Webinar Recordings

Our human brains follow our eyes, and, like insect pollinators, we invariably focus our attention on bright showy floral displays. But our lively, colorful pollinator gardens will only be as successful as the food, primarily leaf matter, we provide for the pollinating insects’ early life stages. This presentation will highlight keystone plants, those trees, shrubs, and flowers that support the greatest diversity of insect life.

About the speaker: Carolyn Summers is the author of Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East (2010)and co-author of the revised edition published in 2024. Her photographs grace the pages of The Pollinator Victory Garden by friend and colleague Kim Eierman. After completing her BSLA in Landscape Architecture at CCNY, she began her career with the Trust for Public Land, producing an open space report for the Harbor Herons Project that has guided preservation efforts to create an urban wildlife refuge on Staten Island in New York City. Carolyn later moved to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection as the agency’s first Director of Natural Resources, where she implemented a native plants policy for all agency construction/restoration projects that continues today. Following this, she went to the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she led a regional project to preserve and restore wildlife habitat and public access in the New York-New Jersey Bight.


Ms. Summers is currently an adjunct professor at Westchester Community College with The Native Plant Center’s Go Native U certificate program. She and her husband have recently opened their country home, Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve for public tours so that designers, gardeners, and homeowners can be inspired by the beauty of native plants in both garden and natural settings.

Program:
As we incorporate more native plants into our landscapes, there are so many good reasons to use plants propagated from seeds. But wild plants have evolved a dizzying array of mechanisms, including chemical-induced dormancy and mandatory cold stratification, to ensure that their seeds disperse, persevere, and germinate at just the right time under natural conditions. These mechanisms are not in place to frustrate would-be plant propagators but must be understood to successfully grow native plants from seed. A far-reaching discussion of the issues surrounding seed collection, procurement, and propagation, with information that will encourage the novice and challenge the professional alike.

Bio:
A life-long naturalist, lover of nature, entomologist, and confirmed plant and ecology nerd, Randi has been working with native plants for over 35 years and founded the mail-order native plant nursery Toadshade Wildflower Farm in 1996. With a particular focus on education and the fascinating ecological diversity of the natural world, Randi has been involved with NPSNJ for many years as a member and speaker, and currently serves on the board as the Entomologist and VP Membership. At present, Randi also serves on the board of directors of the New Jersey Planning Officials and she is the Chair of the Frenchtown Planning Board

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You don’t need a large property to grow a beautiful native plant garden. This talk explains how to grow native plants in very small spaces: in pots, in just 3 square feet of ground, and in typical small suburban spaces, such as tree islands, front borders, or around a lamppost. We’ll cover horticultural techniques such as the special requirements of plants grown in pots as well as design practices such as massing your plants and using nature as a design template.

About the speaker: Elaine Silverstein is certified in Sustainable Landscape Management by the New York Botanical Garden; she has also earned the Urban Naturalist certificate and continues to study botany, ecology, and landscape design. She maintains a horticulture practice in Bergen County where she advises clients on sustainability, garden design, and installing and caring for native plantings. She is a vice president of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and co-leader of the Bergen-Passaic chapter. She lives in Glen Rock, where she is a member of the Environmental Commission.

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In this talk, Kazys Varnelis—artist, historian, and President of NPSNJ—explores naturalistic design, focusing on the complex and evolving dynamics of the forest edge. By incorporating native plants, designers can create spaces that both enhance biodiversity and establish visual harmony with their surroundings. Varnelis will examine how plant communities at the forest edge present opportunities to reimagine suburban landscapes in an era of climate change, fostering resilience and sustainability. This talk highlights strategies for selecting and arranging native species to encourage natural plant succession and adapt to the shifting nature of the landscape. Drawing inspiration from the spontaneous interactions found in nature, Varnelis shows how we can redefine the relationship between design, nature, and ecological stewardship.

Thank you to everyone who attended and expressed interest in the plants, books, and gardens referenced in this talk. We’ve compiled a detailed list for easy reference. This includes native plants mentioned, recommended books, inspiring gardens to visit, and invasive plants to watch out for. We hope this helps spark ideas for your own gardening projects!

Plants, Books, and Gardens Mentioned in the Talk

Native Plants Mentioned
Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip Tree
Fagus grandifolia - American Beech
Quercus rubra - Red Oak
Sassafras albidum - Sassafras
Cercis canadensis - Eastern Redbud
Cornus florida - Flowering Dogwood
Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry
Carya spp. - Hickory (wild seeded)
Rhododendron maximum - Rhododendron Maximum
Kalmia latifolia - Mountain Laurel
Lindera benzoin - Spicebush
Clethra alnifolia - Sweet Pepperbush
Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay Magnolia
Viburnum nudum - Viburnum nudum
Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush Buckeye
Mertensia virginica - Virginia Bluebells
Trillium spp. - Trillium
Tiarella cordifolia - Foamflower
Podophyllum peltatum - Mayapple
Fragaria virginiana - Wild Strawberry
Phlox divaricata - Woodland Phlox
Solidago spp. - Goldenrod esp, rugosa (wrinkle leaf), speciosa (showy), nemoralis (gray)
Ageratina altissima - White Snake Root
Aquilegia canadensis - Columbine
Heuchera americana - Alumroot
Polystichum acrostichoides - Christmas Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris - Ostrich Fern
Stylophorum diphyllum - Celandine Poppy
Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper

Books Mentioned
The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change by Ken Druse
The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest by Rick Darke
On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry
The Wild Garden by William Robinson
Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change by Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher
A View from Federal Twist by James Golden

Gardens to Visit
(I am only listing ones I have been to)
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Pennsylvania
Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
New York Botanical Garden, New York
Brooklyn Botanical Garden, New York
Innisfree Garden, Millbrook, New York (not all native, but great idea)
Freylinghausen Arboretum, Morristown (not all native, but has great moments with ferns and may apples)
Federal Twist, Stockton, New Jersey and other Garden Conservancy Tours (not native, but great ideas).
Mount Cuba Center, Delaware
Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
The Lurie Garden, Chicago, Illinois (not entirely native, but important as all of Piet Oudolf's gardens are).

