New Jersey Landscapes Galleries

Liberty State Park, Jersey Cty NJ : Liberty State Park, Jersey City NJ: This park is bounded by water on three sides and consists of multiple areas for visitors to enjoy the wonderful skyline views of Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor. The southern part of the park consists of a great lawn with the circle of flags (Flag Plaza) and views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, while the Empty Sky 9/11 memorial and the CRRNJ terminal are located in the northern section of the park. Liberty Walkway provides a scenic path along the waterfront of the park and several paths meander through lawns and picnic areas. Sadly, at the time that I am posting these photos, much of the walkway and train terminal areas are closed to the public due to severe damage from Superstorm Sandy. The Liberty Science Center is also located in the park. Some of the memorial that are important to the park include the following: Liberation Holocast Memorial Statue by Natan Rapoport was commissioned by the state of New Jersey and sponsored by a group of veterans organizations. The 15 foot tall statue, intended to "honor American servicemen as liberators of oppressed peoples", shows a U.S. soldier carrying a Holocast victim to safety. The Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial, designed by Frederic Schwartz, is located at the Norther side of the park. Consisting of two 30 foot tall walls, separated by a granite path, the memorial stands across the Hudson River from the newly constructed One World Trade Center site and holds the names of the 746 New Jersey victim of the World Trade Center attack. The historic CCRNJ Railroad Terminal site was developed by the Central Railroad in the 1880s. It was the site of the first ferry service across the Hudson to New York. In 1849, several railroad companies merged to form the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ). The terminal on the NJ waterfront was expanded in 1914 which coincided with the years when immigration to the US from Europe was at its heaviest. According to the records, a peak usage of 21 million passengers used the terminal in 1929 as they were processed for entry to the US at Ellis Island to make their journey start to points across the country from the terminal.

Liberty State Park, Jersey Cty NJ

Liberty State Park, Jersey City NJ: This park is bounded by water on ...

Updated: May 10, 2013 1:49pm PST

Presby Memorial Iris Garden : The Presby Memorial Iris Garden, located in Montclair New Jersey, has been a treasured place to visit for many years. It has recently become part of the Essex County Park System. Each spring, just before and around Memorial Day, the iris display dazzles the senses with the variety of color and shapes in the iris beds. The irisi bulbs are gathered from all over the world and the collection includes many heirloom varieties. I've been happily photographing at the garden for several years, mostly focusng on building a portfolio of iris portraits. But I've decided this year to also document the beauty of the overall garden. Just in the past few days (as of May 16) the iris beds are filled with buds and a few iris have begun to bloom. So this is the start of my collection and I hope to add many more garden photos before the bloom season ends. To see my portfolio of iris portraits, please click on the Flower tab above and scroll to the several iris folders to browse the images.

Presby Memorial Iris Garden

Cherry Blossom Festival -Branch Brook Park 2013 : Cherry Blossom Festival Branch Brook Park, Newark NJ 2013: It is indeed a magical sight to drive through this park, especially in the northern section, and see the mass of blooms that paint the lanndscape on both sides of the road in shades of pink and white. From the start of the bloom season when the earliest buds and flowers are a rich rose colored pink to the peak of the bloom when a beautiful pastel display of pinks and white seem to fill the sky, it is a joyful scene. The northern end of the park offers the largest concentration of flowering trees while the southern end has views of the lake and the Basilica Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in the background. The most enjoyable part for me is just parking the car and waking the paths to see the gnarled old trees blooming side by side with new plantings; to watch people enjoying the blooms and picnics on the lawns; to watch the branches dance in the breeze and soak in the scent of Spring....and of course, having these beautiful subjects to photograph.

Cherry Blossom Festival -Branch Brook Park 2013

Cherry Blossom Festival Branch Brook Park, Newark NJ 2013: It is inde ...

