EVENT VENUE REVIEW ONLY: Last night, my husband and I attended a board meeting held at Van Vleck House & Gardens. I've driven past its gates many times over the years, but this was my first opportunity to visit Van Vleck in Montclair. The meeting took place at 6:30pm, but the hour leading up to it was allowed for check-in, picking up name tags, and a light cocktail hour with food and refreshments. The organization had the check-in outside of the main house's entrance way. When we walked inside, there were cocktail tables covered in white cloth and adorned with floral center pieces and tealight candles. There was a buffet table in one of the first floor rooms to the left. There was also a bar setup in that room, as well as some seating. The library was rearranged for another bar setup and more cocktail tables. The library has windows that let in natural lighting and there is also beautiful fireplace. The catering and bartending team did a great job. The food spread was high quality and delicious. My vegetarian husband gave two thumbs up for the butternut squash ravioli, mushroom penne, and goat cheese salad. The bartender in the library was great. The people offering hors d'oeuvres were all professional and kind. It was a lovely hour before the meeting. The meeting was held in the room where most likely wedding ceremonies or event activities take place. That night, they had a stage set up for speakers and performers, and white wooden fold-up chairs for attendees. The room acoustics are good. At this meeting, there was short musical performance from two string musicians, and you could hear every detail of the notes played (i.e. great sound). After the meeting concluded, attendees began to exit. There were desserts by the front entrance for people, which was a nice surprise. It's a very special venue. My only note would be - and it's because I'm always looking out for this stuff - the pathway from the front door to the gate opening has very low lighting. Our meeting ended at 8pm and it was already sundown. While my husband and I were fine, another attendee exclaimed how it was so dark. We offered the flash lighting feature on our phones to help her out and lit up the path to avoid any falls. This may not be the usual for events as I imagine many people have them during the day to enjoy the lush gardens and natural beauty of the property... but I'm just saying should this apply to you. read more

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We went here for Mother's Day, so it was exceptionally crowded as expected. It is a lovely smaller sized garden. There aren't many walking trails available, but nice flowers, trees, and open areas to roam around for a bit. It's a nice spot to go and enjoy some outdoor time. It isn't someplace that you could really get some farther walking in. But nice mini escape. read more

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10/2/25 (Update): Van Vleck House & Gardens is a hidden gem! It's like a beautiful mini get away. Even at this time of the year, you'll see beautiful flowers, plants and trees! Benches are throughout the gardens. Admission is free. Donations are always welcome. A visitors center is available along with restrooms. read more

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Any green space gets extra love from me, and Van Vleck House and Gardens is no exception. This seems like a peaceful oasis in a residential neighbourhood, and although reportedly 6 acres in size, it's just big enough to get lost in the themed pathways, walks, gardens, and courtyards for 15+ minutes. Parking is free, and the gates on Van Vleck St and North Mountain Ave open automatically (and slowly) upon approaching. Van Vleck House appears to be available for tours and events with advance bookings, so we didn't get to see the inside of the house. There are benches throughout, and most of the grounds are flat. I appreciate this space being maintained, open, and available freely to the community. read more

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They do not allow even amateur photos, so sad my daughter just wanted nice for her graduation.

Lovely place to take a stroll - not a big place but peaceful. It is basically an estate with a very big garden that is split into sections. read more

Van Vleck House & Gardens - Mother's Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Beautiful free gardens to visit. We visited at the end of March when not many flowers were blooming but I do want to check it out again now that everything is probably in full bloom. read more

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My photos don't do any justice for how beautiful and romantic this location is!! The VAN VLECK HOUSE & GARDENS! I can picture a vow renewal ceremony or wedding! Lovely stroll through the garden! Beautiful flowers and cherry blossoms! read more

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Grab a coffee and a pal and enter a moment of relaxation and serenity. Stroll through the gardens and fest your eyes on range of flowers, plants, trees, shrubs, and even a fairy garden. All the beauties are labeled so if you fall in love you know what to grow in your garden next year. Plenty of benches and little walkways makes the grounds feel bigger then they are. Not crowded even on the weekend, with parking in front. Looks like they have an annual photography competition in the spring also, as well as other events. This place offers something for everyone and if you have little kids they will likely enjoy the fairy garden. Free, no admission. I'll stop by here again. read more

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This garden is very beautiful and child friendly. They have a great variety of plants. We went there during Iris and rhododendron season and it was amazing. My baby loved the fairytales trail so much! read more

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The actual Van Vleck House isn't open, but the gardens, while small, are very well cared for and have lots of varied flowers and plants. Free admission. It's just a good place to walk in the gardens. There are docents around and maps that are easy to follow. It's a lovely place. read more

The experience, of this place, is so much better than looking at pictures. I only took a few but there were so many beautiful trees and flowers and plants. So many bunnies running around and chipmunks!!! Also so many birds. The place is gorgeous. My teen son loved it. We were reading the history on all the spots! I definitely recommend going on a beautiful day with your friends or family or both! Theres a bunch of benches to sit and talk and lot of large grass areas to lay out. read more

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Lovely place. Great for a quiet stroller thro8gh beautiful grounds. There is no charge. Parking on premises. read more

