Upcoming Event
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 11am-1pm
Plant Give-Away Day and Focus on Ferns Workshop
The Somerset County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of NJ in partnership with New Jersey Audubon Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary is thrilled to offer a free native pollinator plant event at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, 11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville, NJ
Recognizing the crucial role pollinators play in sustaining ecosystems and supporting food production, we are offering one free native plant per person to enhance backyard wildlife gardens and habitats, while supplies last!
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary will also be hosting the program Focus On Ferns from 1-4pm
Discover the fascinating life cycle and structure of ferns in this workshop led by Teacher Naturalist Dorothy Smullen. View the common species of New Jersey ferns and learn how to use a simple key to identify species. Bring a 10x magnifier if you have one; loaner magnifiers will be available to use for the workshop. A short trail walk will follow. For more details and registration click here.
About the Somerset County Chapter
Somerset County is located in the picturesque (and somewhat mythical) region of Central New Jersey, renowned for its historic towns, lush landscapes, and diverse ecosystems. Our goal as a chapter is to assemble individuals passionate about botany, ecology, native plant gardening, and environmental stewardship, in our collective endeavor to appreciate, conserve, and study New Jersey’s indigenous plants and their habitats.
We warmly welcome everyone, from novice gardeners to expert botanists, interested in enriching their landscapes with native plants, cultivating gardens that support local wildlife, and actively participating in our region’s unique botanical legacy. Our meetings, workshops, and special events will provide a platform for collaboration, learning, and celebration of the beauty and importance of New Jersey’s native plants. Join us in the Somerset County Chapter as we explore, protect, and celebrate the flora that defines our state, contributing to a greener and more sustainable New Jersey.
Leaders: Valerie Szkodny and Nancy Toro
Email:
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Steering Committee
Scott Breeman- Duke Farms- Conservation Coordinator
Shona Erlenborn- Rutgers Master Gardener, Rutgers Environmental Steward
Ellen Locker- Rutgers Master Gardener, Rutgers Environmental Steward
Stephanie Punnett- NJ Audubon-Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary Program Director
Dan Ross- Environmental Education Center- Environmental Stewardship Coordinator
Valerie Szkodny- Chapter Co-Leader, Rutgers Master Gardener and Rutgers Environmental Steward
Nancy Toro- Chapter Co-Leader, Rutgers Master Gardener and Rutgers Environmental Steward
Doug Vornlocker– Somerset County Park Commission- Manager of Park Rangers and Property Management
Lisa Weinstock- Rutgers Master Gardener and Rutgers Environmental Steward