September 27, 2023
The Evolving Landscape of Grounds for Sculpture
Janis Napoli
Chief Horticulturist, Grounds for Sculpture
The Evolving Landscape of Grounds for Sculpture
Janis Napoli
Chief Horticulturist, Grounds for Sculpture
Introducer: Scott McVay / Speaker: Janis Napoli
Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the 82nd Year
President John Cotton called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM and Julia Coale led the membership in the invocation. There were 81 members in attendance. Lincoln Hollister read the minutes of the prior meeting.
President Cotton introduced the meeting guests:
Pattie Fried, guest of Rick Ober;
Carol Ober, guest of Rick Ober;
Noriko Schneiderman, guest of Martin Schneiderman;
Marissa Reibstein, guest of Scott McVay; and
Richard Matarese, M.D., guest of Mark Branon, M.D. Dr. Matarese is applying for membership.
President Cotton asked for a vote on the 12 applications for membership. The membership approved the proposal.
President Cotton asked for a moment of silence in memory of member Bill Russel who died on September 24, 2023.
President Cotton reminded a few members (including 5 doctors and 1 former president of the Old Guard) to pay their dues, which are being accepted today by John Cotton, David Long, and Bill Katen-Narvell.
President Cotton announced that updated thumb drives were available at no cost,
but for $5.00 if you lost your thumb drive and cannot turn an old one in when getting a new one.
President John Cotton, also an M.D., reminded us to all get our COVID, RSV, and Flu shots--all of which are free. Go for the Trifecta!
Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 4, 2023, and will be at the Convocation Room in the Friend Center on the Corner of Olden and Williams Streets. The Hospitality Committee, led by Tony Glockler, will be providing hospitality at 9:30 AM. The speaker at our next meeting will be Jane Ferguson, special correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, author of No Ordinary Assignment, and Visiting Lecturer in the Humanities Council, Ferris Professor of Journalism. The minute taker for that meeting will be Larry Hans, and Lanny Jones will introduce our speaker.
Scott McVay introduced today's speaker, Janis Napoli, Director of Horticulture at the Grounds for Sculpture, founded by J. Seward Johnson and located on 42 acres in Hamilton, New Jersey. Ms. Napoli grew up on a farm in Gloucester County, New Jersey, earned a degree in horticulture from Rowan College, and has studied and worked for 16 years at some of the most respected gardens in this country, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Prospect Park Alliance. She has held her current position for five years and supervises a staff of three, plus 2-3 interns, and dozens of horticulture volunteers. Scott McVay announced that Ms. Napoli has invited Old Guard members to sign up for a free tour of the Grounds for Sculpture with her on October 4th or October 15th, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and recommended a lunch at Rats Restaurant at the Grounds after the tour.
Ms. Napoli provided a short history of the Grounds, starting with a purchase of 12 acres by the Atlantic Foundation in 1984. It now encompasses 42 acres of sculpture and horticulture. It sits on land formerly owned by King George II, and was used as a fairground, and then used as the New Jersey State Fair Grounds (including a horse track and a motor speedway). J. Seward Johnson, with architect Brian Carey, began construction of the Grounds for Sculpture in 1989, and the facility opened on June 6, 1992.
The Grounds now has over 60,000 plants, including 2,000 species. Which plants get the light and water is the job of the horticulture department, particularly with last year having had 27 days of heat in excess of 95 degrees, and this being a big pinecone year. In 2022 the Grounds was recognized by ArbNet as an Accredited Arboretum-Level One.
The Grounds has many sections that are designed to provide something new and interesting at every season, including Dejeuner Deja Vu; Weeping Blue Cedar Hedge, Hedge Row with Pond View, East Garden with Sand Garden, the Meadow, the Museum Garden, Space of Stone by River Birches, the Water Garden, the Rats Garden, the Crab Apple Orchard, the Gazebo and Lotus Pond, the Rose Arbor, the Maple Alee; Tulip Plantings, Red Twig Hill, Deciduous Conifers, Winter Garden, Poppied Hill, and Lawns and Peacocks.