Updated: Apr 19, 2013 9:54am PST

Cherry Blossoms Branch Brook Park 2012 : Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossoms: This partk in Newark and Belleville NJ, nicknamed Cherry Blossom Land, is renowned for the cherry blossom display in the Northern section of the park each Spring. This is the first time that I've had the opportunity to see the display and it was quite beautiful, but very challenging to try to capture the overall experience of the many blooming trees with a camera. I'm looking forward to getting back next year to see this lovely spectacle again. The ornamental cherry trees were not part of the original Olmstead park design, In the late 1920's, Carolyn Bamberger Fuld made the gift of more than 2000 of these trees to be planted in the northern section of the park. Current published information varies with regard to the number of these lovely trees in the park but a park renovation is underway including a plan to add to the number of trees.

Cherry Blossoms Branch Brook Park 2012

Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossoms: This partk in Newark and Bellevill ...

Updated: Nov 28, 2012 1:07pm PST

Van Vleck House and Gardens Montclair NJ : Van Vleck House and Gardens, located in Montclair N.J., is a Green Acres funded site and a project of the Garden Conservancy. The gardens, which are opened to the public, are renowned locally for the extensive collection of azaleas and rhododendron and for the magnificent Chinese wisteria that was planted in 1939 and wraps around portico at the back of the house. This property was once a private estate purchased by Joseph Van Vleck Sr. The gardens were of particular importance to the family, with azaleas and rhododendrons being the predominant specimens. The last family member to reside here was Howard Van Vleck who hybridized rhododendrons, with some varieties still surviving in the garden. The heirs of Howard Van Vleck placed the property in the care of the Mountclair Foundation in 1993. To see more images of rhododendrons and azaleas, most of which were taken at this garden, please click the "Flowers" tab above and view the Azalea and Rhododendron gallery. For information about the garden and associated educational and other events, go to the Van Vleck website at http://www.vanvleck.org.

Van Vleck House and Gardens Montclair NJ

Van Vleck House and Gardens, located in Montclair N.J., is a Green Acr ...

Updated: May 12, 2013 2:44pm PST

DeKorte Park Snow-Winter 2013 : Images taken at DeKorte Park in N.J. Meadowlands on the days after the 2013 February 8th and March snowstorms.

DeKorte Park Snow-Winter 2013

New Jersey Palisades Autumn 2012 : Autumn in the New Jersey Palisades can provide many awesome views of the foliage change. This year, the transition never quite reached the full, richly colored spectacle that it could have due to the approach of Hurrican Sandy just as the colors were about to peak. Fortunately, I had been able to get in several short visits to the area just a few days before the storm and got some photographs of the colors that were so beautifully emerging. Please also see the NJ Autumn Woods 2012 folder for more images of the beautiful trees and woodland.

New Jersey Palisades Autumn 2012

Autumn in the New Jersey Palisades can provide many awesome views of t ...

Updated: Nov 11, 2012 10:47am PST

Mill Creek Marsh NJ Meadowlands : Mill Creek Marsh, located in Secaucus NJ, is a delightful, little known, refuge in the N.J. Meadowlands. It is named for Mill Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River which flows through the marsh. The NJ Meadowlands Commission has created a nature trail that winds around and between two impoundments. It is a lovely walk with views of the distant New York Skyline at various points. The site attracts varieties of gulls, shorebirds, and ducks as well as other aquatic wildlife. At low tide, old cedar stumps provide an eerie landscape. The marsh, consisting of about 200 acres, was purchased by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission in 1996 in order to preserve the marsh and save it from the fate of a huge plan for housing development.. As part of the enhancement activies, old fill was removed which exposed ancient stumps of Atlantic White Ceder. It is believed that one third of the Hackensack Meadowlands were once covered with these trees. In the mid 18th century, the durable and accessible wood was used to build roads and homes and at one point huge sections of the cedar forest were burned because they were considered to be hiding places for pirates. The trees finally died out altogether when a dam was built along the Hackensack River which greatly reduced the flow of fresh water into the swamp and increased the levels of salt water turning the area into a brackish estuary.

Mill Creek Marsh NJ Meadowlands

Mill Creek Marsh, located in Secaucus NJ, is a delightful, little know ...

Updated: Jan 30, 2013 2:25pm PST

DeKorte Park, NJ Meadowlands : Richard W. DeKorte Park - New Jersey Meadowlands: This jewel of a park consists of 110 acres of open wetland with boardwalks and paths for visitors to explore. The NJ Meadowland Commission offices are located in the park as well as the Meadowlands Center for Environmental and Scientific Education and the William D. McDowell Observatory. Even though you are reminded by the towers and the sounds of airport and turnpike traffic that you are only miles from a congested urban area, this park is a wonderful oasis of calm, quiet and nature exploration during all seasons of the year. Also see the "NJ in Winter" gallery under NJ Landscapes for images of the park during the snowfalls of 2011 and the galleries under the "Winged Things" tab above to find bird images taken at the park.

DeKorte Park, NJ Meadowlands

Richard W. DeKorte Park - New Jersey Meadowlands: This jewel of a par ...

Updated: Jan 15, 2013 6:23am PST

Great Falls National Park NJ : Great Falls National Park of Paterson New Jersey was officially entered into the National Park System on November 7, 2011 to become the newest of 397 national parks. They were designated as a National Historical Park, by Congress, in 2009. The Falls have great historical significance in the nation's industrial development. The mills in Paterson, powered by the massive falls, became known for their products such as silk, guns, locomotives, and engines. The level of water flowing down the cliffs varies from season to season depending on the amount of rainfall and snow melt. The most recent images posted to this collection were taken in November 2011 showing the magnificent display of the power of the falls surrounded by lovely autumn foliage color. NOTE: To see black and white images of the Great Falls, please click on the Art Prints tab and view the black and white collection.

Great Falls National Park NJ

Great Falls National Park of Paterson New Jersey was officially entere ...

Updated: Jun 19, 2012 5:15am PST

Reeves Reed Aboretum Summit NJ : The Reeves Reed Arboretum is a wonderful, peaceful retreat to visit. This gallery of photos is new since I just began to photo there last year. I hope to continue to visit and photo there in the coming weeks and months and add many images to this collection. The nonprofit arboretum, consisting of 12.5 acres, is located in Summit NJ. The property was purchased for a country estate in 1889 by John Hornor Wisner and the Colonial Revival "Wisner house" is preserved on the property. The gardens are an example of early 20th century landscape Country Place Movement, and radiate in roomlike arrangements on the property surrounding the house. The extensive daffodil garden blooms in April. May blooms include dogwood, rhododendron, azalea, lilac, deutzia and crabapple. The gargens also include a lovely rose garden with over 150 varieties of roses.

Reeves Reed Aboretum Summit NJ

The Reeves Reed Arboretum is a wonderful, peaceful retreat to visit. ...

Updated: Apr 22, 2012 3:54pm PST

Red Mill Museum Clinton NJ :

Red Mill Museum Clinton NJ

Updated: Apr 21, 2012 5:44am PST

NJ Palisades Autumn 2010 : Fall foliage on the New Jersey Palisades along the Hudson River can be a spectacular sight and well worth an autumn day trip. Views of the Palisades in New Jersey range from the Southern end of the Palisades Interstate Park system to the State Line Lookout rest stop on the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

NJ Palisades Autumn 2010

Fall foliage on the New Jersey Palisades along the Hudson River can be ...

Updated: Oct 21, 2010 7:37am PST

Autumn Foliage NJ 2011 : New Jersey Fall Foliage can be spectacularly beautiful or not, depending on many weather factors. With an extremely hot summer and much more rain than normal, some experts predicted that the trees had been under too much stress to produce good foliage color this year. By mid-October it seemed that they were correct. But, thankfully, during the last week of October, some incredible colors appeared in NW New Jersey and in the NJ Palisades. In spite of an early snowstorm at the end of the month which damaged and felled many trees, there was still lovely color to be seen along the NJ Palisades. This gallery contains images from that area, from the Delaware Water Gap, the NJ Meadowlands and other NJ locations.