Invasive Plants to Watch Out For
Pachysandra terminalis - Japanese Pachysandra
Hedera helix - English Ivy
Vinca minor - Vinca Minor
Euonymus fortunei - Winter Creeper
Persicaria virginiana - Jumpseed (can be invasive … watch out for the chevrons on the leaves!)

Feel free to share this list with others who are interested in native plants and sustainable gardening! Let us know if you have additional questions or ideas.

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Seeds of Change / Advocacy and Ordinances at the Town Level in New Jersey

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The Native Plants that Grow Under Trees

In Understory: An Introduction to Native Plants and Landscaping Techniques, Ian Caton, owner of Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery, will explore the essential role of native understory plants in cultivating resilient and biodiverse woodland ecosystems. This session will guide attendees through the diverse and beautiful native plants that grow under trees. Ian will share strategies for selecting and arranging native plants specifically adapted to thrive under tree canopies, highlighting low-maintenance methods that foster self-sustaining, ecologically balanced landscapes. Ian will discuss how integrating these native species can address common challenges in woodland areas—such as erosion control and invasive species management—while enhancing ecological stability and conserving resources. By incorporating native understory plants, participants will learn how to create landscapes that are not only functional and low-impact but also deeply beneficial to local habitats and the broader community.

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Growing Native Trees

Presented by Basil Camu, Arborist, Leaf & Limb
Author of From Wasteland to Wonder, Easy Ways we Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/urban Landscape (available free at https://www.leaflimb.com/wonder/ free)

The way we currently manage the suburban and urban landscape is creating a wasteland and harming the well-being of Earth. We pave over forests, use giant machines to scrape away healthy soil, and turn thriving grasslands into dead lawns. Rain is unable to soak into the ground and instead rushes downhill, causing erosion and flooding. We repeatedly soak the land in toxic chemicals that kill life. There is little food for the birds, butterflies, and bees that need it. These efforts are costly, time-intensive, and increase CO2 in the atmosphere.

Fortunately, we have an alternative path: we can work with natural systems instead of working against them. By doing so, we can help heal Earth. We also save time and money because we perform fewer tasks and use fewer products. Best of all, these are simple things that anyone can do regardless of their knowledge or experience.

During the presentation we will begin by examining how the systems of photosynthesis and soil formation work and how they affect water, carbon, and all other life on land. We will also discuss how we are damaging these systems and practices we can implement that help heal Earth based on first-hand expertise developed at Leaf & Limb. We’ll begin with the easiest concepts, like planting saplings and saving mature trees. Then we’ll move to some more challenging, more impactful approaches, like planting pocket forests and replacing our lawns with Piedmont Prairies. Finally, for those who want to help shift paradigms even more, we discuss the Project Pando model to work with our community to gather native seeds, raise them into trees, and give them away for free.

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Micro Forests for Macro Solutions: An Introduction to Miyawaki Forest

John Evangelista of Groundwork Elizabeth will introduce the Miyawaki Method, a way to reforest our environment by creating dense, fast-growing micro forests. Developed by Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, this method creates dense, self-sustaining forests using native plant species, which thrive with little maintenance once established. Unlike traditional landscaping, Miyawaki Forests are planted with high density and carefully planned plant diversity, enabling them to grow up to ten times faster than typical tree-planting methods. Within a few years, these micro forests can achieve self-sufficiency, needing minimal maintenance while continuing to expand and strengthen ecosystems over time. Miyawaki Forests have become a recognized way to combat climate change, support biodiversity, improve air quality, and strengthen resilience within communities.

Miyawaki Forests are ideal for urban areas with limited space, as they can be planted on small plots such as vacant lots, park edges, school grounds, and community centers. The dense planting design makes them especially effective for noise reduction and pollution control near highways and industrial areas. Beyond cities, the Miyawaki Method can be applied in suburban areas, degraded lands, deforested zones, and rural landscapes, where it can quickly restore soil health, prevent erosion, and bring back native flora and fauna.

Evangelista’s work at Groundwork Elizabeth focuses on community-driven projects that combine ecosystem restoration with local engagement. In “Micro Forests for Macro Solutions,” he will highlight how communities can take an active role in planting and caring for these micro forests, which has been shown to strengthen public connection to local green spaces. From schools to neighborhood associations, the Miyawaki Method offers opportunities for people to directly participate in restoring the local environment, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship across generations.

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New Jersey’s trees shape our landscapes, providing essential shelter for wildlife, improving our air and water, and offering shade that cools our communities. From the towering oaks of the Pine Barrens to the flowering dogwoods brightening our woodlands, these trees are more than scenery—they are vital to the health and resilience of our ecosystems.

Join NPSNJ for Rooted in New Jersey: The Science, Challenges, and Future of Our Native Trees, an in-depth virtual conference dedicated to understanding the essential role of trees in New Jersey and the efforts needed to protect and sustain them. Trees are vital pillars of our ecosystems, supporting wildlife, enhancing biodiversity, and improving air and water quality. They stabilize soil, regulate temperatures, and create healthier environments for all. Yet, despite their immense benefits, trees are often perceived as more difficult to plant and maintain than smaller native plants, while mature trees are frequently seen as safety risks. With thoughtful planning, however, tree planting and maintenance can be straightforward, and strategic placement can mitigate potential safety concerns.

Across New Jersey, tree cover is steadily declining due to urban development, disease, and invasive species, posing serious challenges for local ecosystems. The loss of mature trees reduces critical habitat, impacts biodiversity, and destabilizes soil and water systems, leaving landscapes vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and extreme heat. This conference will bring together experts, advocates, and community leaders to discuss practical strategies for conserving trees, advancing urban forestry, and integrating native trees and plants to build resilient, sustainable landscapes across New Jersey.

