Have you been to this historic garden in Central Jersey? | Gardener State

Monmouth County is home to many popular gardens and natural areas, including those along our coastline, within our forests, and in the heart of our agricultural areas. Even within the more developed areas of the county, there are hidden gems that delight visitors year-round.

One such place is dedicated to the home gardener and is located right in the heart of Middletown. It is Deep Cut Gardens, a 54-acre parcel of gardens and forest owned and maintained by the Monmouth County Park System.

Like many public gardens, the Deep Cut property has a storied history and went through multiple iterations before the Monmouth County Park System acquired the title in 1977.

In 1935, the property was purchased by Vito Genovese, who sought a peaceful retreat for his family away from their home in New York City. He spared no expense turning the site into a magnificent garden that reminded him of Naples, his Italian homeland. He hired the landscape designer Theodore Stout, known at the time for his innovative approach to incorporating native plants and sustainable design principles into his projects.

Mr. Genovese requested in the garden a rockery designed in the image of Mt. Vesuvius, for which Mr. Stout included a terraced rockery crafted from Italian volcanic stone. At one time, there was even a miniature stone Mount Vesuvius that emitted smoke. The garden design included a rose garden at the foot of the hill, a pavilion, and a swimming pool that has since been filled in.

Still standing are the terraced garden, a large recessed rectangular garden area surrounded by a low stone wall, and a masonry pergola. Lush evergreens and weeping hemlocks with striking contorted trunks complete the original garden design. Unfortunately, only two years after Mr. Genovese purchased the property, he was facing arrest and fled to Italy, and the garden then fell into disrepair.

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In 1952, Marjorie Sperry Wihtol (of the S&H Green Stamp family) and her husband bought the property and began restoration efforts. Over the 25 years that followed, they added herbaceous borders, a koi pond, a Japanese garden with bonsai, and a vegetable garden. The Wihtols also erected a new house and library, which now serve as the Deep Cut Gardens horticultural center. Mrs. Wihtol bequeathed 20 acres of the property to the Monmouth County Park System, and the remaining acreage was purchased and preserved with Green Acres funding.

Aside from the designed gardens, visitors can stroll through a woodland meadow and forest that feature groves of chestnut, oak, maple, and ash trees. Specimen trees alone make it worth a visit to this special property. Visitors can discover new ways to improve the home garden by taking a walking tour of the park. The acres of gardens and greenhouses are cultivated to reflect a living catalog of ornamental and native plant materials to be observed and enjoyed through the seasons. The renovated Parterre features 52 varieties of roses with over 180 bushes. The greenhouse is open during regular park hours. Additionally, the current Elvin MacDonald Horticultural Library has over four thousand books and periodicals on gardening and related topics.

An upcoming event at Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road is The Native Plant Workshop & Exchange on May 18. Visitors are invited to attend a free native plant lecture and exchange native plants from their own gardens with other attendees.

The Native Plants Lecture, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in the Gardener’s Cottage, includes a discussion of the beauty and utility of native plants. Space is limited and registration is required. Plant Exchange drop-off is from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Deep Cut parking lot; no registration is required for the exchange. For more information, including plant exchange guidelines, call 732-671-6050 or visit monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2518

Another exciting annual Monmouth County event that’s coming up soon is the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County Spring Garden Days Plant Sale. Customers can purchase annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs, trees, and shrubs, along with plants donated by Rutgers Master Gardeners. There will be home and garden décor for sale, free horticultural presentations, free garden tours, free composting demonstrations, and free gardening Q&A with Rutgers Master Gardeners.

This will be held at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18, rain or shine. For more information, visit monmouth.njaes.rutgers.edu/master-gardeners/ or call 732-431-7260.

William Errickson is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County. Dennis McNamara is an agriculture program associate at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown NJ hosting native plant event