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Community Corner

Sayen Gardens: Serenity, and an Escape from the Summer Crowds

Day Trip option a little off the beaten path

Coming up to the end of spring, we’ve already seen the beaches and amusement parks begin to fill up. It would be easy to retreat to the shopping mall to wait out the crowds, but wasn’t that what happened all winter long?

No, the weather is much too nice to waste, so where to go where there’s room to move, relax, and still enjoy the day?

Sayen Gardens in Hamilton Township offers 30 acres of flowers, trees and landscaping for reflection and enjoyment. And according to Tracey Destribats, who oversees Sayen Gardens and other spots such as Kuser Mansion, “A lot of people don’t even know it’s here.”

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Destribats describes Sayen Gardens as a “really unique hidden treasure,” and when the higher-profiled destinations are swarming with people, doesn’t that sound like a promising proposition?

We thought so, which is why we've selected Sayen Gardens for this installment of Day Tripper, a weekly look at destinations that are out of town, but in reach, and worth the trip.

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DAY TRIPPER DIGEST

Estimated Travel Time: 40 minutes

Why it’s Worth the Trip: You'll mix the enjoyment of a trip out of town, the beauty of nature and the relative calmness of a place off the beaten summer vacation path. There are beautiful ponds, gazeboes and bridges on the site.

How to Get There from Here: Detailed driving directions

You’ll Probably Get Hungry: Hamilton Township has plenty of restaurants such as TessaraRestaurantSpigola, and Killarney's Publick House, and is close to Route 33, which opens up even more options. On Rt. 130, you’ll find Cracker BarrelChili’sT.G.I. Fridays and many other well-known eateries.

While You’re in the Area:  You can check out Veterans Park (as well as its military helicopter positioned out front), and  (which we’ve covered in a previous Day Tripper column). If you’re in the mood to shop, Hamilton Marketplace on Rt. 130 has a Wal-Mart, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Kohl’s, as well as specialty-oriented shops like Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Michael's Arts & Crafts and Modell’s Sporting Goods.

Tracey Destribats pointed to Sayen Gardens’ collection of azaleas as a highlight of the attraction's horticultural assets, so much so that its host its Azalea Fest on Mothers Day each year.

“We have more than 25,000 rhododendron and azalea plants here,” Destribats said.

Destribats also said that the property is host to several exotic plants and flowers, tended by horticulturalist Harry Robinson. Robinson has been with the township for more than 20 years, and his expertise is in full view at Sayen Gardens.

Another aspect of the site is the home of Frederick Sayen. Established in 1912, Sayen purchased the property with his wife Anne Mellon, a daughter from the famous Mellon family,  and had an arts-and-crafts-style home built there. Through the couple’s many travels, they acquired several of the exotic plants now on view today, almost a century after the garden’s creation. While the home is not open regularly to the public, it is available to rent for weddings and special occasions, and is open to all during the Azalea Fest.

Sayen Gardens is open to the public every day, year-round, and the admission is free. For budget-conscious families looking for a getaway without too much expense, the facility and a picnic basket could make for an ideal afternoon.

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