This year’s event will feature an engaging lineup of talks and panel discussions, providing valuable insights into planting, protecting, and maintaining New Jersey’s trees for a healthier, greener future.

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New Jersey has the most Superfund sites in the nation, despite being the fourth smallest state. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has embarked on an ambitious program to remediate these sites for public health and safety. In the last twenty years there has been an added push to restore these sites, often of large size, to open space and native wildlife habitat.

Early on, Bob Swain of the Dawson Corporation (now SumCo Eco Contracting) decided to pursue these projects. He obtained all the hazardous waste credentials and invested in equipment and workforce to comply with strict EPA and Army Corps of Engineers requirements for work of this nature.

Bill Young, working for Dawson, was project manager on no less than forty of these hazmat sites in NY/NJ/PA and DE. On this talk, Bill will provide details, insights, and results from four high profile projects. Because these sites can never be built on, it is a rare opportunity to provide critical habitat and bring wildlife back. And many of these cleaned up sites provide a measure of environmental justice to underserved communities.

Bill’s bio:

An experienced field scientist, Young has more than 39 years’ experience in wetland banking, mitigation, building wetlands, monitoring, and permitting. His project portfolio includes more than 45 coastal salt marsh and freshwater wetland projects as well as upland habitat projects, Living Shorelines, and Green Infrastructure. He has helped restore the shrunken island of Jamaica Bay, NY, including Yellow Bar Hassock.

Young’s experience ranges from the design of wastewater treatment wetlands to restoration of Superfund/Brownfield sites. Bill is just as comfortable in construction as he is in consulting. In fact, he is most at home out in the field running crews.

Young is certified as a professional wetland scientist (PWS) by the Society of Wetland Scientists, a Certified Ecological Restoration Specialist (CERP)with SER and has full Army Corps of Engineers training in Construction Quality Management and 40-hour HAZWOPER certification as well.

He is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he has taught Ecology in the Graduate School of Design for the past 22 years. Bill has also taught at City College of New York and Temple University.

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In the changing world in which we find ourselves, it behooves us to build resiliency into every landscape. The days of landscapes dedicated to beauty alone are passing. People are demanding ecologically sensitive landscapes; they want reduced lawn, reduced maintenance, and greater wildlife value. Join Dan Jaffe Wilder, author, and the Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation for a discussion about resilient landscapes. From choosing native plants, to dealing with weeds, to the problem that is the American Lawn Dan will touch on numerous challenges and solutions to building resiliency into every landscape.

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Engaging kids to learn about native plants is vital to our planet’s future. Two speakers, contributors to the recently published NPSNJ’s “Native Plant School Guide,” will delve into the nuts and bolts of establishing native plant gardens in school gardens that not only serve as food and habitat for pollinators and birds but also provide valuable learning opportunities.

Our discussion will focus on a carefully chosen palette of plants: beautiful, easy-to-grow, and that bloom in spring and fall when students are in school.

We’ll explore the benefits of school gardens as well as the challenges associated with creating green spaces in schools and other public spaces.

Sarah Paulsen and Dena Corbin, integral members of the Essex Chapter team behind the School Guide, bring their extensive experience in creating school gardens to the conversation.

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Ever wonder what’s crawling, flying, and eating their way through your garden? Many of us use native plants to attract butterflies and bees, but what else might you find and what does that mean? Join Randi Eckel, PhD Entomology as she identifies the insects found in your garden and offers a glimpse into their lives and ecological value.

Randi Eckel, PhD
NPSNJ Board Entomologist
NPSNJ Vice-President, Membership
NPSNJ, Past President

A life-long naturalist, lover of nature, entomologist, and confirmed plant and ecology nerd, Randi has been working with native plants for over 35 years and founded the mail-order native plant nursery Toadshade Wildflower Farm in 1996. With a particular focus on education and the fascinating ecological diversity of the natural world, Randi has been involved with NPSNJ for many years as a member and speaker, and currently serves on the board as the Entomologist and VP Membership. At present, Randi also serves on the board of directors of the New Jersey Planning Officials and she is the Chair of the Frenchtown Planning Board.

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Traditional turfgrass lawns provide little benefit to native biodiversity, are significant sources of air and water pollution, and require huge investments of time to maintain. In a world grappling with the climate crisis, every action counts, and adopting a new lawn paradigm that champions native biodiversity in your own backyard is a powerful way to take control of your environmental impact.

Join us for an enlightening webinar as we explore a visionary lawn paradigm shift – one where lush, low-growing native grasses and forbs take center stage. As featured in the New York Times article by Margaret Roach, this webinar will explore the journey behind Cornell Botanic Gardens’ native lawn, from its inception to the multitude of benefits it brings, and the invaluable lessons it has taught us.

Todd Bittner directs the Natural Areas Program at Cornell Botanic Gardens, overseeing nearly 3,600 acres across 40 natural areas in the central Finger Lakes Region. These areas feature diverse natural community types, rare plant habitats, two iconic gorges, Beebe Lake, and a distinguished wildflower garden, making up one-third of the Cornell campus.

With a profound commitment to conserving natural heritage and fostering conservation leaders, Bittner collaborates with faculty, campus stakeholders, and conservation organizations. He educates on natural areas and conservation through educational hikes, lectures, and various teaching roles, including at Cornell Adult University and as a house fellow for Flora Rose House. As a trained plant ecologist, he leads rare plant conservation efforts, coordinates conservation research, and heads the University’s deer management program.

https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/explore/on-campus-natural-areas/native-lawn-demonstration-area/all-about-our-native-lawn/

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This talk covers the ecology of beech, their importance in NJ, and what attributes and ecological services are under threat. The basic pathogenesis will be reviewed. Then, importantly the talk focuses on steps land managers can make to mitigate negative impacts of BLD including treatment options with pesticides, cultural practices to reduce stress in beech trees, and vital steps to prepare for losses of beech canopy such as mass underplanting of indigenous tree cohorts and management for their success.

