Millburn -- Henry P. and Susan I. Johnson Garden

The restoration of the circa 1905 house recovered its original design but the gardens of this 2.6- acre property have a modern design, implemented over ten years. The owners consulted with experts at the New York Botanical Garden on plants and trees most appropriate for their location and least appealing to the local deer population. They sought out a landscape architect who would take a modern approach yet also reference the past of this location. The owners were involved in every step: drainage modification, construction, choosing hardscape materials, lighting, and finally the selection of trees, shrubs, bulbs and all the other plants. The straight driveway to the house was reconfigured into a meandering approach lined with green giant arborvitae, daffodils, and French iris surrounded by alliums and chives to deter deer. A deer deterring metal fence encloses the side and back yards to enable more varied plantings. A short allée of lindens were planted to be pleached after they had grown at least three years. There is a garden for the relocated swimming pool and small utility building. Another garden within the enclosed space is for cutting. Outside the screened porch the garden emphasizes scent with white lilac and hydrangea, and variegated foliage for visual effect at night. Plantings throughout the property include more than thirty varieties of daffodils for an extended display, five magnolia and seven dogwood varieties, and seven varieties of boxwood in addition to the older extant trees. The modern gardens were conceived and designed by the previous owners Henry and Susan Johnson along with landscape architect Ben Young and installation and maintenance crews. Previous owners Ernest K. Halbach and landscape designer Helen Page Wodell were responsible for a redesign in the 1940's that incorporated flagstone terraces, brick walls and an ornamental iron gate with a lily pond and wall fountain.

Persons associated with the garden include: Ernest K. Halbach (former owner); and Helen Page Wodell [Halbach] (former owner and landscape designer); Ben Young, BYLA Landscape Architects (landscape architect, 2008-2019); Michael Todd, The Todd Group (landscape installation, 2008-2019); John Rivell, Tewksbury Construction (general contractor, 2008-2019); Alexander Antonelli, Antonelli Architects (architect, 2008-2019; George Rickey (sculptor).

Formerly known as Halbach Garden No. 1.