Autumn Foliage NJ 2011

New Jersey Fall Foliage can be spectacularly beautiful or not, dependi ...

Updated: Oct 11, 2012 7:47am PST

NJ Palisades Autumn 2009 : New Jersey Palisades Autumn colors: The Fall foliage display along the New Jersey Palisades was exceptionally beautiful in 2009. The images below are examples of the wonderful autumn scenes by the the Hudson River.

NJ Palisades Autumn 2009

New Jersey Palisades Autumn colors: The Fall foliage display along the ...

Updated: Oct 06, 2010 6:16am PST

Autumn Color and Scenes NJ 2010 : Fall foliage in and around New Jersey is a powerful motivator to get out and enjoy a day trip or two to see beautiful autumn vistas. Whether to view the scenery, or to go apple or pumpkin picking, there are many routes in Northwest New Jersey to take advantage of the colorful autumn show. Try driving Route 513 through Chester and Long Valley and further South to Clinton NJ. Or driving through Sussex County, Vernon Valley to Warwick and Pine Island just over the border to New York. Other favorites are the Delaware Watergap area and Stokes State Forest or a drive along the Palisades Interstate Parkway with gorgeous views of the NJ Palisades and the Hudson River. These images are examples of the sights to be seen. To view more autumn NJ Palisades or Clinton Mill photos, please see those gallery collections under the NJ Landscape tab.

Autumn Color and Scenes NJ 2010

Fall foliage in and around New Jersey is a powerful motivator to get o ...

Updated: Oct 11, 2012 7:49am PST

Trees in Winter : Trees in winter can take on a magical look when transformed by a snow storm, when silhouetted against the winter sun or sky or when the shadows of their branches. can be seen against a snow covered ground. They are one of my favorite winter subjects. To see more winter tree scenes, please view the NJ in Winter 2011 and the DeKorte Park galleries.

Trees in Winter

Trees in winter can take on a magical look when transformed by a snow ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2012 5:11pm PST

New Jersey Meadowlands Winter 2011 : Richard W. DeKorte Park is a photographer's delight in the winter when there is snow. Living in a very congested area of New Jersey in the shadow of New York City makes it very challenging for those who love and enjoy photographing nature, especially during the winter months when any snowfall quickly turns to gray, unattractive slush. Although not the traditional views that one tends to think of as wonderful landscapes, the NJ Meadlowlands offers pockets of opportunities that can be quite lovely in their own right. I'm hoping to build a collection of images that convey the pleasure that a walk in the Meadowlands parks can bring. To date in 2011, the images in this gallery were taken at Richard DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst NJ and in the Mill Creek Marsh section of the Meadowlands. To see more images from the park, please view the the DeKorte Gallery. Also please view a slideshow of my favorite winter images from the NJ Meadowlands by googling Winter Wonderland DeKorte Park.

New Jersey Meadowlands Winter 2011

Richard W. DeKorte Park is a photographer's delight in the winter when ...

Updated: Feb 22, 2011 7:59am PST

Wattles Stewardship Center : The NJ Audubon Wattles Stewardship Center is a 51-acre sanctuary consisting of a beautiful old farmhouse, barn and farmland. The Grand Opening of the Center was held in the autumn of 2010 and it is being developed as a model site to promote the blending of environmental awareness, wildlife habitat and agriculture. The Center exsits due to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Gurdon Wattles, who donated the house and barn, and through Green Acres funding. The Center is flanked by a State wildlife management area to the southeast and preserved farmland to the northwest. A trail from the Audubon parking lot leads visitors to the Musconetcong River and will ultimately connect to Point Mountain Road and Hunterdon County's Point Mountain park.

Wattles Stewardship Center

The NJ Audubon Wattles Stewardship Center is a 51-acre sanctuary consi ...

Updated: Mar 30, 2011 5:30am PST

NJ Autumn Woods 2012 :

NJ Autumn Woods 2012

Updated: Nov 11, 2012 2:39pm PST