Garden Clubs and Conservation Groups Work
To Proclaim April as New Jersey Native Plant Month
Rumson Garden Club, a member club of the Garden Club of America, and the Garden Club of Fair Haven, a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc. have come together to convince state lawmakers of the importance of native plants in our local environment, and to pass a resolution declaring April as “New Jersey Native Plant Month.” The legislation has the support of Gov. Phil Murphy and is sponsored by State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11).
The effort is part of a national initiative launched in October 2022 by the 18,000-member Garden Club of America which seeks to have all 50 states highlight the importance of native plants by designating April as Native Plant Month in their states.
In New Jersey a Proclamation has been introduced but awaits passage as a Resolution through both legislative bodies. If approved, the Resolution would then be sent to the Office of the Governor to be signed into law.
Garden Clubs of New Jersey have quickly responded to the national initiative and enacted a movement for their members and interested parties to contact their state legislators to ask for their support of these Resolutions in the State Senate and Assembly.
When passed and signed by Murphy this Proclamation will increase awareness and education of the critical role native plants have in supporting a healthy environment. The planting of native plants will encourage thriving New Jersey wildlife and pollinator populations, will help in the reduction of use of pesticides and fertilizers, and will aid in helping to clean our air, water and land.
To learn more about the initiative go to the Garden Club of America’s website at gcamerica.org.
Garden Club Clippings
The Garden Club of Fair Haven has several events planned for the coming months to benefit the community:
March 15 at 11:30 a.m. – The art of flower arranging workshop at the Community Center. Cost of materials is $25. Sign up through the public library; space is limited to 15.
April 26 at 10 a.m. – “Mindful and Mindless Gardening” workshop to cover topics related to both flower and vegetable gardening. This is the continuation of the club’s educational program. Learn how to incorporate your yard’s lighting, soil and pest conditions into your dream garden. Also covered: the use of native plants and how-tos for container gardening.
The Juniors Committee held its first activity of 2023 with Girl Scout Troop 884 at Sickles School when the troop learned about the life of Henri Matisse from their leader Meghan Robinson. They then showed their artistic talents with collages inspired by cutouts made famous by Matisse.
For information, visit gcfhnj.org.
Navesink Garden Club members are happily looking forward to spring and will host programs at The Atrium at Navesink Harbor in Red Bank. All are free and open to the public.
March 14 at 11 a.m. – “Growing Herbs in a Container” will be presented by Caren White, who is known as “The Herb Lady.” If you think you don’t have room for an herb garden, think again. Even if you have plenty of space, there is nothing like having herbs right at your fingertips. White will explain how to successfully grow herbs in containers on your deck, balcony or patio.
Her love of herbs began as a child fascinated by green flowers. She grew green zinnias and still does. She is a Master Gardener and member of the Herb Society of America. A longtime volunteer at Rutgers Gardens, she manages the herb garden and grows the herbs sold at the popular Spring Flower Fair, an annual fundraiser for Rutgers Gardens. White teaches herb classes at Princeton Adult School, the Home Gardeners School of Rutgers University, Rutgers Gardens the EARTH Center in Middlesex County.
April 11 at 11 a.m. – “An Apple a Day the Applejack Way” will feature Lisa Laird Dunn, a ninth-generation member of the Laird Family. Her program will feature the fascinating history of America’s (and New Jersey’s) oldest spirit, Laird’s Applejack. Learn how George Washington and Abraham Lincoln played a part in the story and what measures Lairds took to survive prohibition. Laird is COO and Global Ambassador of Laird & Company and visits markets across the world.
May 9 at 11 a.m. – “Sogetsu Ikebana Basics and My Ikebana” will be presented by Yoko Ikura who will explain two basic styles of Ikebana, Moribana and Nageire. A demonstration of her free-style arrangements including Sogetsu motto and lemoto (head master).
Other activities include a “Shabby Chic” sale at the April meeting offering items like jewelry, scarves, hats, garden décor and small tools. In May, members will enjoy an opportunity to exchange plants and seeds in time for spring planting at the Plant and Seed Exchange.
The club will continue such activities as the monthly Friends & Flowers design program for Atrium residents, maintenance of the Monmouth Museum’s Betty Jean and Karl Meyer Nature Area and Little Free Library, and a summertime’s weekly maintenance of the Red Bank planters.
Our email is ngcnjpublicity1@gmail.com.
With the arrival of spring just around the corner, Garden Club R.F.D. members are eagerly preparing for their many upcoming events. Recently, during a wonderful field trip to Barlow’s Flower Farm in Sea Girt, members were treated to a winter class on Drought Tolerant Perennials and Annuals. It gave the opportunity to gather at an off-site location for a different hands-on experience.
Coming up March 21 at 11 a.m., Angela Juffey will be welcomed to the historic Little Red Schoolhouse at 951 Middletown Lincroft Road in Middletown for a program on pollinators. The meeting place was built in 1864 and has been listed as a Historic Site since 1976. Juffey is both a beekeeper and an expert on attracting pollinators – including bats and hummingbirds – to the garden.
On April 22, the club will help celebrate Earth Day by participating in a wonderful annual event at Bayonet Farm in Holmdel. Visit our tables to discuss anything gardening or just to say hello.
We will end our year by getting back to presenting the annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Visit the schoolhouse for a large selection of annuals and perennials, hanging planters and beautiful pots. In addition, you will find home-grown plants from the gardens of our members. Proceeds of the sale will help us to maintain the Schoolhouse and the grounds, as well as the care of the herb garden at Marlpit Hall and the concrete planters at Middletown’s train station.
The article originally appeared in the March 9 – 15, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
