Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • July 25, 2012 Area Summer activities are continuing at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden in Ringwood. The public is invited to the ongoing concert series that will continue in July and August, and to the Skylands Manor tours that will be held on selected dates in August, September, and October. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and come enjoy the performances that are being highlighted at this year’s concerts. Light refreshments are available for purchase, or guests may bring their own, but no alcohol or pets, please (per state park rules). If the weather is bad, the concerts are moved inside the Carriage House Visitor Center. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. NJBG requests a $5 per person donation. Guitarist Arlon Bennet will perform on July 27. Bennett delivers timeless songs that evoke a little Harry Chapin and some vintage James Taylor, plus some great new sounds of his own. Joining him onstage will be John Sonntag on guitar and Gordon Roehrer on bass. This concert is sponsored by Paul’s Volvo in Hawthorne. On Aug. 10, the talented six-man ensemble, Eight Days of Blues, will perform classic blues tunes and original tunes to ease the audience into a mellow summer weekend. Paul’s NJBG offers summer concerts, Manor House tours Skylands Manor Volvo in Hawthorne is the sponsor for this program. Carolann Solebello & Band will present a contemporary take on our folk music roots on Aug. 24. Singer/songwriter/poet Solebello’s songs flow with hauntingly poetic images and elements of folk, blues, and country. A winner of the 2011 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival Songwriting Competition, her musical background also includes work with Red Molly. This event is sponsored by American Wear. The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands, which appears on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year. Admission to the garden is always free. Summer parking is free on weekdays, and $5 per car on summer weekends and holidays (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Guided tours of the ground floor of historic Skylands Manor at the gardens will be available on Sunday, Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours will also be available on Sept. 16 and Oct. 14. Sponsored by the NJBG/Skylands Association, the nonprofit member support organization working with the state to preserve the gardens, the 45-minute guided tours of Skylands history and architecture are conducted by NJBG vol- unteer tour guides. Skylands Manor, a Tudor Revival mansion, was constructed in the early 20th century for Clarence McKenzie Lewis by renowned architect John Russell Pope. Pope also designed many outstanding private buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial and National Gallery of Art. Among Skylands Manor’s many attractions are the antique stained glass medallions set in leaded windows, including pieces from 16th century German, Bavarian, and Swiss sites. The lanterns, electrical fixtures, lamps, spiral staircase rail, and gate were fashioned by Samuel Yellin, who led the American revival of the use of iron as decorative art. The suggested donations for tours are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students 13 through 18, and $3 for children ages six through 12. Tours are free for children under age six. Since 1976, The NJBG/Skylands Association, an incorporated, member-supported non-profit organization of volunteers, has worked with the state to preserve and protect NJBG/Skylands and its historic structures. NJBG/Skylands is located off Morris Road in Ringwood. For an event schedule, membership brochure, directions, or other information, call (973) 962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org.