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March 2024
SOLD OUT: Vernal Pool Hike
REGISTERSORRY, THIS HIKE IS SOLD OUT Please email [email protected] if you need to cancel, or to be placed on a waitlist With temperatures rising, the forest floor will be hopping with new life as frogs and other amphibians crowd into shallow puddles of water to breed and lay their eggs. These puddles, called vernal pools, provide a perfect opportunity to learn more about Mother Nature here in New Jersey. But we have to hurry! They disappear quickly. This annual Vernal Pool Exploration provides a fun, outdoor learning experience for kids and adults alike. Discover the differences between a spring peeper, a chorus frog, and a wood frog. Find out how…
Signs of Spring Hike
REGISTERSpring is just around the corner, and all the plants and animals around us are preparing for the upcoming season. Come learn about how our flora and fauna survive the winter season, and what cues let them know that spring is coming. You will also get to learn some history of the area! Weather conditions in early March can be extremely variable, so please make sure to dress appropriately. The hike will be just over 3 miles long with 400 feet of elevation change.
SOLD OUT: Pollinator Box Workshop
REGISTERSORRY, THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT Please email [email protected] if you need to cancel, or to be placed on a waitlist Did you know some bees don’t live in hives? Come get the scoop about pollinator boxes and how they benefit the environment. This workshop will be “the bee’s knees!” (We apologize for that.) Join us for an evening of building, learning and all-around good fun as we talk about the importance of solitary bees and pollinator habitats to the ecosystem, and build a pollinator box of your own to take home! Cost: $30/box. This workshop is limited to the first 10 people who register. Missing this event will really…
Pollinator Conservation: Creating and Protecting Habitat for NJ’s Bees, Butterflies, and Biodiversity
REGISTERPollinators and other beneficial insects are experiencing drastic and widespread declines making pollinator conservation a national and New Jersey priority. However, we can all play a role in protecting pollinators and beneficial insects and the important ecological services they provide. Join the Xerces Society’s Kelly Gill to learn how you can best support pollinators in your NJ yard, garden, and local landscapes by planting native flowering plants, enhancing nesting and overwintering habitat, and reducing pesticide risk. Kelly will include case studies on pollinators included in this year’s plant kits and focus on pollinator needs throughout the seasons. Register for the 1 remaining webinars in this 4-part series: Apr…
February 2024
SOLD OUT- Snow Moon Hike
REGISTERSORRY, THIS HIKE IS SOLD OUT Please email [email protected] if you need to cancel, or to be placed on a waitlist There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. So no more excuses! It's time to bundle up, get back outside, and feel the rejuvenating power of nature on this relaxing night hike. The February full moon is known as the "Snow Moon" because lots of snow is generally found on the ground in most Northern Hemisphere countries during this time. Come experience it for yourself. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear, dress for the weather, and bring a reusable water bottle and snacks if you…
Plug in to Native Groundcovers
REGISTERCome learn the benefits of using native groundcovers in the garden bed. Guest speaker, John Courtney, is the owner of Kind Earth Nursery and the supplier of many of the plugs used in GSWA’s Plant for Pollinators sale program. John will discuss pollinator-benefiting native alternatives to some of the more traditional non-native groundcovers such as the dreaded vinca vine and pachysandra. John will share how to properly manage these groundcovers for visual and ecological impact. You will also learn more about getting "plugged in” utilizing landscape plugs for a more economical solution to covering large square footage areas of the yard without breaking the bank. Register for…
Winter Flower ID
REGISTERNative plants can be tricky to ID even throughout the growing season, so identifying plants in the dead of winter seems next to impossible. But it is not! Come join our very own Ginger Van Ryzin to learn some of the tip and tricks to winter flower identification. Dress for the weather and be sure to wear appropriate footwear.
January 2024
Please see important notice below: Wolf Moon Hike
REGISTERImportant Notice: We are monitoring the weather for this hike. While Primrose Farm is higher ground than our board-walked swamp, it can still get muddy in rain. Be sure to wear appropriate boots and rain gear! If the temperatures drop and the rain turns icy, we may adjust our plans accordingly for driving conditions. January night hikes can be tough, but we hope to conduct the hike unless we feel it is unsafe. We will make the final decision by noon, January 24 and will email everyone and update this site. Thank you for your patience! Join us for a leisurely stroll through the Primrose Farm meadow as the…
Creating a Woodland Garden with Indigenous Plants & Vertical Structure
REGISTEROur kickoff webinar for the Plants for Pollinators series will discuss how to employ diversity in vertical strata in a woodland garden design using native understory plants and shrubs. Jean Epiphan, agricultural and resources agent and assistant professor with Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Morris County will be our guide. Jean will review the best choices of natural and green mulches to restore soil health and support native species. Jean draws from her experience in local forest research as well as practice in ornamental shade gardening to restore natural processes that fuel healthy native plant community rehabilitation. Register for the rest of the 4 part webinar series…
Free Zoom Webinar: Why We Love NJ’s Open Spaces
REGISTERDue to the snowstorm, this program will now be conducted via Zoom. The time remains the same, 6-7:30 PM. Please note: Registration closes at 5:30 pm, January 16. There’s a lot of news about climate change and the devastating effects it has and will continue to have on the state of New Jersey. Now, who’s ready for some good news? Join Dave Robinson, NJ State Climatologist and distinguished professor of geography at Rutgers University (and GSWA board member!) and discover why we are fortunate to live in the great state of New Jersey, thanks in part to our many scenic open spaces. From the Pine Barrens to the Great Swamp…