Native Plant Opportunity......Absecon City-wide Yardsale 6/7/14

What could be better than shopping for native plants and bargain hunting too? This coming Saturday 6/7,  from 8am -4pm, I will have the native plants for sale at the annual city-wide yard sale in Absecon. In the spirit of finding bargains, I will have some special deals. At shows the plants are usually offered in a 5 pack for $17.00. This Saturday they will be 5/$16.00. or 10/$30.00, which is just $3.00 per plant.  Single plants are $3.25 each. The following species will be available:


Aster nova belgii - New York Aster

Aster novae-angliae - New England Aster

Aster cordifolia - Blue Wood Aster

Aster laevis - Smooth Blue Aster

Liatris spicata - Blazing Star

Solidago sempervirens - Seaside Goldenrod

Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower

Rudbeckia fulgida - Orange Coneflower

Oenthera fruticosa - Sundrops

Panicum virgatum - Switchgrass

Tehproisa virginiana - Goat's Rue

Eupatorium perfoliatum - Boneset

Tradescantia virginiana - Spiderwort

Carolina Lupine - Thermopsis carolinana

Iris prismatica - Slender Blue Flag

Sedum ternatum - Wild Stonecrop

Lysimachia ciliata - Purple Fringed Loosestrife

Asclepias incarnata - Swamp Milkweed

Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia humifusa

Butterflyweed - Asclepias tuberosa

The address is 703 Ambassador Drive Absecon, NJ 08201 which is located in Absecon Estates behind the Shoprite and City Hall/Heritage Park.

Organic vegetable plants will also be available for $1.00 each. 6 pka for $2.00 each. Jalapenos, Lettuce, Scallions, Cherry tomatoes, Beefsteak tomatoes, Basil, Eggplant, Sweet Corn.

The weather looks like its going to be splendid, so come on out and find bargains city-wide.

Spring 2014 Updates at the Nursery

Updates at the nursery Apr 9

Is it finally over.... this long, cold winter? I was begining to think I would never see the end of it. I have to apologize for the lack of postings over thr past few months. This past year has been very eventful and while it seemed to be never ending stress and turmoil, it ends up to look promising for the future. I had been looking for some time now for a new home and a suitable property for the nursery. I am pleased to announce we will be moving. The site is teaming with native plants and which I have inventoried the winter remains of and can not wait to re-evaluate once Spring comes and they re-emerge. I have been looking daily, but so far only the aliens on the property are emerging. One of the reasons that they outcompete natives is that ther emerge earlier and go down later than natives. But I saw bracken fern skeletons so I am waiting for fiddleheads.

I also set up a bird feeding station which has attracted many species including Goldfinches, Cardinals, Blue Birds, Juncos, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmouse, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Carolina Wrens, Hairy Woodpecker, a Mocking Bird, Bluejays, a Brown Creeper and a Pine Warbler. I plan to install plenty of bird food plants including Echincea and Liatris which the Goldfinches love as well as Bee Balm and Cardinal Flower for Hummingbirds. This past week I have seen a Mourning Cloak Butterly almost daily on my walks.

Unfortunately I am a little behind on plant rearing. I am dedicated to getting the Milkweed out there for the Monarchs, however. Everything else offered for sale will be left over from last year until later in the season.

Update: May 8

Its May and the Bracken Ferns are emerging, I have a pair of Towhees in my woods and also Lady Slippers. I have also seen Spring Azures and a Tiger Swallowtail, a Black and White Warbler and a Rose Breasted Grosbeak, all today. The frogs are chirping and Whippoorwill singing into the wee hours. I am adding to the wildlife garden daily and planted corn in my vegetable garden today. At our other home we had a beautiful Baltimore Oriole that arrived around May first each year for the past seven years that would sing his heart out. I will miss him, but am hoping one will come here as well. Each day I can't wait to go outside and see what is new. Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Spring.

6th Annual UU Native Plant Swap and Sale

Dear Fellow Native Plant Enthusiasts,

Its that time of year again. The 6th annual UU Native Plant Swap and Sale will be held this coming Saturday, May 10th, from 9am-2pm at the UU Center, 75 S. Pomona Rd in Pomona. This just gets better each year. You can come and trade or buy plants. There are several ways to participate. First there is a pre-order that people sign up for each year and this is the day the plants are picked up. Second, you can swap plants. The way this works is you bring your extra natives, volunteer seedlings or divisions potted up and trade for other natives. It costs two plants admission, so say you brought 10 plants to the swap. Two would go toward admission and you would receive eight tickets, to be used to get other plants. Third, there will also be plants offered for sale. I will be there as well as Jesse Connor and Barbera Feidler of the NJ Native Plant Society to offer advice on native plants. There are many awesome plants and as this event grows yearly so does the selection of plants. In the past I have aquired many plants through this swap, including May Apples and Barren Strawberry, Little Bluestem and American Beautyberry. Be sure to sign up for the pre-order list for next years' sale.

I will have the following species available for sale: Common Milkweed(limited), Seaside Goldenrod, Echincea, Liatris, New England Aster, New York Aster, Blue Wood Aster, Prickly Pear, Switch Grass, Butterflyweed, Joe Pye Weed, Sneezeweed, Slender Blue Flag, Blue Vervain, Sundrops, Wild Stonecrop, Spiderwort, Bee Balm, Rattlesnake Master, Brown Eyed Susan, Columbine, Boneset, Purple Fringed Loostrife, Obedient Plant, Foxglove Beardtongue, Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia, and Sweet Flag.

　

So come on out and get native plants. And while you are there be sure to check out the onsite rain garden to see how natives look in the landscape. Here's the link! Hope to see you there.

http://uucsjs.org/pdf/PlantSwap_Flyer_2014.pdf

Spring had Sprung...Finally! Come Out for the Annual Earth Day Festival

Today I finally saw my annual confirmations of spring. The Shadbush and Bird Foot Violets are blooming, and a Spring Azure on the trail, very encouraging after this very cold winter. And with Spring comes the annual Earth Day Festival at ACUA Sunday April 27 from 10am-4pm. The ACUA is located on Delilah Rd in EHT. I will be there with plants for sale including Swamp Milkweed, Asters, and Seaside Goldenrod for Monarchs. Also many other wildlife friendly, species like Echinacea, Liatris, Bee Balm and Switch Grass. Jesse Conner will be doing the talk this year. She will be talking about the newly formed chapter of the NJ Native Plant society. This chapter is based in Galloway TWP, and allows us South Jersey folks to participate in discovering the native plants we love. Please come out and see us.

NJ Native Plant Society South Jersey Chapter Has Formed

It is with great pleasure that I announce the creation of a South Jersey chapter of the NJ Native Plant Society. And its right here in Atlantic County. For several years I have wished to be able to start one as the monthly meetings were usually in north or central NJ, and pretty far away. But I knew, between work, the nursery and my volunteer work, I had too many irons in the fire and just w have stepped up to the plate and made this happen. However recently some fellow native plant enthusiasts from South Jersey have stepped up to the plate and formed two new South Jersey Chapters, The Southeast Chapter and the Delaware Bayshore Chapter. Now native plant lovers from all over South Jersey will be able to study, volunteer, educate and share to get more out of the plants we love so much. I don't have much information on the Delaware Bayshore Chapter yet. I will update once I do.

The Southeast Chapter has been organized by naturalists Jesse Connor and her husband Jack Conner and native plant enthusiasts Barbara Fiedler and Bert Hixon. The meetings will be eight held at Stockton State College in Pomona, Atlantic County, monthly excluding Nov, Dec, July and Aug. at 7pm in room L0115. Meetings an events will feature presentations on various native plant topics as well as field trips. This is very exciting! I will post updates as they become available on events and such. You may also want to go to the website of the NJ Native Plant Society www.npsnj.org and join so you will get updates on all the happenings.

September Plant of the Month - Narrow Leaf Sunflower, Helianthus angustifolius

The name Sunflower conjours up images of tall plants with huge flowers as big as one's head which with all their bright yellow petals, resemble the sun. Sunflowers are a familiar sight to almost anyone, from small children to elders. The annual Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is what usually comes to mind. But did you know that there are top species of Sunflowers that grow here in South Jersey and in the Pinelands? One is Woodland sunflower ( Heliathus divaricatus) and the other which I will talk about today is Narrow Leaf Sunflower ( Helianthus angustifolius).

Narrow Leaf Sunflower is not as tall and showy as its annual cousin, but the trade off is that this plant is perennial and while having much smaller flowers, have many flowers, making it an attention getter in the garden. The plant begins blooming in early September and should continue through most of the month and even into October. 

Thick populations make an impressive roadside display

In the wild, this plant is found in moist to wet areas, usually in full sun, and sometimes part shade. The ones in full sun tend to have a lot more blooms. For best results, I recommend planting in the same conditions which makes them great for those wet spots in the yard that don't drain well, or even a bog or rain garden. The do tend to naturalize quite well, so consider this when doing a bog garden as you don't want it to over take your other plants.

Wildlife that utilize this plant include bees, butterflies and birds as it provides both nectar and seed. The seed heads are not ripe until November so leaving them on through winter makes a great treat for songbirds when food is getting scarce.

Growing this plant will require cold, moist stratification and is best sown outdoors in fall. Occasionally some plants will bloom the first year from seed. It can also be grown in a container.

For a nice alternative to Chrysanthemums, pot one up and trim it back in July to make it bushier. It will bloom in the Fall and look great among your pumpkins, gourds and Fall decorations.

Happenings at the Nursery As Autumn Approaches

A butterfly nectars on Smooth Blue Aster


 It is just a little past half way through September. Just a few days until Autumn officially begins. And the last few nights have gotten cooler and the days are delightful. I have always believed September is South Jersey's best kept secret. A time when we locals can really enjoy the last days of summer. The heat, humidity, droughts, annoying insects and summer crowds are gone, we are left with nice weather we can enjoy, before we dig in for the coming winter months.

As the days get shorter, nature sets forth a final burst of color that helps to support those fall migrants making their southern journey. One can see the awesome display of yellow, purple, and white colors of numerous species of Goldenrods, Asters, Bonesets and our native fall-blooming Liatris. Various species will bloom in turn, carrying this display into October.

              

A collection of Fall blooming natives

Here at the nursery, there is quite a lot going on.  On the plant tables, Showy Aster, Smooth Blue Aster, White Wood Aster, New York Aster, Bog Aster, Turtlehead, Blue Mistflower, Narrow Leaf Sunflower, and Hairy Blazing Star are coming into bloom.

In the beds on my property, New England Aster and Smooth Blue Aster are just breaking out. I counted no less than twenty bumblebees this evening. They seem to like the Smooth Blue over the New England Aster this year. Pink Turtlehead and Slender Goldenrod have been blooming most of the month and the Turtlehead in particular has done very nice this year with all the rain we've had. The buds are formed on the Seaside Goldenrod which should bloom in October. I expect the Smooth Blues to really take off in the next few days and will keep a lookout for Monarchs which visit frequently.

Don't miss this beautiful display. Getting out for a ride on the back roads, you may discover an old field full of color. If not there, just the roadsides along are coming alive with the signs of Fall. It is nature's finale, and its fabulous. Enjoy!