Jersey Friendly Yards — Developed by the Barnegat Bay Partnership with support from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Their certification program engages residents, schools, and municipalities in stewardship actions that help manage stormwater, reduce pollution, and create wildlife habitat — all starting with smart plant choices and sustainable yard care practices. Learn more at jerseyyards.org.
Handouts
Going Native
Jersey Friendly Yards and Barnegat Bay Watershed have created a brochure for what native plants are appropriate to plant in the Watershed.
Going Native: A Guide to Landscapingwith Native Plants in the Barnegat Bay Watershed
Based on the original brochure, Friends of Foote’s Pond Wood and NPSNJ helped create the Northern New Jersey edition.
NPSNJ also collaborated to produce a Spanish Translation of the Northern NJ Edition
Garden State Gardens — A consortium of New Jersey’s public gardens that works to increase public awareness of the horticultural, educational, artistic, and historic value of the state’s public gardens. Their member gardens collaborate to promote visitation, development, stewardship, and support, and they offer a passport program that encourages visitors to explore nearly 30 public gardens across the state. Learn more at gardenstategardens.org.
FoHVOS New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team — Founded 15 years ago as part of the nonprofit Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, the Strike Team focuses on detecting and eradicating the most threatening invasive species before they become widespread. They work with over 150 partner organizations and hundreds of private citizens, and maintain resources including a do-not-plant list, interactive mapping tools, and volunteer stewardship opportunities statewide. Mike Van Clef, Invasive Species Strike Team Program Director, was instrumental in getting the New Jersey Invasive Species Management Act passed. Learn more at fohvos.info/invasive-species-strike-team.
DarkSky New Jersey — The New Jersey chapter of DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association), an organization that works to preserve and protect the nighttime environment through quality outdoor lighting. The chapter raises awareness about how light pollution affects New Jersey’s ecosystems and human health, and advocates for responsible lighting practices in communities across the state — a mission that ties directly into the ecological themes of native plant gardening and pollinator conservation. Learn more at astra-nj.com/darksky-new-jersey.
Handout
The Garden Goes Dark
Landscape designer Phyllis Gricus explores how excessive outdoor lighting disrupts the ecosystems gardeners work so hard to build — harming nocturnal pollinators, interfering with plant growth cycles, and offering no real security benefit. Her article, published in Horticulture magazine, offers practical steps for reducing light pollution, from choosing warm-colored, shielded fixtures to installing timers and motion sensors. She also makes the case for moon gardens — plantings of pale, fragrant, night-blooming natives designed to be enjoyed after dark while supporting moths and other nighttime pollinators.
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