Grounds for Sculpture, a 35-acre art installation in Hamilton, New Jersey (just outside of Trenton), is a must-see destination for gardeners and art lovers alike. The sculptures, which include works by renowned artists such as George Segal, are magnificent. But the creative designs of the plantings are what enhance the artwork and make these gardens truly unique.

Opened to the public in 1992, the sculpture park has a collection of more than 240 works of art in an arboretum-like setting. Established on the grounds of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds, the site started with a mere 12 Japanese maples and now contains thousands of trees and tens of thousands of shrubs and perennials.

My favorite areas were a narrow tree-lined walkway (essentially a 4-foot-wide allee); a re-creation of Monet’s garden at Giverny; and a living vignette of “Madame Monet and Her Son,” which makes visitors feel as if they have walked into the actual painting.

The grounds are open year-round.  For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at www.groundsforsculpture.org.

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