The presenter, Jean Epiphan, is an Agriculture & Natural Resource Agent (Assistant Professor) of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Morris County. She is a Licensed Tree Expert LTE#692 and Certified Arborist ISA NJ-1247A. Ms. Epiphan has her BS in Forestry and MS in Ecology. She has many years of practical experience working in developed and ornamental landscapes and strives to design and manage them to improve environmental sustainability as well as ecological function.

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Vernal pools provide critical breeding habitat to frogs, toads, and salamanders across North America. Tom Biebighauser will describe the highly successful techniques he has developed for restoring vernal pools that look and function like natural wetlands. You’ll meet dedicated individuals across the United States and Canada who are building vernal pools to provide habitat for pollinators and rare species of animals at schools, on rangeland, in forests, fields, and on mined land.

Tom Biebighauser has restored over 2,900 wetlands and streams across 26-States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan since 1979. He has developed highly effective and low-cost techniques for building wetlands and streams that clean runoff, control flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide critical habitat for endangered and threatened plants and animals. Tom retired from the US Forest Service in 2013, after working 34-years as a Wildlife Biologist where he initiated wetland and stream restoration programs across the United States. Having built over 1,400-dams, he has since decommissioned over 300-dams. Tom instructs a Graduate-level class on Wetland Design at the University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering, along with classes at the University of Alberta and the British Columbia Institute Technology. He has written 4-books about wetland restoration, and continues to restore over 100-wetlands and streams each year.

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Mary Anne Borge is a naturalist, photographer, author and educator. She is the editor of Butterfly Gardener magazine, a naturalist and instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, and a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. She is the team leader for Lambertville Goes Wild, https://lambertvillegoeswild.weebly.com/, a volunteer organization that successfully led the City of Lambertville to certification as a community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. At her blog, the-natural-web.org, Mary Anne writes about and illustrates with her photography the importance of native plants to all life.

Even in winter, native plants are visible all around us. Learn how to identify the standing winter skeletons of some common native plants in winter, what characteristics to look for including the common types of fruit you might see in winter, which plants take special advantage of the winter months to photosynthesize and how they do it, and the benefits native plants offer to wildlife and to your own gardens in winter.

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Native edible and medicinal plant species can be integrated into gardens and ecological restoration projects to create habitats that support (and include) humans as part of local ecosystems. We’ll consider stewarding edible and medicinal plant species in native hab]itats such as riparian corridors and glades and discuss how a habitat-based approach translates to yards, parks, and farms. We’ll explore the prospect of changing our foodways to patterns that favor native diversity, rewarding restoration and stewardship.

Field botanist, native plant grower, and restoration practitioner Jared Rosenbaum asks whether we can honor native ecosystems and lifeways as we restore habitats that support humans, other animals, and native plants alike.

Jared Rosenbaum is a botanist, native plant grower, and Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner. He is a founding partner at Wild Ridge Plants LLC, a business that grows local ecotype native plants using sustainable practices and performs botanical surveys. Jared is the author of the book Wild Plant Culture: A Guide to Restoring Native Edible and Medicinal Plant Communities, as well as children’s book The Puddle Garden, about native plants and wildlife. He is also a musician and plays guitar in the band Hollow Howl.

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This talk, presented by Kristina Necovska, will survey the plant communities native to New Jersey, both common ones and ones that are unique to our state. From High Point to Cape May, New Jersey is home to some unique assemblages of plants and is an important center of biodiversity in the Northeastern United States. This program will help you appreciate your home state’s native plant and animal communities and learn about publicly available tools and data you can use to help you in your research and garden planning.

Kristina Necovska is a cartographer and field botanist. She holds a BA from Muhlenberg College with post-graduate certification in Geographic Information Systems from Penn State University. Some highlights of her environmental career include developing technical tools for watershed modeling for UNDP Western Balkan, and wetlands monitoring and surveying for invasive plants in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. She has expanded New Jersey’s records of native and invasive plant distribution by submitting vouchers to the Rutgers University Chrysler Herbarium and to the NJDEP Natural Resources Heritage Program.

Kristina is currently employed as a GIS Specialist at Ridgewood Water, a large water utility in Bergen County, where she performs geographic analyses for the utility and for the Village of Ridgewood.

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Bob Sprague, Charter Member and President of the Native Orchid Conference, as well as Long-time Director and past President of the SouthEastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society, will discuss the Orchids of the New Jersey Pine Barrens (and Why the Smithsonian is Interested).

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For decades, stormwater has been ditched and piped to get rainwater away from buildings and properties quickly. The downside is that all that additional rainwater ends up in nearby creeks where the increased volume and velocity erode banks and add pollutants to the natural environment. Rainscaping practices like rain gardens are designed to hold water on the property longer, to encourage water to infiltrate back into the ground, like it did before development. Permeable paving also encourages water to enter back into the ground. These and other rainscaping practices will be discussed in this homeowner-friendly webinar presented by Scott Woodbury, owner of Cacalia Design and Wilding.

Scott Woodbury is the owner of Cacalia Design and Wilding, a native landscaping design and consulting studio. He led development of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and founded the St. Louis Chapter of Wild Ones, the largest chapter in the country. Scott currently teaches Native Landscape Practices, a course at St. Louis Community College and is a regular speaker, writer and consultant on native landscaping throughout the region.

He received a BS degree in horticulture at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and has worked at various public gardens including the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, Tudor Place in Washington D.C., Old Westbury Gardens in New York, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania and Castello Di Uzzano in Florence, Italy.

He currently serves as advisor to the horticulture program of St. Louis Community College, Grow Native! and Wild Ones St. Louis. Scott serves on the planning committees for the Partners for Native Landscaping conference and the small grants programs for The Deer Creek Watershed Alliance and MSD Project Clear.

