Willowwood Arboretum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Willowwood Arboretum
Tubbs House and conservatory
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Type	Arboretum
Location	300 Longview Road Chester Township, New Jersey
Area	131 acres (53 ha)
Operated by	Morris County Parks Commission

Willowwood Arboretum is a special kind of park called an arboretum. It's a big place, about 131 acres (which is like 99 football fields!), where you can explore many different kinds of trees and plants. You can find it at 300 Longview Road in Chester Township, New Jersey. It's part of the Morris County Park System and welcomes visitors every day.

History of Willowwood Arboretum
- From Farm to Plant Paradise
- The Tubbs Brothers' Vision
Exploring the Plant Collections
Gallery
See also

History of Willowwood Arboretum

From Farm to Plant Paradise

Long ago, in the 1700s, the land where Willowwood Arboretum now sits was used for farming. This farming created the open meadows you can still see today. It was first known as Paradise Farm.

In 1908, two brothers named Henry and Robert Tubbs bought the farm. They loved plants and trees, so they were "amateur arborists." They renamed the property Willowwood because of all the willow trees growing there naturally.

The Tubbs Brothers' Vision

The Tubbs brothers made the old farmhouse, which was built in 1792, their family home. For more than 50 years, they carefully collected and grew many different types of plants. They gathered a huge collection of rare and unusual species. This was helped by the popular plant-growing scene in New York City at the time.

After the brothers, Willowwood became a private arboretum. Rutgers University then used it as a place to research plants and trees. Finally, in 1980, it became part of the Morris County Park System, so everyone could enjoy it.

Exploring the Plant Collections

What You Can See at Willowwood

Willowwood Arboretum has both wild forests and special collections of trees. You'll also find old farmland, a house with two small gardens, and a few smaller buildings. There are about 3,500 different kinds of plants here! Many of them are rare or come from other parts of the world.

Amazing Trees and Flowers

The arboretum has many historic collections of trees like oaks, maples, willows, and magnolias. You can also see beautiful lilacs, cherry trees, firs, and pines. One very special tree is the Dawn Redwood (called Metasequoia), which is now over 98 feet (30 meters) tall! You'll also find lots of ferns and lovely wild flowers in the fields and forests.

Visiting and Tours

You can explore Willowwood Arboretum on your own. There are easy paths through the open areas and woodlands. These paths help you discover all the different wild and cultivated plants.