February 2023
Native Plant Seed Swap
Take Home Beautiful, Free Wildflower Seeds!
Saturday February 18, 2023
1:00–3:00 pm
At United Methodist Church in Madison
24 Madison Avenue
(next to Drew University)
If you're dreaming about beautiful flowers blooming in your yard this spring, you’re in luck: winter is the perfect time to sow the seeds of locally native wildflowers! Here is what you will find:

  • Instructions about how, when, and where to sow seeds of each species
  • Demonstrations and experienced gardeners to answer your questions
  • Free seeds! You do not need to bring any seeds with you; we encourage you to take as many seeds as you can reasonably use.

If you do have New Jersey native plant seeds to donate, we would be happy to receive them. Please let us know ahead of time by emailing Joan Maccari at maccarij@rosenet.org. It will be very helpful if you can include both the common and scientific names of the plant species, as well as the year and the county when and where you collected the seeds. You can look up plant names at Jersey-Friendly Yards, jerseyyards.org.

Please bring only seeds of New Jersey native plants, preferably wild type — also known as straight species (not hybrids or cultivars).

We look forward to seeing you at the Exchange! If you have any questions, contact Joan Maccari.
Pollinator Conversations are Buzzing
Great Swamp Native Plant Sale
Online April 3–28, pick up May 6

Get ready for the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s Native Plant Sale by signing up for free webinars where you'll learn from amazing experts!
Wasps are Garden Heroes

Tuesday, February 21
7:008:00 pm
Zoom webinar

Join acclaimed author Eric R. Eaton as he deconstructs our misconceptions about the often-vilified wasps and talks about the invaluable ecosystem services they provide. He will also challenge us to shift the outdated mindset of what constitutes a “yard” or “garden” and help you think more holistically about beneficial species.
Have You Shared This Video?
Dr. Douglas Tallamy, acclaimed entomologist, ecologist, and best-selling author of Nature’s Best Hope, has released a special video lauding the restoration of the Drew Forest and calling for its preservation. Join his native plant movement at HomeGrownNationalPark.org.
In the News: Conservation Sale of the Drew Forest?
Drew Forest Bench
Mayor Bob Conley opened the January 23 Borough Council meeting by explaining that he has written to Drew University officials, asking to work on a conservation sale of the Drew Forest in advance of the June deadline to apply for Morris County Open Space funding.

Mayor Conley said, “A key requirement for the application is control of the property, such as a contract purchase agreement. Drew was not ready to execute such an agreement last year...The University officials have publicly stated that they are committed to saving the Forest, so I am optimistic that come next year’s reorganizational meeting in early January, the Friends of the Drew Forest will be having a song of celebration.”

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