Sussex – The Native Plant Society of New Jersey

*Pink Lady Slippers Photo by Alana Steib on a S.C. field trip to Trillium Farms*

The Sussex Chapter is the northernmost chapter of NPSNJ in New Jersey. Begun in 2015 with a group of native plant enthusiasts, we have expanded to 41 members who enjoy observing native plant habitats in our county’s numerous state parks and gardens. Our members include people who are also passionate about birds, butterflies, moths, floral design, photography, and environmental issues, so there is abundant cross-fertilization and a lot of learning at our meetings.

The group is comprised of a number of Rutgers Master Gardeners and native plant enthusiasts of all experience levels. At our monthly meetings we plan field trips to various native plant gardens and parks both in and out of county. We share our personal garden experiences as well as do research and share topics of interest with the group.

We also believe in educating residents about native plants by actively reaching out into the county with educational programs, displays, a speakers bureau, and by participating in township plant swaps. Members also maintain several community gardens in Sussex County. Every year the Sussex Chapter staffs an educational table at the New Jersey State Fair in August.

We welcome any and all folks interested in learning more about native plants to join our meetings where we feature various speakers and lively discussion. You are also invited to accompany us on our field trips here in beautiful Sussex County and beyond.

Meetings

The NPSNJ Sussex Chapter usually meets on the first Monday of every month at 7pm in person at the Sussex-Wantage Library, 69 County Road 639, Wantage. There is no meeting in December or January.

Sussex Chapter Events

February 2023 – Our first meeting of 2023: a Zoom presentation on February 6th at 7pm by member Sharon Wander: “Barking Up The Right Tree.” See the PDF from this meeting here (or take a look at it at the bottom of the page).
March 2023 – Resuming in-person meetings at the S-W Library at 7pm. This month: a Member’s “Show n’ Tell,” bringing their favorite gardening tool and information on where they got it.
3/16/23 – A special Zoom presentation Thursday, March 16 at 7pm by Lynn Groves, Naturalist at Kittatinny Valley State Park – “Spring Ephemerals: They’re Not Just Pretty Faces.”
4/3/23 – Our monthly Chapter Meeting will take place at at the Sussex-Wantage Library at 69 Loomis Avenue, Sussex at 7pm. Come and join us in the discussion of our “wins and losses” of the past season. Looking ahead: what are you planning to add to your garden this season?
April 2023 – 4/15/23 at 10am: CANCELLED due to forecast for thunderstorms.A Wildflower Walk with Lynn Groves, Naturalist at Kittatinny Valley State Park. We’ll join Lynn for a walk around KVSP looking for Spring Ephemerals in the state park. Contact Sussex Chapter Co-Leader April Fisher for details:
April 22, 2023 – Earth Day. The Sussex Chapter had been invited to exhibit at two different Earth Day Celebrations. We did both, with several members staffing a table in Sparta and several staffing a table at High Point State Park. (photos are below.)
5/1/23 – May Chapter Meeting – We’re talking “deer” at our May meeting. Bring your recipes for success with your neighborhood deer and we’ll review the deer resistant native plant list. Monday, May 1st, 7 p.m. at the Sussex Wantage library, 69 County Road 639, Wantage (aka 69 Loomis Avenue, Sussex).
5/4/23 – Lusscroft Farm Clean up Day set for this Thursday, 5/4 at 9:30am. Bring buckets, weed removal tools. If it’s raining, we will cancel. April will check with Donna Wednesday evening to confirm if the weather is dicey.
5/12/23 – Field trip to Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope at 10am.
5/23/23 – Chapter Members met at Mary’s gardens to dig and divide many native plants that Mary is donating to the Lusscroft Farms Sister Moon garden continuing renovation project. (Photos of both The Dig and The Plant, below.)
5/27/23 – Hike with Sharon Wander for Tree ID at Kittatinny Valley State Park beginning at 9:30am.