Van Vleck House and Gardens
Encyclopedia
Van Vleck House and Gardens, a former private estate by the eponymous family, is a non-profit community resource in Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...

 that displays a public botanical garden of mostly ericaceous plants that has been developed over several generations. The display of rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...

s and azalea
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...

s shows numerous hybrids, several named after members of the Van Vleck family.

The property had been in the hands of the Van Vleck family until 1993 when it was turned over to The Montclair Foundation. The main house, built in 1916 by Joseph Van Vleck Jr. as a Mediterranean villa, is available for events by non-profit organizations. A Chinese Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
Wisteria sinensis is a woody, deciduous, perennial climbing vine in the genus Wisteria, native to China in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan...

 that was planted in 1939 climbs around the pillars of the back portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...

.

See also

  • Howard Van Vleck Arboretum
    Howard Van Vleck Arboretum
    The Howard Van Vleck Arboretum is a arboretum located on the grounds of the Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair, in Essex County, New Jersey. The arboretum is open daily without charge....

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