On May 17, 1916, Rutgers University purchased Wolpert Farm, a 35.7-acre parcel of land, which today forms the heart of the more than 180-acre Rutgers Gardens, a largely self-sustaining public botanical garden in New Brunswick, New Jersey anchored to the George H. Cook campus.
One hundred years later on May 17, 2016, the Rutgers Gardens kicks off its centennial celebration, themed “Where the Future of Horticulture is Grounded in Our Past,” with an invitation-only reception in the Roy DeBoer Evergreen Gardens from 2-5 p.m.
The Rutgers Gardens boasts one of the largest collections of American hollies in the U.S. It is a largely self-sustaining operation, open 365 days a year, and is one of the few botanical gardens in the country that does not charge an entrance fee.
It hosts a wide range of public activities to help provide support for the care of both maintained and natural areas, and offers a wide range of educational programs for Rutgers students and visitors alike. Rutgers Gardens is currently developing a master plan that will assure its ongoing development as a leading public garden in New Jersey and the region.