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Noah Charney, PhD.

Is assistant professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Maine. He authored the new book These Trees Tell a Story, co-authored the award-winning Tracks and Signs of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A Guide to North American Species, and has published dozens of scientific articles on forests, climate change, wetlands, salamanders, and other topics. He also serves as the executive director of the conservation nonprofit, Radnor to River in Nashville, TN.

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Pedram (Ped) Daneshgar, Ph.D.

Is a plant ecologist with a focus on community and ecosystem ecology. His current research is on coastal forest ecology, specifically examining the impacts of climate change on maritime forest ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic as well as mangrove ecosystems in The Bahamas. He has worked in several New Jersey ecosystems including cranberry bogs, coastal dunes, salt marshes, and pitch pine forests. At Monmouth University, he primarily teaches Botany, Ecology, and Tropical Island Ecology for the Biology Department.
Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Ped earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Delaware. To follow, he studied climate impacts of forests of the Pacific Northwest for his MS from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Afterwards, Ped moved to Gainesville, Florida to study Invasion Ecology in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida. Following his PhD, Ped’s last stop before New Jersey was in central Texas where he studied prairies and invaded grasslands.

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Emile DeVito, Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution

Specializing in birds and vegetation landscapes in NJ Pine Barrens, he is currently working on the protection of rare plants and snakes in the Pine Barrens, Manager of Science and Stewardship at New Jersey Conservation Foundation since 1989, trustee of Pinelands Preservation Alliance and NJ Natural Lands Trust and member of the NJ Endangered and Non-Game Species Committee.

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Hubert Ling, Ph.D.

Has been excited about nature starting in his youth when he had to pass a test to go to a nature camp. His interest led him to a M.S. in Botany, a Ph.D. in Biology, and a RN. He went on to work in industry and academia focusing on microbiology, mycology, botany, and general biology with many publications.
He has served on the board for the NJ Native Plant Society almost since its inception and is a past president. He is an avid native plant gardener. He has shared his expertise as consultant, speaker, and field trip leader for various organizations.
He is now retired from academia and nursing but he is an ESL instructor, a NPSNJ Horticulture Co-Chair, and is a monthly contributing writer for the “Gardener News”.

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Curious about the Heinz National Wildlife Refuge you might have noticed while driving up and down I-95? There's a ton of native plant and habitat restoration going on in there!!


Join Garrett White, Refuge Biological Science Technician, for a special tour of the plants and wildlife of Tinicum!! Pressed between Southwest Philly to the West and Philadelphia International Airport to the East, this special wetland oasis is unique in its proximity to the neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Interstate 95, and one of the busiest airports in America.


Celebrated as America's First Urban Refuge, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum was established in 1972 for the purposes of preserving, restoring, and developing the natural area known as Tinicum Marsh. In addition, the refuge was established to provide environmental education and an opportunity to study nature. In this webinar Refuge Biological Science Technician Garrett White will detail the biology program of the Refuge, highlighting habitat restoration initiatives, urban pollinator gardens, and the importance of involving the community in this work.

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You might not think about bats very much in New Jersey, but did you know the Garden State is home to 9 different bat species? A recent report determined that over 50% of our native bats are considered at risk. Besides adding diversity and flair to local wildlife, New Jersey’s bats consume countless pest insects every single night. These nocturnal neighbors need our help now more than ever. Join Bat Conservation International’s Community Engagement Manager Erin Cord as she talks about our local bats, the threats they face, and how you can help them right in the comfort of your own backyard by providing native plants to attract nighttime insects that bats like to eat.

Erin joined the BCI staff in 2019 and is proud to be doing community engagement work on behalf of the organization. Erin double majored in Wildlife Conservation and Entomology from the University of Delaware and received her MS in Wildlife Ecology from the Cesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She has over 10 years of experience working as a wildlife biologist and running environmentally-focused volunteer, outreach, and education programs. Erin is happiest working at the intersection of science communication and citizen empowerment. She loves working outside and getting people excited about environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation.

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Deb Ellis, Chair of our Essex Chapter and lifelong environmental advocate, will share which flowers and shrubs are well-suited to sustain wildlife through fall and winter. We will also discuss modernizing fall cleanup, how “leaving the leaves” can nurture your garden, and how native plants can serve as a home and winter food source for pollinators and birds.

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Interactions between species invasions and climate change necessitate proactive decision making that will determine what our ecosystems look like in the future. This talk will cover how climate change affects species across time and space, and how we can use climate-smart gardening to minimize the spread of invasive species while promoting native biodiversity.

About the Speaker:

Evelyn Beaury received her PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she studied the spatial ecology and biogeography of plant invasions in the context of climate change. This work incorporates stakeholder decision-making, thinking about how human activities influence invasions and the management/policy decisions we can make to prevent further spread. Evelyn is now a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University, where she has broadened her research to think spatially about how we can increase carbon storage via changes in land use and land management.

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Ever wonder what’s crawling, flying, and eating their way through your garden? Many of us use native plants to attract butterflies and bees, but what else might you find and what does that mean? Join Randi Eckel, PhD Entomology as she identifies the insects found in your garden and offers a glimpse into their lives and ecological value.

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Uli is the author of The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden, published by Native Plant Trust and Timber Press in May 2022. This essential handbook provides a guide to selecting native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and groundcovers that will increase the ecological value of your garden by creating habitat for wildlife and supporting at-risk pollinators and other beneficial insects.

UIi Lorimer is the Director of Horticulture for Native Plant Trust. He oversees the facilities and operations at Garden in the Woods and at Nasami Farm. Uli brings 20 years of experience working with native plants in public gardens with previous positions at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Wave Hill Garden, and the US National Arboretum. He is a tireless advocate for the use of native plants in designed spaces through his public speaking, writing, lectures, and media appearances. Uli feels most grounded with his hands in the soil.

