About The Foundation
Our Story Unfolded
The Willowwood Foundation upholds the Willowwood Arboretum Trust.
The Morris County Parks Commission maintains our gardens.
The Willowwood Foundation primarily supports restoration and garden projects at the Willowwood Arboretum, and provides annual grants for horticultural interns, garden maintenance and restoration and plantings for the gardens and key collections.
The Willowwood Foundation celebrated the “Lilac Party” tradition the first Sunday of May each year as its primary fundraiser. However, during the Covid years, the Lilac Party was suspended and in 2023 the Board of Trustees decided to initiate a musical event “Sounds of Sculpture” on September 10, 2023.
In May 2025, the Foundation proudly revived the Lilac Party with its 25th celebration, restoring this cherished spring tradition and reaffirming its commitment to stewardship, community, and the enduring beauty of Willowwood in bloom.
In partnership with the Morris County Park Commission, a topical horticulture lecture series – The Tubbs Lecture – is offered annually in late Spring honoring the memory of Robert and Henry Tubbs, owners of Willowwood.
In 1960, Dr. Ben Blackburn and Russell W. Myers, Landscape Architect and Secretary Director of the Morris County Park Commission (1957-1983), established the Willowwood Foundation to protect the Willowwood treasure.
Russ Meyers
The Willowwood Foundation is a non profit (Section 501(c)(3) under the Internal Revenue code) educational organization incorporated in 1960 in the State of New Jersey to nurture an appreciation for and knowledge of botany, horticulture and the natural world through its support of public horticulture education, written materials and facilities to promote use, access and information about native and exotic plants.