There is always something to do: weeding, pruning, bamboo management, pest and disease management, soil compaction problem solving, flower arranging, handling donations of plants, the memorial tree sales program, the night forms light shows, the walking tours and workshops--and the annual plant sale on the weekend before Mother's Day every year.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Trenner
President John Cotton called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM and Julia Coale led the membership in the invocation. There were 81 members in attendance. Lincoln Hollister read the minutes of the prior meeting.
President Cotton introduced the meeting guests:
Pattie Fried, guest of Rick Ober;
Carol Ober, guest of Rick Ober;
Noriko Schneiderman, guest of Martin Schneiderman;
Marissa Reibstein, guest of Scott McVay; and
Richard Matarese, M.D., guest of Mark Branon, M.D. Dr. Matarese is applying for membership.
President Cotton asked for a vote on the 12 applications for membership. The membership approved the proposal.
President Cotton asked for a moment of silence in memory of member Bill Russel who died on September 24, 2023.
President Cotton reminded a few members (including 5 doctors and 1 former president of the Old Guard) to pay their dues, which are being accepted today by John Cotton, David Long, and Bill Katen-Narvell.
President Cotton announced that updated thumb drives were available at no cost,
but for $5.00 if you lost your thumb drive and cannot turn an old one in when getting a new one.
President John Cotton, also an M.D., reminded us to all get our COVID, RSV, and Flu shots--all of which are free. Go for the Trifecta!
Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 4, 2023, and will be at the Convocation Room in the Friend Center on the Corner of Olden and Williams Streets. The Hospitality Committee, led by Tony Glockler, will be providing hospitality at 9:30 AM. The speaker at our next meeting will be Jane Ferguson, special correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, author of No Ordinary Assignment, and Visiting Lecturer in the Humanities Council, Ferris Professor of Journalism. The minute taker for that meeting will be Larry Hans, and Lanny Jones will introduce our speaker.
Scott McVay introduced today's speaker, Janis Napoli, Director of Horticulture at the Grounds for Sculpture, founded by J. Seward Johnson and located on 42 acres in Hamilton, New Jersey. Ms. Napoli grew up on a farm in Gloucester County, New Jersey, earned a degree in horticulture from Rowan College, and has studied and worked for 16 years at some of the most respected gardens in this country, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Prospect Park Alliance. She has held her current position for five years and supervises a staff of three, plus 2-3 interns, and dozens of horticulture volunteers. Scott McVay announced that Ms. Napoli has invited Old Guard members to sign up for a free tour of the Grounds for Sculpture with her on October 4th or October 15th, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and recommended a lunch at Rats Restaurant at the Grounds after the tour.
Ms. Napoli provided a short history of the Grounds, starting with a purchase of 12 acres by the Atlantic Foundation in 1984. It now encompasses 42 acres of sculpture and horticulture. It sits on land formerly owned by King George II, and was used as a fairground, and then used as the New Jersey State Fair Grounds (including a horse track and a motor speedway). J. Seward Johnson, with architect Brian Carey, began construction of the Grounds for Sculpture in 1989, and the facility opened on June 6, 1992.
The Grounds now has over 60,000 plants, including 2,000 species. Which plants get the light and water is the job of the horticulture department, particularly with last year having had 27 days of heat in excess of 95 degrees, and this being a big pinecone year. In 2022 the Grounds was recognized by ArbNet as an Accredited Arboretum-Level One.
The Grounds has many sections that are designed to provide something new and interesting at every season, including Dejeuner Deja Vu; Weeping Blue Cedar Hedge, Hedge Row with Pond View, East Garden with Sand Garden, the Meadow, the Museum Garden, Space of Stone by River Birches, the Water Garden, the Rats Garden, the Crab Apple Orchard, the Gazebo and Lotus Pond, the Rose Arbor, the Maple Alee; Tulip Plantings, Red Twig Hill, Deciduous Conifers, Winter Garden, Poppied Hill, and Lawns and Peacocks.
There is always something to do: weeding, pruning, bamboo management, pest and disease management, soil compaction problem solving, flower arranging, handling donations of plants, the memorial tree sales program, the night forms light shows, the walking tours and workshops--and the annual plant sale on the weekend before Mother's Day every year.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Trenner