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Rutgers Gardens

4.5 (58 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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Rutgers Gardens
L L.

If you're local, this is an excellent FREE resource for outdoor fun, and horticultural curiosity. If you're not local, make sure to plan other things to do along your trip, because the gardens aren't big enough to fill more than 1-2 hours. They have various themes of gardens, with many school dedications (plaques, benches, dedicated trees) to friends of the Rutgers Horticulture program. There are also sponsored (or dedicated) ornaments, and other thoughtful garden fascinators to add interest here and there. I was sad that not everything was maintained. There definitely had been work, pruning, lawn mowing, etc., but it wasn't meticulously done, which is easily noticed in a garden. Various trees had vines, some areas needed weeding, the hollies had some tall grasses up against their lowest boughs, etc. I understand this is an educational facility, and experimental gardens make up most of the acreage (that area is not open to the public), but it is an unfortunate fact that some of these pants/trees/flowers could use a bit more TLC. That said, I was really impressed that the bamboo garden was very well-maintained, and it looks like they are expanding more. That was the highlight of the experience (as mentioned by many others). MUST SEE! But according to signage, do look out for bears!!! Yikes!!! I had heard about Rutgers Gardens from horticultural "holly-phile" people I know. They raved about the Rutgers holly orchard. I was told hollies grow so well in NJ's sandy soil, etc. Having grown up on my grandfather's holly orchard, I appreciated what Rutgers does, and saw a variety of species. As mentioned above, there were vines choking some of the hollies, double trunks (that hadn't been pruned when the trees were young), and overgrown grass at their skirts. I'm glad they don't mow over the branches, but a trimmer will do the trick. It was just kind of personal to me because I took care of 400 hollies with my grandfather for decades. Lol, it's totally personal. All in all, this really is a great place to visit. The gardens are sandwiched between two highways, so road noise is present throughout much of the visitor area. But there is tranquility nonetheless. Fridays they have a farm market at the main entrance.

Cool flowers
Danielle D.

Awesome, peaceful, beautiful ughhh words cannot explain! This place is truly a gem. Besides the fact i went on a blazing hot day and was sweating my butt off, it was great! I enjoyed every minute in this well maintained garden.

They're a little roughed up but still a great piece for the gardens !
Tiffany M.

Hello Adventurers! I absolutely ADORE this place. It is such a nice place to just relax for a picnic, stroll, or light hiking. I usually come here to snap a few photos for my photography work. I was finally able to come here when the flowers were just blooming so being able to play with the macro settings were great! The best feature is the large tree that you can sit on a branch and read a book as if you were set in the south. I also like that it's really kept up by the staff. They are always creating new features to explore from parts that have died or changed. this place is also a great location for a wedding since they do have the open areas to explore! I wish they'd put better signage for the plants because sometimes I go to look and find nothing.

Heylar Woods trail entrance
Brian L.

The small bamboo forest is definitely worth a look-see, and unlike the seasonal flowering plants is readily enjoyable all year round. Other than that (maybe it's just the time of year), Rutgers Gardens is due for some post-winter maintenance: the grass could use some mowing; the trees and shrubs need pruning; and many of the tags or plaques identifying the different types of plant life in the gardens are visibly faded, rusted, or missing. At least two gazebos and five benches are scattered along the main garden area. If you come here during lunchtime on a weekday like I do, take note that the Holly House parking lot is frequently full, probably with the vehicles of the students attending class inside. (The Rutgers NB bus system doesn't extend to Rutgers Gardens, sadly.) Curbside parking is available along the very narrow one-way part of Log Cabin Road and in the uncomfortably cramped parking lot at the end of the road leading to the log cabin. (K-turning is mandatory to get out.) The cabin and the neighboring pavilion overlook the Westons Mill Pond and are often booked by Rutgers faculty or staff for department retreats, conferences, and luncheons.

Sara B.

