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MASTER GARDENERS OF MERCER COUNTY Native Plant Garden 2012 Annual Report

Co-Chairs: Marie Rickman and Carol Kleis Members: Barbara Anuzis Carole Armel Ishrut Batjer Sara Boyce-Jacino Terry Cooper Robert Coyner Diane Gasman Mary Ippolito Tom Jacoby Carol Kleis Priscilla Knight

Elena Kyuchukova Tina Leone Diane Lusdyk Jane McPhail Greenie Newburg Chi Park Greg Parr Calleen Parson Linda Pickering Nancy Putnam Marie Rickman

Guinn Roberts Donna Salmon Jennifer Saltman Janet Sheppard David Soncrant Kathrine Spych Marjorie Steinberg Ruth Tomlinson Bruce Young

Committee Description: Plants and maintains the Karen Coulihan Native Plant

Garden at the Mercer Educational Gardens. This large and beautiful garden is filled with native species of trees, shrubs and perennials. Provides education to the public and Master Gardeners related to the garden’s specialized topic.

Goals: Educate

Expand members’ knowledge of native plants through seed propagation,presentations and field trip

Develop a presentation for younger students on the use of native plants inColonial days.

Develop a presentation on wet-site plants

Enrich “You Bug Me” program for Insect Fest

Present at “Midsummer Night in the Garden”

Provide docents during public events such as Plant Expo

Improve presence on websiteManage our MG Landscape

Solve the gravel wash problem

Continue to expand ground cover

Determine what plants need to be replaced from last year’s drought

Weeding mentor program and schedule

Add and replace signage

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Keep Reed Canary Grass at a distance from the garden

Shore up arbors to better withstand weather events

Maintain deer fence

Accomplishments: The Native Plant Garden was recognized at the Rutgers Annual Master Gardeners Meeting in October: This committee over the years has established an educational garden containing over 130 native trees, shrubs, and perennials. They have done an outstanding job of providing educational opportunities for the public, supplying educational handouts for Community Ed events, using professional plant markers, and creating the "Don't Bug Me" educational game for the Insect Festival. They have continued to expand the garden and have conducted many tours as well as demonstrated ways to prevent deer and wildlife damage. This committee has also created a PowerPoint presentation on Mercer County native plants which has been shown multiple times to eager MGs, as well as at local libraries and the Princeton Adult School. The Native Plant Garden Committee has created a true educational gem for the people of Mercer County and beyond. Educate

Members’ knowledge base was expanded through a field trip to Bowman’s Hill led bycommittee member Jane McPhail. Marie Rickman presented the original Power Pointpresentation on native plants at our March meeting. Barbara Anuzis and Carol Kleiscollected seeds and members participated in starting for their own gardens and to sharewith the NPG.

Janet Shepard and Calleen Parson finished bringing together the entirecommittee’s research on settlers and Native American uses for native plants.The presentation for school age kids will be ready in 2013.

Tina Leone created some new “You Bug Me” stations so that previousparticipants would learn something new.

Participated in Mid-summer Night in the Garden Program by providing info ondeer proofing a garden, including deer fencing, chemical and natural sprays anddeterrents, and deer resistant plants.

Docents with familiarity with natives and the NPG were in attendance for allpublic events.

Manage our MG Landscape

Barren Strawberry has been found to be the most successful groundcover andmore plants were added this year to help cover more area and keep weeds atbay.

Replaced 4 Ilex glabras that did not survive previous year.

Nancy Putnam led a couple of early weeding groups so that the best selection ofnew plants with maintenance of established plants took the garden into summerlooking good. The garden was divided up by sections and all membersparticipated in weeding throughout the season.

David Soncrant provided additional supports for the arbors and they made itthrough Hurricane Sandy.

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The coding system of the deer fence made autumn reinstallation easy toorganize.

Items purchased or donated 4 Ilex Glabra

Plant Expo purchases – Coreopsis, Boltonia

Barren Strawberry

Plans for 2013 Educate

Website – Enhance NPG presence on the site with informational and pictorial articles.

Conduct a joint butterfly learn-more with the Butterfly Garden committee to enhanceknowledge of natives’ role in the butterfly life cycle.

Ensure NPG members are familiar with the plants in our garden – Each member willprovide a summary of a plant from our garden list to present at a monthly meeting.