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Linda has been working hard to restore our local woodlands. She founded the Wild Woods Restoration Project, a nonprofit that organizes volunteers to grow native plants for restoration projects in local parks and preserves. They use locally-collected seeds to preserve the genetics of local populations and the biodiversity of local natural areas. She will be presenting some of her on-going projects and how you might get involved!

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Fungi and plants have coexisted for millions of years. Without both organisms, our world would look very different. Here I will discuss the wonderful world of fungi and their close relationship with plants.

About our Speaker: Dr. Steve Kutos is a research ecologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Conservation Biology Institute. Overall, his research explores the relationship between plants and the microorganisms that live on and around them. His current research examines the links between microbes and the conservation and flavor quality of coffee.

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Soil is one of the most important components of your Jersey-Friendly Yard, but perhaps the least understood. We will explore the physical, chemical and biological processes of soil, and how they work together to create a healthy foundation for the native plants in your Jersey-Friendly yard. Don’t Treat Your Soil Like Dirt!

Becky Laboy is the full-time Education Outreach Specialist with Ocean County Soil Conservation District, where she develops programs and instructs school children, scout groups and community groups on topics related to soil conservation, native plants and eco-friendly gardening. She is an adjunct professor at Kean University, where she teaches Soil Science. She also instructs the Barnegat Bay Volunteer Master Naturalist course through Ocean County College and leads birding and native plant tours with Ocean County Parks & Recreation. She has over 25 years of experience as a formal classroom teacher and informal environmental educator. Becky also serves as a co-leader for the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. When not teaching about soil conservation and leading people on outdoor adventures, Becky can usually be found behind a pair of binoculars as an avid birder, or traversing trails in search of unique plants and wildflowers. She enjoys landscaping her own yard with natives to attract and support birds and wildlife.

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Naturescaping: Landscaping Based on Nature
Elaine Silverstein

Many gardeners today understand the importance of planting native plants in restoring our environment. This workshop builds on this idea by explaining how homeowners can help restore natural habitats by planting groups of species that grow together in nature. Beginning with observation of nature, the workshop covers common but important Northeastern ecosystems such as prairies, red maple swamps, and oak-hickory forests, describing each one in detail and explaining what to plant to recreate it.

About Elaine Silverstein

About the Speaker: Elaine Silverstein is certified in Sustainable Landscape Management by the New York Botanical Garden, where she has also earned the Urban Naturalist certificate and continues to study botany, ecology, and landscape design. She is co-leader of the Bergen-Passaic chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and co-chair of the Glen Rock Shade Tree Advisory Committee.

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We will identify native plants that are multitaskers in the garden. Whether in the ground or a container, using native plants for beauty and food for wildlife is easy. Using natives, nativars and non-native plants offer a diverse palette for today’s gardener.

Teresa Speight is a Native Washingtonian, Author, Former Head Gardener for the City of Fredericksburg, Va., Garden Writer, Podcaster, Visionary, and Garden Coach. A former Region II Director for GardenComm, Teri is a true Steward of the land and shares her passion on her website Cottage In the Court.

https://cottageinthecourt.com/

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Make your landscape more ecologically sound by implementing a variety of sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques. Learn how to manage and conserve water using rain gardens, bio-swales, and rain barrels; reduce the demands of lawn care by adding meadow areas; and increase your energy savings with strategically placed layered plantings. Develop your garden as an ecosystem that supports a diverse population of beneficial wildlife and creates healthy, natural habitats

Sue Barton, Professor and Extension Specialist Ornamental Horticulture, University of Delaware
Susan Barton, PhD is an extension specialist and professor in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at the University of Delaware. She has worked for the past 20+ years with DelDOT to research and implement new roadside vegetation management strategies. She has also worked with partners to develop the Plants for a Livable Delaware Program, designed to provide alternatives to known invasive plants species and to promote sustainable landscaping.

Sue teaches Plants and Human Culture, Landscape Drawing, Landscape Architecture Symposium, Landscape Management and coordinates the Landscape Architecture/Plant Science Internship. She also works closely with the nursery and landscape industry, writing newsletters, organizing short courses, and conducting horticulture industry expos with the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association. Sue received the Nursery Extension Award in 1995 from the American Nursery and Landscape Association and the Ratledge Award for service from the University of Delaware in 2007. Sue received her SITES AP certification in summer 2017. In 2021, Sue received the George M. Worrilow award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, given to a college alumnus with exemplary service to agriculture in the state.

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Join Sam as he highlights knockout native species and cultivars from Mt. Cuba’s Trial Gardens. Top performers and favorites of Coreopsis, Baptisia, Monarda, Phlox, Helenium, Echinacea and wild hydrangea represent some of the best native plants for the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Sam will discuss their horticultural and ecological performance and will share important information on standouts that make beautiful additions to your garden.

Sam Hoadley Bio:

Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center where he evaluates plant species, old and new cultivars, and hybrids in the Trial Garden. Sam earned his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture from the University of Vermont.

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Pandora will discuss strategies for thinking about and responding to the complexities of environmental change in our home gardens. Pandora presents a proactive approach toward making our home landscapes part of a larger solution that improves outcomes for the plant, animal, and fungal life that are all impacted by environmental change. The talk will cover specific methods of designing a landscape, selecting plant species, and building ecological resilience, including simple methods of improving soils, reducing erosion, and increasing biodiversity, all with a goal of maximizing ecological function.

Pandora Young is a Senior Land Stewardship and Ecology Technician who has worked at Longwood Gardens since 2005, including 18 years as the horticulturalist for Peirce’s Woods, a 7-acre display garden area showcasing plants native to Eastern North America. They received a B.A. in Japanese studies, with a minor in Biology from Earlham College, IN. Over the years, Pandora has taught many classes and led tours with a focus on native and edible plants. Pandora is passionate about connecting people with plants and fostering healthy more resilient ecosystems.

