More than two years after the July 2006 microburst, many Montclair residents are now used to the changed landscape and lack of canopy left by the significant loss of trees. Some trees have been replaced by the town or by residents. For Van Vleck House & Gardens’ friends and members, the devastating storm of 2006 gives them cause to replant in a way that pays tribute to the legacy of this community garden and to honor two of its most passionate supporters.
That evening in July 2006, members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and concert guests had barely returned to their homes after an idyllic evening of music on the lawn of Van Vleck House & Gardens, when the winds changed.
A microburst ripped directly through the historic property. While the buildings were not damaged, the violent storm destroyed the northeast corner of the garden, ripping apart mature, historic rhododendrons as well as other shrubs and smaller plants.
Most importantly, a 100-year-old tree was shattered. Volunteers and staff members removed the mangled tree and damaged brush. The iron fence on the corner of Van Vleck Street and North Mountain Avenue has been restored, but the bare corner and struggling rhododendrons have stood as a reminder of nature’s fury.
It quickly became clear that without the shade and sun screen of the large tree, Howard Van Vleck’s prized and irreplaceable rhododendron specimens would not survive. For those committed to Howard’s legacy, this would not do.
To look ahead to the plan to rehabilitate the devastated northeast corner of the property, we have to look back.
Howard Van Vleck, part of a longtime Montclair family, had a devout interest in horticulture. His interests reached beyond gardening and garden design to include the scientific aspects of plants.
In his spare time, Howard hybridized rhododendrons. Several have been registered and named for Van Vleck family members.
While the Van Vlecks were responsible for building many of the streets of Montclair, Howard’s interest in infrastructure was balanced by one for keeping Montclair green. To be his friend was to share in this enthusiasm. When several copper beech trees were being removed from a renovation site out of town, Howard bought them, gifting them to several of his closest Montclair friends. Driving around Montclair, one can still see several of these trees – the closest being on the front lawn of the house across the street from the garden entrance.
Howard Van Vleck’s vision and gardening interests were embraced by many.
One particularly ardent friend and supporter was Marilyn "Lynn" Towner Dodd. Lynn helped establish the Van Vleck Board of Management after Howard’s death. A Smith College graduate and financial planner by profession, Dodd nurtured members and volunteers and continued to provide the House & Gardens with support and counsel even after she moved to North Carolina a few years ago. In addition to her commitment to Van Vleck House & Gardens, Dodd was an active supporter of the Junior League of Montclair-Newark and was honored as Sustainer of the Year. She also served as chairman of the Citadel of the Salvation Army and as a trustee of the Mental Resource Center. In 2004, she was recognized by the Montclair Red Cross with a Distinguished Service Award for these volunteer efforts.
After Lynn’s death this autumn, Van Vleck board members decided that rehabilitating the storm-ravaged corner of the property to save the sun-scorched rhododendrons would be a fitting way to honor Dodd.
A memorial fund, set up in Lynn’s honor, provided the funding for Board Member Doug Ewertsen and Capital Campaign Chairman Marisabel Raymond to purchase the necessary mature tree.
Appropriately, a 20-foot copper beech has been chosen. In addition to representing Lynn’s strength and beauty, this tree also represents a commitment to preserving Howard’s legacy, since there is no other example of copper beech on the property.
Transplanting a tree of this size is a grand event. An 18-wheeler will transport the tree to Van Vleck from a nursery in Englishtown, NJ.
Heavy machinery will transfer the tree from the truck to the hole, which will be dug by a backhoe.
The tree planting will take place on Friday morning, November 14 — two days after Lynn’s birthday.
"This is a great spot for the tree," Ewertsen said, "Traffic stops on that corner and this specimen tree will create a natural point of interest, allowing people to see the house and grounds, and hopefully they’ll want to park and visit the rest of the garden."
The tree will be dedicated to Lynn Dodd and marked with a memorial plaque. This corner renovation, combined with the newly planted Tennis Court Garden, made possible by the Deenihan family, makes for exciting and historic times for the Van Vleck House & Gardens.
A completed Master Garden Plan, "Pathways to the Future," designed by Rodney Robinson, will result in an even more accessible and even greener destination garden. It also provides a more extensive center for environmental education programs for children and adults. The Tennis Court Garden was planted by local landscape designer Lisa Mierop.Van Vleck House & Gardens is dedicated to preserving for public enrichment the spirit and beauty of this late 19th and early 20th century house and gardens.
Continuing the Van Vleck family’s commitment to the community and to horticultural excellence, the house serves as a center for nonprofit organizations, and the gardens are open to the public for display, education and research.Van Vleck House & Gardens is at 21 Van Vleck St. The grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., free of charge, for year-round enjoyment.
For more information about the programs, go to www.vanvleck.org.