Field trip – Travel to American Native Nursery in Quakertown, PA and if possible have alecture from owner Mark Brownlee. Include nearby native plant nurseries if timepermits.

Advance the Native Plants in Colonial Days presentation to enable incorporation inoutreach for young students.

Create an education piece about native groundcovers.Manage our MG Landscape

Spray earlier in the spring for deer and other munching mammals.

Establish a weed and water schedule. Due to the garden size, soaker hoses will bepurchased for the NPG as in the past those that were installed were moved by and toother gardens.

Stop inundation of path gravel with heavy rains– Create a barrier between the gardenand the walkway if rerouting the walkway is not possible.

Inventory for labels and plant replacements – Identify which plants need to be labeledand which labels need to be pulled or have the plant replaced.

Reed Canary Grass encroachment – Work with the MEG leaders and county to removethis invasive completely through approved chemical treatment much as the meadowwas handled. If there will be no removal, the committee will need to put up a physicalbarrier such as heavy landscape cloth and mulch.

Deer fence caps and protectors – It was discovered as the fence was reinstalled this fallthat several ground stakes were missing caps and some were so incorporated into thesurrounding ground that they were nearly impossible to find. Many, once found, werecompletely battered by the mowers and needed crow bar reshaping to get the post backin. For 2013 better protectors and new stakes for those too damaged will be installed.

Signs – Several ideas are in discussion including street sign type with clever identifiers.Part of the purpose will be to name/identify garden sections for committee andeducation purposes. Make and install an arbor entrance pergola with “Native Plants”sign.

Paths and edges – Redefine some of the paths with purchased stepping stones. Line theouter perimeter with logs.

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Continue to add plants including Penstemon which was grown from seed collected inthe garden. Other plants to add include Trumpet Vine for arbors, Barren Strawberry forgroundcover education, shrubs such as Hydrangea.

Items to purchase for 2013

Trumpet Vine - Barren Strawberry -Soaker Hoses - Hydrangea – Fence Stakes

MASTER GARDENERS OF MERCER COUNTY Native Plant Garden 2013 Annual Report

Members Co-Chairs: Marie Rickman and Carol Kleis Barbara Anuzis Carole Armel Terry Cooper Robert Coyner Diane Gasman Richard Heller Mary Ippolito Debra Kantor Carol Kleis

Priscilla Knight Elena Kyuchukova Tina Leone Diane Lusdyk Bill Malloy Jane McPhail Greenie Newburg Calleen Parson Linda Pickering

Nancy Putman Marie Rickman Guinn Roberts Janet Sheppard David Soncrant Ann Summer Cathy Swago Carolyn Wojciechowicz Bruce Young

Committee Description The goal of The Native Plant Garden Committee is to educate the public about the beauty and the importance of Native Plants and to encourage responsible gardening by the use of natives in the landscape. It is with these practices in mind that we continue to develop and maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden at the Mercer Educational Gardens. Begun in the Spring of 1999, this now large and beautiful garden is filled with native species and cultivars of trees, shrubs and perennials. This committee is also committed to providing education to the public and our fellow Master Gardeners through the development of programs related to the garden’s specialized topic. . 2013 Accomplishments

Education The year was jam packed with education! We changed things up a bit and explored new ways to educate the public and ourselves. - January’s meeting gave us a chance to review 2012 and fine-tune our plans for the new year. We exchanged seeds and learnt a thing or two about seed propagation. - Sadie Hawkins Day gave us an excuse to party at Marie’s and welcome some new members to the committee. We were educated and entertained by the work done by Janet Shepard, with assistance from Calleen Parsons, on our current program project “Colonial Days”. This project we hope to finish by February and have ready for a test run at a local school. - We found a perfect partnership with a joint Learn-more with the Butterfly Committee. Thanks to Barbara Anuzis! - A field trip to American Natives Nursery in Quakertown provided an extended lecture on the “Early Uses of Natives”, worthy of 3 CEs, as well as a tour of the nursery and shopping opportunities for new plants that found a home in the NPG. - Mid-Summer Night gave Marie R. and Carol K. an opportunity to create and present a new “live” program in the NPG full of info on birds, butterflies, and colorful posters. That evening several touring groups enjoyed the new presentation “ Wildlife in the Native Garden”. Special thanks to Diane and Terry for helping with set-up and guest questions.

