Public programs begin Feb. 1 at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

A Leonard McDonald photograph, part of Reeves-Reed Arboretum's exhibit "Nature: In and Out of Focus," opening Feb. 1.Before the display gardens bloom and it's warm enough to comfortably stroll the historic grounds of Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, visit for some early shots of natural color.

The arboretum is lining up its 2022 events, including a Feb. 24 lecture by Louis Bauer, retired director of horticulture at Wave Hill in the Bronx, who is also known locally for his role in the transformation of Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills from a private estate to a lush public garden. 

From Feb. 1 through May 8, visit to view the season's first art exhibit, "Nature: In and Out of Focus." Works by local photographer Leonard McDonald and artist Tracey Luckner will be on display at the arboretum's Wisner House Gallery, on the grounds at 165 Hobart Ave., Summit.

Celebrating nature in the abstract and in fine detail, McDonald and Luckner show varied approaches and interpretations of the natural world, according to exhibit organizers. McDonald uses macro-photography of insects and pollinators to explore details often missed by the naked eye. Luckner’s abstract expressionist paintings blur boundaries between forms, focusing on an emotional response to the color, movement and rhythms in nature.

"The works speak to one another with their similar vibrancy and subject matter," according to organizers. "When viewed together, the works demonstrate the notion that there are many lenses through which to view, experience and appreciate nature."

The artists will be on hand for a meet-and-greet Artists Talk and Reception on Sunday, March 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. All art will be offered for sale, with the artists donating 30 percent of each purchase to the arboretum.

LEONARD McDONALDTRACY LUCKNERMcDonald, a self-taught New Jersey photographer, brings to his subjects the observant eyes of a natural products scientist. He has previously exhibited at MPAC, County College of Morris, Frelinghuysen Arboretum and Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie. 

Luckner, a Summit resident and lifelong artist, has studied drawing and painting at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, the Woodstock School of Art in Woodstock, NY, the Sorbonne in Paris, and the Visual Arts Center in Summit. She has exhibited locally at the Farmstead Arts Center, Watchung Arts Center, and Mondo in Summit, as well as a solo show in Port Washington, NY. Originally from Washington state, Luckner has pieces included in collections throughout the US.  

Exhibit hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except when closed for private events. Please see visit reeves-reedarboretum.org/visit/ to confirm hours. For more information, visit reeves-reedarboretum.org , email m.foehrenback@reeves-reedarboretum.org, or call 908-272-8787, ext 1010.

Notable Garden Speaker Series

LOUIS BAUEROn Thursday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m., Louis Bauer the recently retired director of horticulture at Wave Hill will open the Reeves-Reed Arboretum garden speaker series, sharing stories and insights from his various roles, ultimately, at Wave Hill's horticultural helm.

Bauer began as a gardener at the 28-acre Wave Hill estate in 1994. Ten years later he was whisked away to New Jersey to renovate Greenwood Gardens. The 28-acre public garden, set on the western ridge of the Watchung Mountains in the Short Hills section of Millburn, had been occupied as a private estate until 2003. As director of horticulture, Bauer guided a decade-long redesign of gardens with formal Italianate features and Arts and Crafts era influences. (Greenwood Gardens will reopen for the season on May 1.)

Bauer returned to Wave Hill in 2014, just before the institution marked its 50th year. The anniversary presented an upfront opportunity to look back at how Wave Hill evolved as one of New York City’s pre-eminent cultural institutions. 

To chronicle the past and present, a book entitled "Nature Into Art: The Gardens of Wave Hill" arose under Bauer's tenure. Authored by gardener and horticultural journalist Tom Christopher, the book aligns itself with the intention of the first gardeners, offering much horticultural advice and inspiring curiosity about plants and plantings at an intimate scale. It details year-round changes to the garden and its flora.

Bauer's lecture will be presented both in person and online. Admission is $10 for arboretum members; $25 for non-members. Light refreshments will be served. To register, visit reeves-reedarboretum.org, or call 908-272-8787, ext. 1920.