My Momma loves nature so on Mom's day we ventured to one of her fave spots- Rutgers Gardens. I should've known better then to wear sandals here, I could have done some more exploring with proper footwear. Nonetheless, it's a beautiful and serene spot - every time I'm here I discover something new to check out amongst the garden's winding twists and turns. They hold a bunch of special events like pop up farmers markets and flower fairs. When we got there I was pleased to see that there was a plant festival going on. Too bad I don't have any outdoor gardening space because I would have loved to stock up on some fresh fruit and veggie plants to grow during summer. Maybe one day...dare to dream. It was too hot and sunny to walk around the open field areas so we spent most of our time in the shade of the bamboo gardens. The bamboo plants are beautiful and there are hidden gems scattered throughout the trails like streams, bridges, rock gardens and fuzzy caterpillar friends. This is a great spot if you are looking to spend some weekend time outside and not at a restaurant or shopping mall. Don't be a fool like me- it can get hot in the less shady areas and there are lots of pebbly dirt paths around the park. Bring sneaks, water and a hat - you'll need it!

Patrice Z.

I've been coming here for 25 years. I've been a tourist here, a volunteer, a spectator of a walking Shakespeare play...you name it! The gardens are ever changing but forever beautiful and a peaceful place to escape to. It is beautiful every season and my personal favorite places are the Bamboo forest and pine forest. You even catch a glimpse of a wedding every now and then. I will always love this place. Bathrooms are limited to he event space (not always open) and porta potties every now and then.

Arcadio M.

Met a lot of nice vendors here although I could have done without the weird guitarist. Got a great deal on some filet mignon steaks that I will cook up for Memorial Day weekend. All of the vendors I spoke to accepted cards and there was a great variety of items for sale. Some things available included: jams, cheeses, wines, coffee, fresh produce, seafood, pastries, and pies. There is plenty of free parking and they will be here most of the summer so there is really no excuse to not check this place out once or twice over the summer. Jams by Kim and Southtown Farms were definitely my favorite.

Doris Y.

We love to go to the flower festival at Rutger's Garden. They did a great job organizing the festival. All the volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The experts also provided us with valuable tips and explanations on the plants.

The garden
Dewan A.

Excellent. 1) I love the giant green chairs. 2) The garden is beautiful. 3) The bamboo forest is a nice walk. 4) The garden is free to enter.

Hello, Froggy
Christopher K.

Rutgers Gardens is an unbelievable little oasis tucked away along the edge of East Brunswick that borders Route 1 North. Accessible only from Ryders Lane, Rutgers Garden is a place you've probably driven past a million times, but never thought to check out. Summers are the best. Every Friday, there's a farmer's market that sells everything from fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, to responsibly raised meats and seafood. Definitely get yourself a quart of homemade vodka sauce from Camella Sauces, or sample one of many delicious treats du jour offered up by the girls from the Farmer & the Chickpea. There's so many awesome things to discover here. And although it's probably good to have cash on hand, most vendors now take credit cards. (Thank you, Square!) My only beef with the Farmer's Market is that there isn't a single picnic table or chair to sit down and enjoy your food. That's a big fail on the part of the organizers. I also miss the live music that I had seen at previous events. But all in all, it's one of my favorite places to go on summer Fridays when I have off. For year-round activities though, it's the gardens themselves that are worth experiencing. Whether you're looking to kill a few hours with the family, or just want to experience some solo peace and quiet, there's a ton of things to do at Rutgers Gardens. Start by walking through the bamboo forest, which follows a small creek with tiny little waterfalls along the way. Then head up to the main field which will lead you to several botanical gardens, all with ample seating for small groups or individuals just looking to find some zen. Beyond there you'll be able to enter wooded nature trails and other open fields, where you'll sometimes see people gathered for a wedding. I grew up in East Brunswick before returning home 4 or so years ago, and I had no idea this was here until recently. If you're a resident and haven't checked this place out, then you're really in for a treat.

rutgers display garden
Dan R.

Rutgers Garden is a botanical garden that is open to the public, admission free 365 days a year. it is located on Ryder's Lane in New Brunswick, NJ, near Cook College, Rutgers University's agricultural school. It is a great place to picnic or just stroll around. There are many different gardens, along with tons and tons of flowers, shrubs, bushes, trees and so forth. There's a gift shop, pavillion, and farmers market every saturday and lots of other things to do. You can become a member and sponsor the garden, or volunteer. They offer gardening classes to children as well as organized tours for groups. This is a carry in, carry out facility (no trash cans), has limited parking and also doesnt have public restrooms. Open year round 8:30 - dusk. http://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/pdfs/finalmapbw2008.pdf

Andrew K.