- September’s Insect Fest drew a huge crowd of families who enjoyed our “You Bug Me” Scavenger Hunt. Thanks to Katerina and Lewis for manning the sign-up table and Barb A for the many caterpillars. The wonderful day did present a few issues. Against our wishes the prize distribution was managed at a main table and, as we anticipated, problems ensued. The committee has decided that we will need to manage our prizes at our own table, as had been done in the past, in order for the game to succeed in its mission to educate older children. Also, sad to say that some poster favorites who have withstood several rainy/windy years may need to be re-created for next year. But this gives us an opportunity to create new additions to our selection of educational posters! -David Soncrant stepped up and presented a new program on Deer Fencing for the October Community Ed Program with rave reviews. - Carol K introduced us to the concept of “Permaculture” and the committee agreed that it was worth reaching out to see if the organization would provide a speaker on the topic for MGs for a future monthly meeting. - The year was also spent on documenting the history of the NPG, which celebrates it 15th year in 2013. Carol has led members on creating a detailed map of the garden while Marie has been collecting documents and creating a binder that captures the history from Carol Armel’s idea to the committee we are today. - We were approached by Community Ed to develop a new educational program for the public. We began early discussions on a topic and a front-runner has emerged “Top Ten Impact Native Plants for the Home Garden”. It will be a fun topic to explore in the new year. - Many thanks to Calleen P for her beautiful photographs of the garden and getting those up on SMUGMUG for all to enjoy. Our MG website is in transition, so once a new template is provided we will start another project that will use Calleen’s photos to further educate the public.

Manage our MG Landscape - NPGers were out in force and the garden never looked better. New members gave us all a second wind and we spent the year focusing on the details that make the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden so wonderful. - David Soncrant collected on a few favors and had a friend donate replacement wood path “stones” for the entire NPG. More logs were added to the perimeter. David finished off the transformation with a beautiful new wood stump table to replace the original that did what it was suppose to do, it decomposed! Many thanks to our strongmen David, Richard H., and Robert C. for all the digging and heavy lifting. - Barren Strawberry continued to spread to cover the weeds and the MANY Penstemon started from seed by Bruce Young finally found their home in the NPG Thank you Bruce! - Miracles abounded this year with the “I’m not dead yet!” Ilex Glabra shrubs, that we were convinced were dead in Fall 2012, but actually found their second life in early spring, as well as the native Hydrangea (left for dead in Marie’s garage for 8 months) that was reborn and finally given a home in the “Greenie Garden” of the NPG. - NPGers came out to weed and water this past summer. We discovered that mini-groups, instead of weekly pairs, made the work go faster and was way more fun! - A pile of mulch was delivered days before Insect Fest, but no fear, Robert Coyner jumped in and spread the mulch that gave our refurbished pathways the finishing touch. We rocked for the Insect Fest!!

- David’s coding system of the deer fence once again made autumn reinstallation easy to organize, along with his clever new bamboo stake fence latch idea. However, it cannot be put off another year, we will need more replacement fencing next October. “Let them eat cake!” was the cry throughout MEG that day as our committee shared birthday cake with all MGs and broke into song to celebrate Marie’s 55th. - In the face of MEGs uncertain future our committee has made the decision that although we will not invest in larger purchases, such as trees and shrubs, we do feel that it is our obligation to keep the garden looking its very best for the public for as long as we are there. With that in mind we will be purchasing replacements for broken signs, and replacing dead shrubs with movable native perennials that could find a home at a possible new location.

Goals for 2014- The 15th Year Anniversary of the the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden

-Have even more fun as we celebrate RMGofMCs 20th and the NPGs 15th Anniversaries. -Educate Ourselves and Others- NPGers have been encouraged to research and create a new Native Plant Community Ed program be presented in early 2015. Committee’s topic of choice- HIGH IMPACT NATIVES for the Home Garden. -Learn more with another Learnmore- Perhaps partner with another committee to explore natives from a different perspective. -Field Trip Redo-late spring canoe trip in the Pine Barrens as done in 2006. -Keep the Karen Colihan looking fresh and wonderful during any upcoming transition, including sign, fencing, and perennials. We will avoid planting new trees and shrubs unless plans for a future new location are changed. -Freshen-up a few well-loved posters for the NPG “You Bug Me” Scavenger Hunt in time for the 2014 Insect Fest. -First Meeting of the year- January 24th, 12-1 at Extension.

