About Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands
History of Princeton Nurseries
Aerial photo of former nursery lands
|
 |
|
EVENT Winter Trees and Winter Wildflowers: Mapleton Preserve
Photo by:Rajie Cook LOCATION: D & R Canal State Park Kingston Office/Mapleton Preserve (145 Mapleton Road, Kingston, New Jersey) DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 17 th 1:00 - 3:00 PM FEE: FREE SPONSORS: Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve CONTACT: Karen Linder; Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands (609)-514-2416 WEB SITE: Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands ~ http://www.fpnl.org DESCRIPTION - Winter Trees and Winter Wildflowers: Mapleton Preserve
Learn to read the winter landscape at Mapleton Preserve, Saturday, February 17 th , 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., at the D & R Canal State Park's Headquarters (145 Mapleton Road, Kingston). Volunteer Naturalists from Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve (New Hope, Pennsylvania) will join Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands in an indoor/outdoor program demonstrating the excitement of nature in winter. Mary Anne Borge and Edward Lignowski, Ph.D., will present "Trees and Wildflowers in Winter", beginning with an indoor slide presentation in Mapleton Preserve's restored Headquarters building. Edward Lignowski, who has a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, will give the presentation, focusing on the survival strategy of "Trees in Winter", and the characteristics of trees that can be used to identify them, even without their leaves. Karen Linder, President of Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, reports that "Winter is the best time to appreciate and learn the characteristics of deciduous trees. The Nursery fields possess spectacular winter beauty." Tree identification skills highlighted in Dr Lignowski's presentation will then be put to use in the field, with Mary Anne Borge, a Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve volunteer Naturalist. She will point out key winter properties of the wide range of trees, as well as wildflowers and winter weeds that grow in the former Princeton Nursery fields. Come see the winter interest that is provided through their fruits, seeds, color and architecture, and enjoy the quiet beauty of a walk through the meadows and woods. The D & R Canal State Park Headquarters and Mapleton Preserve are the historical heart of Princeton Nurseries, a legendary wholesale tree nursery, once a thriving Kingston business. In 2005, fifty-three acres of this land, now Mapleton Preserve, was purchased as open space by the New Jersey Green Acres program with South Brunswick Township. Hundreds of showpiece specimens and towering windrows remain in the Preserve. This afternoon of programming will be held rain or shine , and is FREE to the public. Call (609) 683-0483 for more information. BACKGROUNDAlthough trees and wildflowers are normally dormant in winter, interesting botanical features remain by which to identify them, even in snow. The absence of leaves need not stand in the way of recognition. Dr. Lignowski will introduce and explain the use of "a dichotomous key" to identify native trees. Among points to be covered are trees' winter survival strategies, the dormancy process, and trees' subtle preparation for spring growth. Dr. Lignowski will also cover the technique for transforming spring sap into maple syrup.
The two program leaders, Edward Lignowski , Ph.D., and Mary Anne Borge are well qualified to provide a great experience for participants, since both are Volunteer Naturalists at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve (BHWP) in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where they regularly lead programs for visitors. Dr. Lignowski has a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, and has had several years experience teaching college plant science courses (most recently part-time Botany instructor at Rider University). "I am most excited that Ed and Mary Anne, two of Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve's Volunteer Naturalists, have offered to present this program at Mapleton Preserve. This gives the Preserve the opportunity to form a partnership with a new group, help out another land conservation effort, and bring awareness of BHWP to a new audience", says Hildy Ellis, Education Coordinator at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. For those who cannot attend the program on Feb. 17 th , Ed's talk will be offered again on Feb. 24 th at BHWP in Pennsylvania, as part of their "Knowing Native Plants" series (see www.bhwp.org for details). Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, a regional center for programs and outreach about native plants and their habitats, was established in 1934 to conserve Pennsylvania's native flora. Nearly 1000 plant species native to Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley grow in naturalistic settings along three miles of trails. The Visitor Center and grounds are open year-round. For more information about their programs, call the Preserve at (215) 862-2924 or visit www.bhwp.org .
DIRECTIONS: Mapleton Preserve/D & R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston, NJ
From Route 1: Take Ridge Road exit heading towards the town of Kingston for approximately 1 mile. Make a left turn onto Division Street. At the stop sign turn left onto Academy Street (Academy St. becomes Mapleton Rd). The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located ~0.2 miles on the left side of the road. MAP
From Route 27 : Turn onto Academy Street at the traffic light in Kingston (across from the Kingston Cemetery). Academy Street becomes Mapleton Road as it heads towards Route 1. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.3 miles on the left side of the road. MAP
PRESS RELEASE DATE: 1/17/07 Wintertrees2007FINAL.doc
Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands |
