern New Jersey.

Accreditation

The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve holds Level 1 Accreditation from the Arbnet Arboretum Accreditation Program. The program is an international initiative, sponsored by the Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. As Jane K. Weston, former Director of Development and Community Relations at Medford Leas, said in response to the accreditation by ArbNet:

“The ArbNet accreditation provides a benchmark to assess our strengths as well as to identify areas for future development of the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas. Residents and staff of Medford Leas have long been proud of our Arboretum, and the ArbNet accreditation serves as recognition of the work we have done over the years. We are proud to have attained this designation and to be in the company of so many well-regarded arboreta.”

Out and About in the Arboretum

Avian Life at Lumberton

Hermit Thrush

May 4, 2020 – Spring Harbingers

Birders are no different than people, in that they eagerly await the renaissance brought on by arrival of spring. We begin looking for signs in February as the early migrants make their appearance. This article features arrivals, departures, and year-round resident birds that change their colors and behavior to welcome spring.

Read More »

You might also enjoy Lumberton Meadow Wildflowers by Miriam Swartz and Robert Koch
and this video of photos from an early morning walk in the Medford campus meadow
made by Dave Bartram in September 2022.

Upcoming Events

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April 2024

Wed, Apr 3

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Daffodil Daze Walks
Wed, Apr 3
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Daffodil Daze Walks
Lois Forrest Nature Center

Back by Popular Demand!
 
Enjoy the beauty of the spring season and be inspired by the Ilgenfritz Daffodil Collection

Medford Leas bountiful collection of daffodils began when one of its earliest residents, Marjorie (Midge) Ilgenfritz, arrived in 1978 with her collection of prized bulbs from her garden in Mamaroneck, New York. Over the years, Midge’s bulbs were divided and moved throughout the Medford Campus. In past five fall seasons, an additional 4,000 daffodil bulbs were planted to enhance the Arboretum.

Learn more about this cherished spring bloom. Enjoy a guided tour of our collections and be inspired to add this wonderful burst of spring color to your garden at home.

Walks will be guided by Debbie Lux, Medford Leas Horticulturalist, along with Medford Leas residents.

Sat, Apr 6

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
We Grew it Here: 100 Years of New Jersey’s Horticultural History
Sat, Apr 6
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
We Grew it Here: 100 Years of New Jersey’s Horticultural History
Theater

The Annual Lewis W. Barton Lecture

The lecture is a gift from the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve in honor of Lewis W. Barton.

Think New Jersey only grows tomatoes? Think again. New Jersey was once the pinnacle for peaches, the ultimate for orchids, the tops for turf. 19th century New Jersey plant nurseries led the nation with their innovative breeding, greenhouse, field, and marketing techniques. Meet the horticultural superstars who made New Jersey their home. Impresarios, hermits, academics, politicos and a cast of unlikely characters will make you a believer—New Jersey is the “Garden State.”

Garden historian and writer, Lesley Parness, has worked in public gardens in America and abroad for the past five decades. She is a popular speaker throughout the mid-Atlantic region, offering illustrated lectures and hands-on workshops to garden clubs, historic societies, Master Gardeners, libraries, and institutions with rare books collections of horticultural merit.

Before she retired, Lesley served as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, where she oversaw education, programming and interpretation at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Willowwood Arboretum, and the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center for fifteen years. Currently, Lesley is a feature columnist for Gardener News Magazine, and contributor to many print and online gardening publications, as well as a Member Emeritus and past President of Garden State Gardens, a non-profit consortium of New Jersey’s public gardens.

Wed, Apr 10

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Daffodil Daze Walks
Wed, Apr 10
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Daffodil Daze Walks
Lois Forrest Nature Center

Back by Popular Demand!
 
Enjoy the beauty of the spring season and be inspired by the Ilgenfritz Daffodil Collection

Medford Leas bountiful collection of daffodils began when one of its earliest residents, Marjorie (Midge) Ilgenfritz, arrived in 1978 with her collection of prized bulbs from her garden in Mamaroneck, New York. Over the years, Midge’s bulbs were divided and moved throughout the Medford Campus. In past five fall seasons, an additional 4,000 daffodil bulbs were planted to enhance the Arboretum.

Learn more about this cherished spring bloom. Enjoy a guided tour of our collections and be inspired to add this wonderful burst of spring color to your garden at home.

Walks will be guided by Debbie Lux, Medford Leas Horticulturalist, along with Medford Leas residents.

May 2024

Fri, May 3

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Pathways: Spring Trail Walks
Fri, May 3
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Pathways: Spring Trail Walks
Lois Forrest Nature Center

Enjoy the sights and sounds that only spring can bring! Join resident experts as they guide you through the various trails of both Medford and Lumberton. From birds and their nests, to blooming trees and shrubs, these trails have it all.

Please note: walks will take place in most weather conditions; severe weather forecast may result in a cancellation.

Walks on each campus will be led by resident members of the trails committee. These well-seasoned guides and can show you incredible hidden beauty of our campuses.

To find out more about these or any of the other public events offered by Medford Leas’ Pathways to Learning program, please visit the Medford Leas website.

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