Tour of Native Plant Gardens at Georgian Court University

Join the Jersey Shore chapter on Saturday, March 22nd at 2:30 pm at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ for a tour of the university’s native plant gardens. Our guide, Dr. Mike Gross, will show us native species growing in a range of light, soil and moisture environments throughout the historic campus. We’ll have the opportunity to see the holly and sweet pepperbush collections, as well as unusual native trees like Pawpaws, Franklinia, and a large white oak tree that is almost 300 years old. 

Dr. Gross will also talk about mulching with pine needles and spring garden clean-up. He will demonstrate environmentally-friendly equipment, including an electric mulcher/leaf blower, lawn mower and hedge trimmer. At the end, attendees will be welcome to participate in a spring garden cleanup of some of the gardens (please bring your own gloves and pruners if interested in this volunteer option). 

Registration is required for this event. Those who register will receive further instructions about where to park.

OUR GUIDE Dr. Michael Gross has been a biology professor at Georgian Court University since 1992 and director of the university’s Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum since 2001. He’s a member of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and Secretary of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. As director of the arboretum, he oversees the university’s four 1900-era large historic gardens, as well as a number of smaller, recently created pollinator-focused gardens that feature native perennials and shrubs.