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Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
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Written by Mary P., Rutgers Master Gardener of Somerset County Lindera benzoin is not a fussy plant and is noted for its adaptability. It can grow in sun to full shade, acidic or slightly alkaline pH, clay, loam or sandy soil. It prefers moist loamy soil in partial shade. In all cases, moist, well drained […]
New Duke Island Park Native Plant Brochure Posted!
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Ellen Locker ’20, Karen MacNaul ‘22 In 2023 and 2024, the Rutgers Master Gardener Native Plant Team Hiking team hiked, sleuthed, identified, photographed, catalogued and researched fun facts on native plants found in Duke Island Park (DIP), part of the Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC) system in Bridgewater. The team identified 75 native plants, of […]
Know Your Natives: Indiangrass
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Written by Mary P., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Sorghastrum nutans, commonly called Indiangrass, yellow Indiangrass or Indian grass, is one of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass American prairie that stretches from the east coast to the Rocky Mountains, Arizona and Utah. It is a perennial bunch grass with upright form that grows in […]
Know Your Natives: Holly
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Writted by Debbie C. Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Who doesn’t cheer at the sight of the iconic red berries and evergreen branches of Holly during the December holidays? Over 480 species populate the genus Ilex yet the term “Holly” traditionally references English Holly (Ilex aquifolium), a Christmas decoration brought to the United States with […]
Know Your Natives: Solidago sp.
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Written by Debbie C., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Solidago species, commonly known as goldenrod, signal the changing of seasons from summer to autumn. A short-day, herbaceous, perennial in the Composite or Asteraceae family, different Solidago species bloom from July through October. Often challenging as a group to identify down to species, the golden yellow […]
Pollinator Gardens in Autumn
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Written by Kris G., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Many pollinators depend on leaf litter, herbaceous plant stalks, and plant debris to lay their eggs for overwintering. If we remove these items in the fall, then we are essentially removing the next generation of pollinators. Instead of disposing of leaf litter, dead herbaceous plant stalks, […]
Plant This, Not That: Honeysuckle
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Written by Mimi J, Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Although its appearance and fragrance remind many of us of summer, invasive honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) can cause ecological harm. Being a vine, it can both form a mat on the forest floor and climb up trees and shrubs. Its robust growth can shade out native understory […]
Native Bee and Native Plant Garden Sign Refresh
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Our sign at the Environmental Education Center (EEC) just got a refresh! It features information about the Native Bee Garden which is a project by two Rutgers Environmental Stewards, Ellen L. and Shona E. The sign also includes details about the nearby Native Plant Garden, which is maintained by a dedicated group of Rutgers Master Gardeners, […]