Submitted 1/06/2014 Marie T. Rickman Native Plant Garden Committee Co-chair

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County October 2014

RUTGERS MASTER GARDENERS OF MERCER COUNTY Native Plant Garden Committee 2014 Annual Report

By Marie T. Rickman- December 22, 2014

The goal of The Native Plant Garden Committee is to educate the public about the beauty and the importance of Native Plants and to encourage responsible gardening by the use of natives in the landscape. We are dedicated to the growth and preservation of plants that are native to Mercer County NJ. It is with these practices in mind that we continue to develop and maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden and native plant educational opportunities in the community.

2014 was a year filled with NPG adventures, interesting research, celebrations, and new membership. We celebrated our 15 years as a committee by taking on the development of an educational project for Community Ed, drifting through the Pine Barrens by canoe, participating in several RMGofMC educational programs, and infusing the Karen Colihan Garden with new energy and plantings (and she never looked better!)

Committee Chairs: Marie Rickman and Carol Kleis

2014 Committee Members: Linda Pickering, Barbara Anuzis, Calleen Parson, David Soncrant, Debra Kanter, Diane Lusdyk, Elena Kyuchukova, Greenie Neuburg, Guinn Roberts, Jackie Johnson, James Hurly, Jane McPhail, Karen Prager, Marilyn Orland, Mary Ippolito, Nancy Putnam, Nancy Santiago, Priscilla Knight, Richard Heller, Robert Coyner, Ruth Larsson, Terry Cooper, Tina Leone.

2014 Accomplishments: Started the year with a February “Sadie Hawkins” Potluck Meeting and attracted new

members from the most recent MG classes. Development of a 2015 Community Ed Program- “High Impact Natives” Project. Spent

the year researching and presenting appropriate plants. Program featuring 12 NJ NativePlants that can be grown by the typical homeowner, have visual impact, while alsooffering a positive impact to our ecosystem.

Insect Fest- “You Bug Me” Scavenger Hunt- we updated the scavenger hunt gameposters and questionnaire, insect boxes as prizes were provided for participating families.(see attached recap)

Centerpiece for the MGofMC 20th Anniversary Celebration was created by using driedplants and bark from the NPG.

Canoe Trip in May on the Batso River in the Pine Barrens led by Docent Russell Juleg-High/fast moving water caused by previous heavy rains made for an exhausting and verytricky adventure.

NPG provided docents for the July Community Ed program. New plant signs were added for newer plantings and also as replacements for damaged

signs.

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County October 2014

New Plantings: Hydrangea quercifolia- Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Diablo “Coppertina” NineBark, Leucothoe, Asters- New England.

Continued our practice of collecting seeds from the NPG for future plantings. Finished updating the wood pathway throughout the NPG. Summer Weeding/Watering was successful and the NPG looked great all season. Raised the NPG fence in late October. Needed to patch several larger holes. Will need to

budget for all new fencing for next October. Completed and submitted the NPG History Binder and web version to the Historical

Committee. Ended the year with a holiday meeting at Marie’s home where we recapped the year and

made goals for 2015.

2015 Goals: Complete and present “High Impact Natives” as a March Community Ed Program. Take field trips to Mt Cuba and several native nurseries. Continue to maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden. Especially looking forward

to planting the “wet-site” area where Parks sprayed Reed Canary Grass. Replace the NPG plastic deer fencing. Include the 2015/2016 budget.

RUTGERS MASTER GARDENERS OF MERCER COUNTY

Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden

COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2015

Chairs: Marie Rickman and Carol Kleis

Members: Barbara Anuzis, Calleen Parson, Cathie Swango, David Soncrant, Debbi

Kanter, Diane Lusdyk, Elena Kyuchukova, Greenie Newburg, Jackie Johnson, Jane

McPhail, Jim Hurly, Karen Prager, Katherine Dresdner, Linda Pickering, Marilyn Orland,

Mary Ippolito, Nancy Putman, Nancy Santiago, Priscilla Knight, Richard Heller, Robert

Coyner, Terry Cooper, Tina Leone, Ruth Larson

Committee Description: Plants and maintains the Karen Colihan Native Plant

Garden at the Mercer Educational Gardens. This large and beautiful garden is filled with

native species of trees, shrubs and perennials. Provides education to the public and Master

Gardeners related to the garden’s specialized topic.

Goal: The goal of The Native Plant Garden Committee is to educate the public about

the beauty and the importance of Native Plants and to encourage responsible gardening

by the use of natives in the landscape. We are dedicated to the growth and preservation

of plants that are native to Mercer County NJ. It is with these practices in mind that we

continue to develop and maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden and native

plant educational opportunities in the community.

2015 Accomplishments:

➢ Following a year of researching appropriate plants, in March we presented a

Community Ed Program- “High Impact Natives” Project. Program featured 12 NJ

Native Plants that can be grown by the typical homeowner, have visual impact,

while also offering a positive impact to our ecosystem. ➢ Insect Fest- “You Bug Me” Scavenger Hunt- we updated scavenger hunt posters

and game questionnaire, insect boxes as prizes were provided for participating

families. See attached. ➢ Duke Farms field trip and tour of native plants in meadow and also formal

environments. ➢ NPG provided docents for the July Community Ed program. ➢ New plant signs were added for newer plantings and also as replacements for

damaged signs. ➢ Hosted a propagation workshop for RMGofMC at Duke Farms. ➢ New Plants- Aster, ostrich fern, clematis, Monarda ➢ Continued our practice of collecting seeds from the NPG for future plantings.

➢ Added mulch in the wood pathway throughout the NPG. ➢ Summer Weeding/Watering was more challenging than other years because the

drought caused soil to be too hard to readily pull weeds and the watering was done

simply to keep plants alive. ➢ Raised the NPG fence in late October. Needed to patch several larger holes. Will

need to budget for all new fencing for next October.

➢ Article for the December MGofMC Newsletter on our NOG Duke Farm field trips

and workshop. See attached.

2016 Goals

Add some trees to “High Impact Natives” Community Ed Program.

➢ Take "High Impact Natives" on the road, first stop- The Dogwood Country Club in

March. ➢ 2016 Research Topic: Landscaping with Native Plants. ➢ Take field trips. ➢ Continue to maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden.

● Please name your file in the following format:

2015CommitteeNameannualreport.doc

● Send Annual Report to kathleenyurwit@comcast.net ( due 2/1/16)

● Send Annual Report to the archives at extensiongardeners@mercercounty.org

● Send revised committee descriptions to kathleenyurwit@comcast.net

● Check out previous ARs on the private website under “See MG Historical

Documents.”

RUTGERS MASTER GARDENERS OF MERCER COUNTY

Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden

COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Chairs: Marie Rickman and Carol Kleis

Members: Angelina Duggan, Barbara Anuzis, Calleen Parson, Carol Lee, Catherine

Horgan, David Soncrant, Debbi Kanter, Diane Lusdyk, Dorothy Donnelly, Elena

Kyuchukova, Greenie Newburg, Jackie Johnson, Jane McPhail, Jim Hurly, Judy Colburn,

Karen Prager, Linda Pickering, Marilyn Orland, Mary Ippolito, Nancy Putman, Nancy

Santiago, Priscilla Knight, Richard Heller, Robert Coyner, Terry Cooper, Tina Leone

Committee Description: Plants and maintains the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden at

the Mercer Educational Gardens. This large and beautiful garden is filled with native species

of trees, shrubs and perennials. Provides education to the public and Master Gardeners

related to the garden’s specialized topic.

Goal: The goal of The Native Plant Garden Committee is to educate the public about the

beauty and the importance of Native Plants and to encourage responsible gardening by the

use of natives in the landscape. We are dedicated to the growth and preservation of plants

that are native to Mercer County NJ. It is with these practices in mind that we continue to

develop and maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden and native plant educational

opportunities in the community.

2016 Accomplishments:

➢ Insect Fest- “You Bug Me” Scavenger Hunt- we updated scavenger hunt posters and

game questionnaire, insect boxes as prizes were provided for participating families.

See attached. ➢ Field trip to Barbara Anuzis’ garden to learn about how natives are useful in her formal

gardens and all the way through the property into the wilder wooded areas.

