Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center in Chester Township, NJ by Amy Steinbauer

This marker highlights the work of Martha Brookes Hutcheson, one of America’s first female landscape architects.

Martha was a novel landscaper for her use of incorporating water into the landscape designs. 

The area is peaceful and used for the nature trails, and history lessons. A plaque from her novel, Spirit of the Garden, states: "The mere thought of water and it's uses, aesthetic, and utilitarian, suggests impending schemes in one's mind, and many lost opportunities for its use are hard to forgive." 

She transformed the 18^th century working farm into real beauty that celebrated nature. She believed that a good garden would bring about social change. This land is her original farm and land and is about 5 acres. 

Her work in the garden denotes a peaceful feeling that makes it easier to picture the life she may have lived here. The plethora of different species of plants and shrubs create an area that transforms you away from any preconceived notions of New Jersey. Looking around, I recall Monet's paintings from his garden. 

Monet's garden at sunset: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-water-lilies-setting-sun

Also, Monet's Garden and Bridge: http://www.easyart.com/art-prints/Claude-Monet/Water-Lilies-%26-Japanese-Bridge-1899-11068.html

For more information, please see the official website located here: http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/bbrookmain.asp