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Very beautiful and free!! I am in love with this place. Went with my mom and we spent and amazing afternoon. What a treasure so close by! read more

Van Vleck House & Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The Van Vleck house and Gardens is a beautiful little piece of preserved botanics right in montclair. You can take a small tour of the estate but the draw are the plants. Depending when you visit, different plants may be in bloom but all sorts are here perennial, annuals and more. What is also nice are the birds and butterfly that you may see around the gardens. There is a green house you can peak into to see what's up to be planted and they host plant sales occasionally. There are plenty of opportunities to take nice photos for shoots or just appreciation of the nature. There is an education center for youngsters and plenty of benches to sit on, donated by benefactors. Access to the house and gardens is free but like many museums they kindly ask for donations which there are a few containers around to be deposited into and goes to upkeep of the gardens. A great little place for many things. read more

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I went for a little walk around the gardens. It has lovely grounds. There is a gate that is always closed at the entrance of the parking lot. It is an automated gate that is censored and opens when a car is there. We didn't realize that until we got really close to the gate that has a tiny sign. read more

Such a quaint garden, really quick to get through. Some of the gardens needed weeding but a hidden gem in Montclair

I learned about this place via Instagram. I've lived near Montclair for a long time and never heard anyone talk about this place. That might be a good thing since it was not crowded when my partner and I went there on a Sunday afternoon. Very peaceful spot. Beautiful flowers everywhere. If you love nature, then this is a must. The garden is not big. My partner and I ended up staying here for about 45 minutes. It can take about 15 minutes to see the place. There were many outdoor seating areas. So we stopped, sat, and talked for a bit. There was a family there taking professional photoshoot and a young lady taking graduation pictures with her family. I'm sure those pictures came out amazing. My partner and I did not attempt to go inside the house. We weren't even sure if it was open. Because the garden is small, the free onsite parking lot is also small. We parked on the street right next to the garden. All and all, I have nothing negative to say. It's free to visit but donations are appreciated. read more

Van Vleck House & Gardens - The view from where we were sitting - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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My SO and I had the pleasure of visiting New Jersey for a wedding. While we had some down time, we decided to look for a relaxing way to see a bit of NJ. This place wasn't far from where we were staying so we took a quick trip this way. The grounds were beautiful and clean. The weather was a bit crisp, but definitely did not take away from how relaxing the gardens are. We loved seeing the different community contributions and the fairy trail! We would recommend supporting! read more

New Jersey is often stereotyped as a State full of oil refineries and other industries. However, local residents also know their State as the Garden State for many good reasons. This surely is one of them. Located in the posh suburb of Upper Montclair this is a hidden gem where houses could run in the millions. It's a six acre property with a U-shaped Italianate Villa belonging to the Van Vleck family before it was gifted to the non profit Montclair Foundation which now provides public access to the garden year round. Due to the current situation, the visiting center and restrooms were closed. While visiting the formal garden, they were setting up for the annual spring plant sale taking place this week. The main house could also be available for rental events (excluding weddings) by non profit organizations. Parking is available limited on site and free on the surrounding streets. A visit is recommended to all who live or visit northern Jersey. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous! It's such a treat to escape to this oasis and for it to be free to guests. Such a nice way to spend the day.

My wife is a garden girl (I have a brown thumb). Every year she attends their charity plant sale and comes home with a trunk load of plants and flowers. I come along to take pictures and come home with a camera full of great images. The grounds, in the confines of the urban town of Montclair, are manicured, lush and beautiful. A real surprise since we're 25 minutes from NYC and 10 minutes from downtown Newark. It's a mini vacation to visit the grounds and recharge your batteries. The interior of the house is also classy and well maintained (the spotless restrooms are under the hall stairs). Bring yoru camera and click, click, click away. Worth a visit if you like gardens, plants and classic architecture. Recommended read more

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I was disappointed to find all gates closed! It was a weekday and the website said it was open! I tried calling and got voicemail! My birthday surprise for my husband was ruined and we had to look for another botanical garden in the area. I recommend the administrators to update their website so people are informed with accurate information. read more

It's always peaceful when I come here. I enjoy walking at my leisure and resting my mind. God Bless. read more

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I went here to take instagram photos as this place was free. There was a lot of families that had photography shoots here. It was very beautiful and a lot of land. In love with the building. There wasnt much to see when I went but probably would be nicer in spring when flowers bloom. read more

Beautiful little oasis tucked away in Montclair. Secret garden in a magical setting. Lovely gardens so serene and perfect for relaxing sitting on one of the many benches. would be great to take a picnic here too. Free parking free admission. read more

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There are so many hidden gems in NJ and this is one of them. This garden isn't one of the largest, but it's well maintained and downright gorgeous. There wasn't much in bloom when I went. Narcissus, daffodil, lily of the valley, and a couple others I don't know the name of. It was such a peaceful garden, and I appreciate the numerous benches throughout so you can sit down and listen to the birds chirp. I plan on going back to see the Chinese and Japanese wisteria in bloom, sometime around May. read more

