3 Ways to Tune Into Nature |
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Get ready for beautiful blooms, colorful butterflies and thriving gardens. |
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Don't Be Too Tidy
Give yourself and your landscapers a break, and your yard will reward you with vitality!
Leave the leaves. Right now, butterflies and bees are nestled under fallen leaves for winter, and won't emerge til it's consistently warmer. Plus, dead leaves enrich your soil as (free!) mulch.
Save dead plant stems. Butterfly chrysalides cling to them, and certain bees nest in hollow stems. Leave stems in place until late May; or if you must cut them, carefully pile them in a less visible corner.
Hang on until tomato time. In our area, Xerces Society advises, "Some bees don’t emerge until late May, so the longer you can tolerate your 'messy' garden, the better." As you would with tomato planting, wait until temps are reliably in the 50s before removing stems and relocating leaves to other parts of your yard.
Do you have a landscaper that's friendly with fallen leaves? Email the MEC.
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Go Native
Preview the sale now then shop online early for the best selection of kits (designed for sun and shade) as well as single species—including Showy Goldenrod, Blazing Star, Cardinal Flower, Blue Lobelia and more. 28 species will be on sale through April 22. Get yours before they sell out!
Why do natives plants matter? Bees, moths and butterflies are threatened by lack of a habitat where they can live, breed, and find food. With native flowering plants, you provide host plants that sustain the insects that pollinate our food crops—including many of our favorite summer fruits. Plant them near your veggie garden and see!
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Start Composting
Sign up for the free webinar Black Gold: Composting Simplified and you'll be a composting pro.This Rutgers Master Gardener talk with Cheri Wilczek will be held on Zoom on March 28 at 7:00 pm. We're co-sponsoring it with Morris Township, the Chathams and Florham Park. Register here.
Our Earth Month Promotion: We'll soon be partnering with four towns to sell a 100-gallon backyard composter at a discounted price ($99 vs $127 retail). It's Farmer Shaun's favorite, and it will help support Grow it Green, the urban farm in Morristown. Watch for details and a shopping link in next week's newsletter!
Reminder: Java's Compost offers curbside pickup and also a monthly drop-off option at the Madison Department of Public Works' Recycling Center. Even if you're backyard composting, you may want to consider Java's for kitchen waste that can't be composted at home, like bones, dairy, oils and fats.
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It's easy to be green with these free events! |
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Green Vision Forum
Thursday March 31, 6:30 pm
Via Zoom
Spend an evening with future environmental leaders during the fourth annual Green Vision Forum.
Students from Madison schools and Drew University will share their vision for protecting the natural world. Learn about a native plant scavenger hunt, a super-cool seed give-away and other amazing ideas.
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Native Pollinator Plant Sale at the GSWA:
An Overview
Friday, April 1, 10:00 am
Via Zoom
Join Hazel England, the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s resident pollinator expert, for an overview of the native plants available at the second annual online native pollinator plant sale. Learn how different plants will help attract a variety of good insects and other vital pollinators, and why it's imperative. Discover why this type of garden benefits your yard, your neighborhood, and our shared watershed.
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Order online April 1–22
Last year, this sale sold out twice, and Madison residents planted 2,000 native plants! Check out the free resources to get started, and preview the sale now so you can start planning your plantings!
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Ask Your Arborist:
Your Tree Questions Answered by an Expert
Wednesday, April 13, 7:00 pm
Via Zoom
Perplexed about pruning? Curious if caterpillars eating your leaves are friends or foes? Are those Spotted Lanternfly eggs on your tree? Get answers from Madison's official Municipal Arborist, Richard Wolowicz, who will provide expert insight on trees—including tree care, Madison's shade tree management program, how trees prevent flooding and more. Register today and submit your questions in advance.
Presented by Madison Public Library. Co-hosted by the Madison Shade Tree Management Board, the Friends of Madison Shade Trees, and the Madison Environmental Commission.
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Electric Vehicle (EV) Expo
Friday, April 22, 2:00–5:00 pm
At Sunday Motor Co. Café
Join us for our second annual EV Expo! On Earth Day, the eye-catching cars parked outside Sunday Motor Co. Café in Madison won’t be gas guzzlers. Owner Nick Vorderman is partnering with the Environmental Commissions of Madison, Chatham Borough and Chatham Township to host this informative showcase of electric cars and e-bikes.
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Native Plant of the Month: Ninebark |
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Atlantic Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), also called Common Ninebark, is a great alternative to invasive Japanese Barberry.
Unfortunately, Japanese Barberry—commonly seen in suburban landscapes due to its ornamental value—is one of New Jersey's most problematic invasives. An aggressive grower with high seed dispersal and virtually no local predators, this thorny beast is banned from sale in several states because it has spread from gardens and landscaped areas to colonize forests and other natural areas, overtaking native plants. It also harbors the species of tick that carries Lyme disease.
“Barberry is the only plant I really encourage people to rip out immediately if they have it, in order to reduce tick habitat," says Lindsay Ifill of Wild Roots. “Thankfully, there are a lot of superior native shrub alternatives to consider” here in New Jersey. In addition to Ninebark, she suggests Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Dwarf Witchalder (Fothergilla gardennii), Sweetspire (Itea virginica) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus). Read more.
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What native plant would you like to see highlighted? Email us!
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Previous yard sales have attracted hundreds of shoppers from PA, NY and all over NJ!
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Zoom Into an Environmental Commission Meeting |
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Got ideas?
We want to hear them.
Zoom into our next Environmental Commission meeting:
Thursday, March 24 @ 7:30 pm
You don't need to volunteer, just share your thoughts and ideas.
We all need community. Especially now.
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Do you know someone who'd be interested in receiving Madison Environmental Commission's newsletter?
If so, please forward this email and let them know they can sign up here to receive future issues. |
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Follow @GreenMadisonNJ on social media for the latest eco-tips, events, discussion & more.
We want to hear your thoughts there, too!
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