➢ NPG provided docents for the July Community Ed program. ➢ Continued our practice of collecting seeds from the NPG for future plantings. ➢ Added mulch in the wood pathway throughout the NPG. ➢ Summer Weeding/Watering was more aggressive than previous years and the entire

3000+ square foot area took on a whole new and streamlined look. ➢ Completely rebuilt two vine structures. ➢ Removed the NPG fence in spring for the summer and then raised it again in late

October for winter protection from deer. ➢ Some fun memories include the skunk that wandered through during the Insect Fest.

We also had a tortoise from another continent come through one workday. Heidi Mass

identified and rescued him later.

2017 Goals

➢ 2017 Research Topic: Landscaping with Native Plants for small lots or vignettes on

larger properties.

Study and share with other MGs how to stagger natives for bloom throughout all

seasons.

➢ Update the spreadsheet of garden plants and others researched for bloom time and

supplement with more detailed information about bloom time, foliage, seed collection

time, beneficials, etc. ➢ Learn to identify sprouting invasives and weed starting in April when the plants are

still small.

➢ Take a native field trip to Mt. Cuba. ➢ Visit Point Phillips Perennials. ➢ Remove and set up deer fence with no injuries. ➢ Continue to maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden.

2016 “YOU BUG ME” Native Plant Garden SCAVANGER HUNT

(find the answer on the 10 insect posters and fill in the blanks!)

1. I know I can be real annoying buzzing around you. Sorry, but I just can’t help myself! I

am attracted to the smell of your stinky human sweat! Plants need my help to spread their

pollen.

I am a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (SWEAT BEE)

2. LOOK INSIDE THE BOX! Lightening Bugs make a beautiful blinking light in the evening

summer sky. Their larvae emit light and are often called

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ . (GLOW WORMS)

3. I am a Monarch Butterfly and I can only lay my eggs on one species of plant. My favorite

plant that I need in order to reproduce and survive is commonly known as

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (MILKWEED)

4. I’m a Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar and like my Monarch Caterpillar friends I also need

the protection that eating the substance in milkweed can provide. This type of protection

against predators is called ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ defense. (CHEMICAL)

5. I am a Katydid and I get my common name from the song I make at night from rubbing my

wings together. I use my camouflage to help hide in trees and shrubs. I am sometimes called a

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (LEAF BUG)

6. Birds are frightened by my scary snake-like face and colors. But I’m just the sneaky

Spicebush Swallow-tail Butterfly Caterpillar. My ability to defend myself by resembling other

predators is called ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (MIMICRY)

7. Arr Mateys! I am a beneficial insect that farmers use as a biological control in their fields. I

have my long sword-like beak that I use to stab and devour destructive bugs.

I am a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (PIRATE BUG)

8. I am a colorful Hummingbird Moth. I sip my nectar meals with a very long, tongue-like

tube, called a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (PROBOSCIS)

9. I am a Soldier Beetle and I help protect plants and the surrounding ecosystem by attacking

insects that destroy plants. I belong to the army of good guys called

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Insects. (BENEFICIAL)

10. BEWARE! I’m an insect who likes to munch on pollinating insects, especially bees.

BUT if you get too close I just might take a bite out of you too! I’m an

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (ASSASSIN BUG)

RUTGERS MASTER GARDENERS OF MERCER COUNTY Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden

NATIVE PLANT GARDEN COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2017

Chairs: Marie Rickman and Carol Kleis with special assistance by Nancy Putnam

Members: Angelina Duggan, Annabelle Simpson, Calleen Parson, Carol Lee, Darion Jackman,

David Soncrant, Debbi Kanter, Diane Lusdyk, Diane Procaccini, Dorothy Donnelly, Elena

Kyuchukova, Greenie Newburg, Jackie Johnson, Jane McPhail, Jim Hurly, Judy Colburn, Linda

Pickering, Marilyn Orland, Mary Ippolito, Nancy Putman, Priscilla Knight, Richard Heller,

Robert Coyner, Terry Cooper, Tina Leone

Committee Description: Plants and maintains the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden at the

Mercer Educational Gardens. This large and beautiful garden is filled with native species of

trees, shrubs and perennials. Provides education to the public and Master Gardeners related to the

garden’s specialized topic.

Goal: The goal of The Native Plant Garden Committee is to educate the public about the

beauty and the importance of Native Plants and to encourage responsible gardening by the use

of natives in the landscape. We are dedicated to the growth and preservation of plants that are

native to Mercer County NJ. It is with these practices in mind that we continue to develop and

maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden and native plant educational opportunities in

the community.

2017 Accomplishments: ➢ Insect Fest- “You Bug Me” Scavenger Hunt- we updated scavenger hunt posters and

game questionnaire, insect boxes as prizes were provided for participating families. See

attached. ➢ Field trip to Mt. Cuba ➢ NPG provided docents for the July Community Ed program. ➢ Added mulch in the wood pathway throughout the NPG. ➢ Summer Weeding/Watering was more aggressive than previous years and the entire

3000+ square foot area took on a whole new and streamlined look.

➢ 2017 Research Topic was Landscaping with Native Plants for small lots or vignettes on

larger properties. ➢ Studied how to stagger natives for bloom throughout all seasons. ➢ Updated the spreadsheet of garden plants and others researched for bloom time and

supplement with more detailed information about bloom time, foliage, seed collection

time, beneficials, etc. ➢ Dorothy Donnelly presented a very useful report on the Rutgers Garden Class she had

attended on March 18th: Propagating Native Plants ➢ Learned about the use of Asclepias tuberosa in making filling for stuffing (expensive)

parkas and how a new law in Canada was passed to remove milkweed from the list of

noxious weeds

➢ Learned native alternatives to mums in the fall

➢ Continued to maintain the Karen Colihan Native Plant Garden.

2018 Plans:

Monitor deer damage without installation of deer fence winter 2017-18

June 19 field trip to Federal Twist

Develop an invasives scavenger hunt (njisst.org is a useful website from the NJ Invasive species

strike team)

Divide the garden into sections and let committee members (and mentors) each assume seasonal

responsibility for one section if they wish. This would provide members with an opportunity to

gain more thorough knowledge about the plants in their section (and to share this information

with other committee members). Some members will act as generalists for the entire garden.

Visit one of the nearby nurseries specializing in natives:

Wild Ridge Plants, Pohatcong, NJ http://wildridgeplants.com/

Gino’s Nursery, Newtown, PA www.ginosnursery.com

Collins, Glenside, PA www.collinsnursery.com

Edge of the Woods, Orefield, PA www.edgeofthewoodsnursery.com

Update You Bug Me scavenger hunt

Offer docents for summer evening program.

Rework design of the garden to group like plants together as part of the committee and public

education.

2017 “YOU BUG ME” -- Native Plant Garden SCAVENGER HUNT

(find the answer on the 10 insect posters and fill in the blanks!)

1 Arrr Mateys! I am a beneficial insect that farmers use as biological control in their fields. I have my long sword-like beak that I use to stab and devour destructive bugs.

I am a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (PIRATE BUG)

2 I am a Soldier Beetle and I help protect plants and the surrounding ecosystem by attacking insects that destroy plants. I belong to the army of good guys called

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ insects. (BENEFICIAL)

3 If my big false eyes don’t scare away predators I escape by springing into the air with the

sound of a CLICK using my underside ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ . (SPINE)

4 LOOK INSIDE THE BOX! Lightning Bugs make a beautiful blinking light in the evening during summer. This chemically produced light is called

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. (BIOLUMINESCENCE)

5 I am a Monarch caterpillar and I depend on being able to gobble up lots of one species of plant, Asclepias, so that when I become a butterfly I am ready before winter to fly all the way to

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (MEXICO)

6 I’m a Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar, and like my Monarch friends, I also need the protection that eating the substance in milkweed can provide. This type of protection against predators is called ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ defense. (CHEMICAL)

7 Birds are frightened by my scary snake-like face and colors. But I’m really the sneaky Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar. My ability to defend myself by resembling predators is called ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (MIMICRY)

8 I am a Katydid and I get my common name from the song I make at night from rubbing my wings together. Because my appearance helps me hide in trees and shrubs, I am sometimes called a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (LEAF BUG)

9 I am a colorful Hummingbird Moth. I sip my nectar meals with a very long, tongue-like tube, which is called a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (PROBOSCIS)

10 I know I can be annoying buzzing around you. Sorry, but I just can’t help myself! I am attracted to the smell of your stinky human sweat! Plants need my help to spread their pollen. I am a ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____. (SWEAT BEE)