I had heard of Rutgers gardens but never went in the four years I completed at Rutgers. Finally me and my girlfriend decided to go today and it was a great trip! It's all totally free and so is the parking which is rare anywhere near Rutgers. The plants were all bloomed and the trees were incredible at the start of spring. All of the leaves were fresh and the flowers were amazing. There was a little pond with benches and a sign explaining what it was. Also all of the trees has plaques telling what they were so it was a very well done garden especially considering it was free.

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Start by walking through the bamboo forest, which follows a small creek with tiny little waterfalls along the way.

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Cornelius Low House - Mid-Century New Jersey: The Garden State in the 1950s Exhibit

Cornelius Low House

4.5(2 reviews)
3.4 mi

Museum always a has interesting things on exhibit. Exhibits change throughout the year so it's…read morealways nice to come back and see what's on exhibit. Right now it's Treasures of Middlesex County. Very interesting to see all the objects

After passing the Cornelius Lowe House virtually every day for the past 6 years, I finally made a…read moreconscious decision to try and visit. About 6 months later, based on my gf's suggestion we finally visited. I expected that this historical house would be full of historical furniture or reenactors or something old timey. However, this was not the case. The house actually serves as a small rotating museum exhibition space. During our visit, they had an exhibit on NJ Diners. There are only two floors of the house so it isn't a huge museum by any means. The exhibit took about an hour for me to read through everything and I though it was pretty interesting. I'm not sure how often they rotate the exhibits out but I'd certainly come back when they do. The house was unexpectedly air conditioned. The self guided tour was totally free. Also, the workers seemed really friendly. The only hitch is parking is confusing. The main driveway is a super narrow and scary road right off of River Road. Don't go in here. Parking is actually plentiful behind the house, which is in the lot of the visitor center on Rutgers Busch Campus. Some signs showing where to park would have been helpful.

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Cornelius Low House - Mid-Century New Jersey: The Garden State in the 1950s Exhibit

Mid-Century New Jersey: The Garden State in the 1950s Exhibit

Cornelius Low House
Cornelius Low House - Mid-Century New Jersey: The Garden State in the 1950s Exhibit

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Mid-Century New Jersey: The Garden State in the 1950s Exhibit

Fama Landscaping & Nursery - Pumpkin picking

Fama Landscaping & Nursery

4.2(13 reviews)
4.1 mi

I've been living in this area my entire life... have driven past Fama on 27 like a trillion times,…read moreno lie... I think I may have gone in with my mom when I was a child.... also a trillion years ago. Anyways, I came here with a very heavy heart... needing a holiday blanket for my first Christmas without my father). I've always seen them and felt sad for those who needed them, and now I'm one (I'm thinking)... well, with those sentiments, I walked into the right place. So cheerful, friendly, and helpful--walking me out to pick the right one and putting them in my trunk... It is the little things that mean so much and they got this down at Fama. Oh yeah...and they also have freshly baked pies! I guess I'll be back before the next Christmas. :-)

A nursery/landscaping business is probably not the first place you would think of to get a…read morefresh-baked pie but Fama is proving us all wrong! Thanks to an amazing local recommendation, I ordered and picked up these two pies today, hot and fresh right out of the oven! In my photo of the two pies, on the top is the Blueberry Lemon Buckle and on the bottom is their Mango Strawberry. With a list of over 25 options, I definitely need to come back and get some more. The Pineapple Upside Down Pie and Strawberry Rhubarb are calling my name! For same-day pickup they ask that you order about 3 hours in advance.

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Fama Landscaping & Nursery - Blueberry Lemon Buckle and Mango Strawberry

Blueberry Lemon Buckle and Mango Strawberry

Fama Landscaping & Nursery - Blueberry Lemon Buckle

Blueberry Lemon Buckle

Fama Landscaping & Nursery - Mango strawberry

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Mango strawberry

Rutgers Gardens - gardens - Updated May 2026

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