It was a nice little garden. Not much flower to see. Walked around the whole garden in 35 minutes..Plenty of parking spaces..no entrance fee which was good! Overall not bad..just wish they have more flowers to see... read more

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Beautiful garden grounds! It's a little on the small side if your comparing it to larger gardens. However, it's kept nicely and has many different species of flowers to admire and look at. People recommend going during the spring to catch a glimpse of their Wisteria. Overall if you haven't checked it out I would recommend checking it out. read more

Beautiful. Peaceful. Serene. This little gem has gorgeous, well-maintained grounds. They have several cell-phone audio tours that you can use if you'd like more history on the property or want information about the various plants. However, my recommendation is to read up on the property first, then put your phone away while you're there. Soak in the sounds of the little birds chirping, chipmunks rustling in the plants, and bumble bees buzzing near a flower. There are plenty of benches where you can sit and take it all in! read more

This little nature area is located in a quiet part of Montclair. So little, that you could probably finish exploring in a short period of time. The house was closed to visitors, but only open to those who attended private events. Several small and medium-sized areas of flowers and other plants were scattered about. A visitor/education center with restrooms was available as well. We came in from the parking area, and started exploring. We first entered the backyard of the Van Vleck House, where we saw a grassy field that was 75% surrounded by flowers. After that, we walked to more areas that contained various flowers and plants. We even came across a garden area with a path that was shaped like a butterfly. The flowers that were in full bloom looked quite amazing. Well, that was it for the good stuff. Now for the not so good. Yes, this place is small, but that isn't why I would not rate this a 5. Some of the plants didn't look very well maintained. Also, the restrooms that were available didn't have any soap at all. We saw a greenhouse, but it was mostly filled with tables and tools. Filling that greenhouse up with plants would be nice suggestion. It also would be nice to see the inside of that house, as what another Yelper has mentioned. The parking area is tiny, but we didn't have an issue finding a spot when we were here. The fact that the admission is free for this attraction is a plus. Overall, this place is just okay, but I wouldn't go all the way out to this area solely for the purpose of coming here. For a small place, this is as long as the review is going to go. read more

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Came here on a warm day in April - it was nice but idk if I'd make it a destination for a day outing. It's pretty small and there's not much to it. Still, it's nice to come to for a stroll or to sit down and relax and enjoy the surroundings. Free with a small but free parking lot. Street parking available as well. read more

really awesome i love the fountain but where r the butterflies. it's ok though there was a giant butterfly pattern on the ground made with rocks LOL so cool :o :o unfortunately there r no bathrooms #sad because of covid so make sure to poop before u come read more

Van Vleck House & Gardens - welcome - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

A lovely FREE garden! The experience was quite enjoyable. They accept donations both in person and online.

Amazing place. 1) The gardens are amazing. 2) Admission is free. 3) Parking is available (free). 4) Best kept secret in Montclair. read more

Van Vleck House & Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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This horticultural treasure in Montclair is open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. The landscape celebrates nature through design, education and tranquility. The beauty and serenity it affords is priceless. The gardens are situated around major structures. The 140 year old Italianate Van Vleck house which was originally owned by three generations of Van Vleck's before the Montclair Foundation assumed control of the 5.8 acre property in 1993. The Carriage House has interpretive and educational programs for both adults, children and families.. Their website contains all the information needed for these available programs. The property is divided by the formal azalea walk which display unique rhododendrons and azalea which the Van Vleck's developed through hybridization. A perennial, woodland, rock, butterfly, water and mother's garden are other featured gardens. There are many plaques to read for information about the estate and plants. There is ample parking and the Montclair museum and Kip's Castle are less than a mile away. read more

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Why there are no reviews about this awesome place yet is a mystery! I hope I'm not the one who reviews it and lets the secret out of the bag and will be scorned by the Yelp Community forever. When the wisteria blooms, this is one of natures most elegant displays. The delicate fragrance in the air is euphoric. The garden is free and open to the public 365 days from dawn until dusk. There are hidden paths that lead from one section to another, formal gardens, pergolas and several benches to just chill out and a read a book or have an enjoyable conversation. Although not really hidden, the garden gives the illusion of a private residence (which is what it originally was). There is a small parking lot behind the black metal fence, but street parking seems to be acceptable. For the most part, it also seems handicap accessible with the exception of the structure that only has a couple of stairs (see photo). This is greatly appreciated! This is such a beautiful public place that offers serenity and plenty of space. Off of Valley Road (near QuikChek) read more

Beautiful well maintained gardens. Small parking lot. Great hideaway for dates. Restroom grade=A+ ...cleaniest park/garden restroom ever experienced. read more

Van Vleck House & Gardens - Visitors center with clean restroom. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Peaceful and beautiful place! Gorgeous plants everywhere. Parking lot and street parking is available. Free admission. Will go back soon for sure. read more

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The gardens are free to the public and are perfect for a stroll, rest, educational experience, breath of fresh air, or blast of sunshine. Great spot for photography and birdwatching. Truly a historic and cultural gem. Lots of events throughout the year for holidays and seasonal celebrations. A little piece of bliss in a noisy world. read more