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We were honored to speak with Best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver for the Hudson County Chapter's poetry series, Saturday Morning Poetry with Ann Wallace. Barbara shared three of her nature poems with us from her book How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons) including “The Hands of Trees, "Great Barrier," and "Love Poem with Birds."

Barbara Kingsolver is the author of many bestselling works of fiction, including Demon Copperhead (to be released on October 18, 2022), Unsheltered, Flight Behavior, The Lacuna, The Poisonwood Bible, and Animal Dreams. She has also published two books of poetry—Another America and How to Fly—as well as creative nonfiction and essays. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal, our country’s highest honor for service through the arts, as well as the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for the body of her work. She lives with her family in a farm in southern Appalachia. You can find her upcoming book tour information at BarbaraKingsolver.net.

Saturday Morning Poetry is produced by poet Ann Wallace @annwallace409 and NPS-NJ Hudson County Chapter co-leader Kim Correro @Kimcorrero.

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This summer the Hudson County Chapter launched a poetry initiative called Saturday Morning Poetry with Ann Wallace. Ann is a published poet, professor of English at New Jersey City University and a longtime gardener. She is also a member of the Hudson Chapter and has curated a unique series for the public that celebrates the work of contemporary poets bringing nature and art together. Every Saturday morning our chapter announces the nature poem of the week followed by a live interview with the poet on our Instagram page the following Wednesday evening. This week our guest is critically acclaimed poet Ross Gay.

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Mike will focus on native plant gardening, emphasizing those that resemble or functionally replace popular invasive species counterparts. He will cover ways to protect your plantings to increase choices.

Speaker Bio: Mike is the FoHVOS Stewardship Director and also serves as our Invasive Species Strike Team Program Director. He joined FoHVOS in 2007 and co-founded the Strike Team in 2008 with the goal of bringing greater efficiency and effectiveness to invasive species management. Mike has a Ph.D. in ecology from Rutgers University and over 25 years of experience in land stewardship, planning and research, working extensively in the evaluation and management of rare and invasive species and deer management. He has consulted with over 30 organizations in NJ including the NJ Invasive Species Council for which he prepared the New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species.

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Native plants are most often viewed by the public in ‘wild’ spaces such as meadows or as highly managed landscapes in large botanical gardens. There are few examples or resources on how to incorporate native plants into the landscape for residents with small yards in a way that fits the tidy yard look that many people are comfortable with and can afford. This presentation includes resources for residents developed over a five-year program that make it easier for residents to include natives in their home landscapes. Kate will present an array of simple landscape design templates as well as resources on common weeds and invasive plants that residents may encounter in the home garden.

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Don't neglect the ground level of your garden! As a beautiful, sustainable, and ecologically important alternative to traditional mulch, native groundcover plants can be used to crowd out weeds, provide year-round soil protection, and offer a habitat for beneficial insects. In this presentation, Randi will discuss the benefits of native groundcovers, and introduce some of her favorite native groundcovers for different garden conditions.

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Overabundant deer and invasive plant species are profoundly altering the characteristics of forests in central-northern NJ and present major priorities and challenges for forest restoration in the future. This presentation will share the results of current research on the changes taking place in our forests and the effectiveness of different approaches being taken to address them. The benefits, limitations and potential pitfalls of tools such as prescribed burning, native plantings, deer exclosures, and hunting programs at improving forest conditions over time will be discussed.

Jay KellyBio: Jay F. Kelly, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Raritan Valley Community College and co-Director of its Center for Environmental Studies. He is a native of central NJ and holds a BA in Biology and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University. For the past fifteen years, Dr. Kelly and his students have conducted extensive research on rare plant biology and conservation in ecosystems across NJ and the mid-Atlantic region. A major focus of this work in recent years has been documenting the impacts of deer, invasive species and other factors on forests in central and northern NJ, and the effectiveness of different tools for addressing them. Having collected both historical and present data from hundreds of forest plots, and infrared deer surveys on more than 100 sites in northern NJ, Dr. Kelly and his team have assembled some of the most comprehensive data available on the extent to which deer and invasive plants have changed our forests over time. They are also conducting ongoing research into the long-term responses of forests to different forest restoration strategies, including deer exclosures, hunting programs, prescribed burning and native plantings. More can be found about his research and educational activities at https://www.raritanval.edu/Environmental-Studies.

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Deb Ellis, Master Gardener and leader of the Essex Chapter, will be our featured speaker, providing tips on how to support biodiversity and bring butterflies and birds to your yard by planting native bushes and flowers. Learn about invasive species and how to replace them with easy-care and beautiful natives for every season.

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Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife. The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.

DougBio: Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 106 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014; Nature's Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, was released in February 2020, and his latest book The Nature of Oaks was released by Timber press in March 2021. His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer's Association, Audubon, The Garden Club of America and The American Horticultural Association.

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Learn how to make your backyard a critical wildlife habitat for migrating birds and pollinators. With the focus on the importance of native plants and how important they are to the environment.

Bio: Don Torino is President of Bergen County Audubon Society, the local chapter of the national Audubon Society. He grew up the Meadowlands, which is where he learned to love the natural world. Don worked for Wild birds Unlimited in Paramus for 23 years as the store naturalist, and during that time, he designed over 500 backyard wildlife habitats. Today he still resides in the Meadowlands, where he leads nature walks throughout the year, runs educational programs on everything from butterflies to birds, and works at Bergen Audubon's public native plant habitat projects around the area.

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Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre, organic park in the middle of New York City, was created with ecology in mind. The Park's award winning piers host top notch recreation, from opera to outdoor films, all of it beautifully designed. But the piers also contain native woodlands, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and numerous meadows. These areas closely mimic native ecosystems and are managed with an emphasis on wildlife habitat.

This talk will detail many of the strategies employed to design an ecological park, as well as the management techniques used to cultivate biodiverse parkland. If we can do it, so can you.

