History
Named for Leonard J. Buck, who developed the garden as part of his estate, Allwood, the garden was donated to the Somerset County Park Commission in 1976. Mr Buck collaborated with Zenon Schreiber, a prominent landscape architect, to develop a naturalistic woodland rock garden incorporating rock outcroppings found on the property. Each of the 12 outcroppings creates varying exposures and micro-climates which enable different plants to flourish.
Specialties
Leonard J. Buck Garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern United States consisting of a 13-acre alpine and woodland garden situated in the wooded stream valley. The garden contains a series of planted rock outcroppings, planting beds, a fern garden, and glimmering ponds and streams. Tucked among the rocks are rare and exotic rock garden plants. The wooded trails connecting the outcroppings are lined with beautiful wild flowers that have flourished and multiplied through the years.