Contact & Staff

                                        Anthony with student James Duffy

Grant for start up funding for 2002 to 2003 provided through:

Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Forestry,

Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS),

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 

Thanks to Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Warren County

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Pohatcong Native Arboretum is happy to welcome our new Art Gallery Manager and Sculpture Collection Curator, and volunteer Arboretum Committee Chair, and Horticulturalist in charge of pruning the specimen shrubs and trees. 

It is an exciting time to be a part of Pohatcong Native Arboretum as inspired members of the community rally around this extraordinary place of nature, art, and beauty at this exceptional moment for growth and expansion.

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Washington Township Has a Celebrated Plant Collection - Pohatcong Native Arboretum, Native Tree Museum of New Jersey

Washington Messenger - December 2018 (excerpt) updated January 2020

Did you know Pohatcong Native Arboretum, a Washington Township Park, has over 150 species of native woody plants! An outstanding collection of trees, shrubs, and vines - an amazing educational and scientific wonder to behold. The public arboretum was founded with a grant through Rutgers University with the Warren Hills Regional high school students putting the first plants in the ground in 2002. In an all out effort the collection was tripled between 2010 and 2015.

Located in Pohatcong Creek Natural Area, the arboretum features native woody plants organized by botanical family on beds of decorative stones, Native American elements, sculpture gardens in the making, and a log cabin with an art gallery. 

Pohatcong Native Arboretum and its celebrated plant collection are the result of a grassroots effort produced by founder Anthony Pasquini's unrelenting determination, a steady flow of nickels and dimes, a handful of students and volunteers, and Washington Township's DPW keeping the place from going to seed.

The public arboretum is beautifully maintained. But it won't take long to fall into disrepair without the attention of the next round of caring individuals and volunteers! 

Pohatcong Native Arboretum is looking for a "New Champion". 

A volunteer Public Gardens Coordinator

To take special care of the plants, provide leadership, build a team of other volunteers, perform gardening and horticultural duties, look for small tasks there is always something to do (refer to the maintenance plan), coordinate students as necessary, and enjoy a periodic presence at the arboretum. Funding is currently being sought.

Participating at the arboretum is a great opportunity! Enjoy Pohatcong Creek, revel in the good energy of the natural world, and take pride in your magnificent public gardens! 

For more information:

Visit the arboretum, log cabin art gallery, Saturday or Sunday between 9 AM and 1 PM. Speak with Frank May, Gallery Manager or call 908.689. 3414.

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"New Champions" needed to save local arboretum

Pohatcong Native Arboretum calls to inspired members of our community for participation and leadership to help the public gardens thrive and reach their fullest potential in the many years to come.

Community movers and shakers are requested for the following missions:

• Local fund raising campaigns that meet Washington Township Committee approval

• Funding a part time, municipal parks position with the initial goal-$10,000 

• Hiring an part time employee as Public Gardens Coordinator with an initial goal of $7,000 - 10,000.

• Establishing a $1,500 - 4,000 annual budget for plants, signs, and materials

• Seeking and acquiring funding from philanthropic sources prior to becoming a nonprofit organization

• Taking the steps to attain official Nonprofit 501(c)(3) status (IRS Form 1023)

• Becoming a Nonprofit Organization to qualify for foundation grants, as well as a degree of autonomy 

• Website - A Complete Guide to Starting a Non-Profit Organization (Search: Form1023.org. This is just one website which may be useful and economical).

Please rally around our municipal officials to successfully maintain the arboretum and to help support the following missions:

• Formation of official Arboretum Commission as the next step beyond an Arboretum Committee to conduct business and address issues

• Formation of an arboretum board of directors

• Welcoming the day to searching for and hiring an executive director

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Native Plant Nurseries 

Many of the plants needed for replacement and expansion of the native plant collection may be obtained at the following: 

• Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is a native botanical gardens destination only an hour from Pohatcong Native Arboretum in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

• ArcheWild Native Nurseries

• Pinelands Nursery 

• Toadshade Wildflower Farm

• Gino's Native Nursery

• Wild Ridge Native Plant Nursery

• Steve Kristophe Nursery

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Identification plaques for the native plant collection may be obtained at:

Precision Signs and Labels, Rochester, New York

The anodized aluminum signs, font sizes, dimensions, and styles are all on record. Ask to speak to Phil Howell at 877.444.0856

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