*Pink Lady Slippers Photo by Alana Steib on a S.C. Chapter 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 Augusta, NJ 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 every month that there is no “off site” Field Trip planned. There is no meeting in December or January.

7/20/26 – 7pm [Meeting originally scheduled for 7/6/26 cancelled due to flood warning.] It’s movie night for the Sussex Chapter of NPSNJ. We’re hosting a screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a beautifully shot 60-minute documentary that reveals the vital—and often overlooked—role caterpillars play in our ecosystems. We will celebrate National Moth Week (July 18-26) and Pollinator Week (June 22-28) with this viewing.

5/4/26 – You are invited to our meeting on May 4^th at 7:00 p.m. where Phil Schaming will speak about New Jersey Wildflowers.

4/6/26 – After a long, long winter our in-person Monthly Chapter Meetings resume in April at 7:00pm at the Sussex-Wantage Library. It will be wonderful to see everyone again! New members are always welcome.

2026 Field Trips:

4/21/26 – Visit to Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery in PA.

Some Sussex Chapter Members got a private tour of the Edge of the Woods Nursery in Oreville, PA and left with cars filled with new aquisitions. Photo taken by Brandon, one of the new oweners, in front of one of the garden ‘rooms,’ this one of pond plants.

5/23/26 – 9:30am A joint field trip to White Lake Natural Area and Shuster Pond. See NJ Butterfly Club Website for details.

5/31/26 – [Date changed from 5/24/26 date due to weather forecast of much needed rain!] Field trip to the 850-acre Dryden-Kuser Natural Area in High Point State Park. It is the highest elevation white cedar swamp in the world and the first declared Natural Area in the State of New Jersey. We will explore a wetland that was created by a retreating glacier over 15,000 years ago. We will travel through forests and on a boardwalk over a sphagnum moss carpet with wild calla and blue flag iris. Bring binoculars if you have them. We will meet at the High Point State Park Office, 1480 NJ route 23, Sussex, NJ at 9:30 a.m.

6/14/26 – Wycoff Garden Tour. 2026 Tour info.

7/11/26 – Warwick Garden Tour. 2026 tour info [See below: member’s photos from the 2025 garden tour.]

7/25/26 – Kittatinny Valley State Park trails, followed by a picnic.

Some Earlier Field Trips

A Sussex Chapter Member explored a new wildflower meadow, formerly known as the Oak Ridge Reservoir in Jefferson Township during Fall 2025. It is just over the eastern border of Sussex County. He observed blooming Cardinal Flower, Nodding Beggarticks, and calico aster in bloom on the bottom of the now dry reservoir. Quite a testament to the power of native plants to colonize and prosper in difficult spaces. Also a not so great a testament to the level of drought in northwest NJ!

June Field Trips – Several Chapter members carpooled to see gardens open for the Warwick Garden Tour. Attendance was lighter than previous years due to the heat and rain, but the members who did go thoroughly enjoyed the gardens –and their gardeners. We plan to go back!

5/15/25 – Field trip to Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area in search of pink and yellow Lady Slippers. Hike was led by Ken Witkowski, former Wildife Biologist at the WRNWR. Success! They found both patches of pink and yellow –and sighted a Bard Owl flying through the canopy.

*Bob, Christine, Amy, Kathy, hike leader Ken Witkowski, Kathleen, Lynn and Mary, photo by Nancy Caulfield*

—First two photos taken by Sussex Chapter Member Nancy Caulfield; the third by Lynn Dubnof

5/13/25 – Members visted the Mackensie Preserve, right outside of Newton. Just off the parking area they encountered a moss-floored Old Growth Forest including rare plants such as the Walking Fern.

—Photos by Chapter Member Lynn Dubnoff.

Sussex Chapter Ongoing Community Projects

Several Chapter Members are creating a new Native Plant Display Garden for the newly installed Children’s Playground in their Stockholm community. This Fall Native trees and shrubs are being planted, followed in the Spring by a new native plant garden. Pictured below are Sussex Chapter Members Nancy Caulfield, Cynthia Rauth, and Alana Steib buying the plants at Anderson Farm’s Labor Day Sale.

*Cartfulls of native rhododendron, native azaelas, etc. at Anderson Farms, Wantage* —*Photo by Lynn Dubnoff*

Saturday 9/20/25 the first stage of planting the brand new Community Native Plant Display Garden began, with the planting and deep w-a-t-e-r-i-n-g of 24 trees and large shrubs. (The garden is located at the eastern edge of Sussex County in a D2 Severe Drought area.) Plants included American Sycamores, Tulip Poplars, Eastern Redbud, underplanted with swaths of Native Azaelas and Mountain Laurels and Rhododendron; and Winterberry Hollies. Along the new split-rail fence Sweet Bay Magnolia, Sweet Pepper Bush, Pagoda Dogwood, & Sweetshrub were planted. Plants were purchased at Anderson Farms and Cerbo’s, local Sussex County nurseries.

The garden was designed by Members of the Sussex County Chapter of the NPS (pictured below), and successfully planted with the help of thirty-two community volunteers of all ages and with the blessed help of Hardyston Township’s backhoe! It never could have happened in one day if thirteen large holes on a steep hillside had to be dug by hand. Josh was an artist moving such heavy equipment around with such delicacy. We all wanted a backhoe for our own gardens!

*SC NPS Members, Lynn, Alana, Nancy, and Mary during planting break –Photo by Joel Dubnoff*

Native Garden at Lusscroft Farms Sister Moon Garden

*Nancy, Christine, and Don during the Lusscroft Farms Sister Moon Garden Spring Clean-up — photo provided by April Fisher*

Summer 2025 – A Garden Gate was installed for easier access into the garden for visitors. In a testament to native plants, the plants all survived a summer of intense heat and long, long dry periods –almost without supplemental watering.