Pop-up Habitat Tour–Making a Difference!

@

Whitehouse Station, NJ

with Lisa Parent & Diane Redling

Improving Wildlife Habitat Despite Deer and Invasive Plants

Many native plant gardeners get discouraged by over-abundant deer and aggressive invasive plants. Lisa Parent and Diane Redling have been working together since 2002 to create a native plant wildlife corridor starting with one home site, and then adding an adjacent property in 2004, despite the deer browse and invasive plant competition. A combination of selective fencing, strategic native plantings, and trial and error created a wild space that supports not only insects and birds, but also a variety of animals including possums, box turtles, tree frogs, coyotes, and rabbits.

Their combined eight acre plot contains a variety of microclimates. They converted a sunny lawn into a one acre meadow. A deer fence surrounds the Blackhaw Woods with its 50 gallon pond and mature trees complete with snags and downed logs. The Flood Plain contains a larger pond and a creek, home to green frogs, whitetail dragonflies, damsel flies, and turtles. Inspired by the Miyawaki method of close planting, a recently developed microforest contains young native trees, shrubs and grasses. Various pocket gardens also dot the property. The owners share the philosophy that creating abundant habitat is perhaps the most important function of a garden.

The tour itself will take the visitor over wide mowed paths and wood-chipped trails. The terrain is mostly level but uneven with some gentle slopes. The distance between the two houses is less than half a mile, and two electric vehicles will provide rides back to the parking area if desired. Sturdy shoes and bug spray are recommended.

PLEASE REGISTER IF YOU PLAN TO COME. We will send you the address and directions when you register. hunterdon@npsnj.org

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