Bio: Rebecca McMackin is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. By day, she is the Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she manages 85 acres of diverse parkland organically and with an eye towards habitat creation for birds, butterflies, and soil microorganisms. In her imaginary free time, Rebecca writes about landscape management and pollination ecology, as well as designs the occasional garden. Her writing has been published by the New York Times, the Ecological Landscape Alliance, and the Landscape Institute.

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Trees and shrubs are essential to attracting and sustaining wildlife in your winter garden. Becky LaBoy will use the Jersey-Friendly Yards website to identify and explore native trees and shrubs that offer food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, and that provide beauty and interest to our winter yards. Tips and techniques for creating brush piles, installing roosting and nesting boxes, and for maintaining stems and leaves for overwintering beneficial insects will also be discussed.

Ms. Laboy is the Education Outreach Specialist for the Ocean County Soil Conservation District. She has over 20 years of experience working as an educator in both formal and informal education and natural science settings. She holds an MA in Education, a BS in Environmental Biology and a BA in International Relations. Becky enjoys landscaping her own yard to attract and support birds and wildlife and strives to inspire others to make small but positive changes in home landscaping practices for a healthier planet.



We are excited about our local NPSNJ chapter that serves native plant enthusiasts in Atlantic County and Cape May County as well as anyone from areas west or north who would like to join us. We hold eight evening meetings a year on the 3rd Monday of the month (September, October, November, February, March, April, May, and June).

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Starting with a blank slate in 2018, Bobbie Herbs created a compact native plant garden in her backyard. Nestled in dense suburbia she hoped to bring some wild into her yard while not offending her neighbors. She will walk us through her steps of research, design, and execution – all beautifully documented through her photography. Randi Eckel and Bobbie will then discuss what worked, what didn't work, and how mother nature sometimes has her own ideas! Bobbie is a Master Gardener with certifications in horticulture from Longwood Gardens and Randi is the founder and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm. Join us for a terrific conversation on gardening and transforming spaces with native plants.

Meet Bobbie Herbs. Bobbie J. Herbs is a certified Rutgers University Master Gardener. She earned her Ornamental Horticulture Certification at Longwood Gardens and serves on the board of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. She gardens passionately, without too much fuss by using native plants as living mulch, everchanging floral displays, and putting a little wild in her small garden. Her backyard, in dense suburbia, attracts skippers, butterflies, frogs, toads, dragonflies, spiders and a recent immature box turtle. She is honored to make a healthier earth – at least her little piece of it – and offers hope to others who consider recreating natural habitat in their gardens. Her work with NPSNJ provides a community of like-minded people and lifelong learning about the significant role native plants have in sustaining a healthy planet and beautifying our yards.

Meet Randi Eckel: Dr. Randi Eckel has been working with native plants for over 35 years, and founded the mail-order native plant nursery Toadshade Wildflower Farm in 1996 to further public awareness and availability of native plants. A life-long naturalist, lover of nature, entomologist, and confirmed plant and ecology nerd, Randi specializes in the interactions between plants and other living things. She is known for her lively and engaging lectures and workshops on growing and propagating native plants, and offers interesting, nuanced information on the complex issues facing native plants and native plant communities.

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Explore the Jersey-Friendly Yards website, including its tools and resources that you can use to create a "Jersey-Friendly Yard". Learn the importance of a healthy foundation of soil, water conservation, and how to attract pollinators, birds and wildlife to your yard using native plants.

Becky Laboy is the Education Outreach Specialist at the Ocean County Soil Conservation District and volunteers her time as co-leader for the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Becky Laboy holds an MA in Education, a BS in Biology, and has over 20 years of experience as an Educator. In addition to her Soil Conservation position, Becky is an adjunct professor for Kean University, as well as the Instructor for the Barnegat Bay Master Naturalist course. She also leads birding and plant tours for Wells Mills County Park in Ocean County, NJ. She is co-author of "The Kid's Guide to Exploring Nature", published by Brooklyn Botanic Garden. When not teaching about soil conservation, botanizing, or leading people on outdoor adventures, Becky can usually be found behind a pair of binoculars as an avid and devoted birder. She enjoys landscaping her own yard to attract and support birds, and strives to inspire others to make small but positive changes in home landscaping practices that benefit both wildlife and humans.

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Trees and shrubs are a necessary component of a wildlife-friendly yard. Together with your flowering perennials, they offer habitat in the form of nesting places, cover and food for birds, mammals and pollinators. Becky introduces some native trees and shrubs that you can add to your New Jersey backyard, and discusses how they support the web of life. www.npsnj.org

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Soil is one of the most important components of your garden, but possibly the least understood. We will explore the chemical, physical and biological processes of soil and how they work together to create a healthy foundation. www.npsnj.org

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Planting native plants is a big step toward making your property eco-friendly and sustainable, but there's even more you can do. Horticulturist and chapter co-leader, Elaine Silverstein, describes some steps you can take to make your garden easier and cheaper to manage, as well as more sustainable. Topics covered include leave the leaves, making compost, sustainable lawn care, and of course, planting natives. www.npsnj.org

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This workshop covers the steps involved in creating a native plant garden: preparing the site, choosing plants, rudiments of garden design, and maintenance. It also focuses on why it's important to plant natives. www.npsnj.org

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Planting native plants is a big step toward making your property eco-friendly and sustainable, but there's even more you can do. Horticulturist and Bergen County chapter co-leader, Elaine Silverstein, describes some steps you can take to make your garden easier and more economical to manage, as well as more sustainable. Topics covered include leave the leaves, making compost, sustainable lawn care, and of course, planting natives. www.npsnj.org

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When we garden, we can support biodiversity through the plants we choose! In this workshop you will learn how to grow the beautiful and unusual flowers of the spring native garden and how they sustain native bees and butterflies early in the season. Since many of these flowers are shade lovers, they grow well under deciduous trees. www.npsnj.org

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