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Event
NPSNJ Fall Conference - Native Plants - The Birds and the Bees
Join us for our Annual Native Plant Society of New Jersey Fall Conference.
Saturday November 7, 2015
Raritan Valley Community College
10:00 - 4:00PM
Fee:$55 Non-Members, $35 Members Includes lunch and morning refreshments
Featuring:
Informative and Practical Sessions
Native Plant Sale
Native Plant Seed Swap
Book Sales and Signing
Presentation Details:
A Chickadee's Guide to Gardening
Doug Tallamy, PhD
In the past we have designed our gardens strictly for our own pleasure, with no thought to how they might impact the natural world around us. Using chickadees as a guide, Tallamy will revisit garden design to see what is required to keep our landscapes alive. In the process he shows how sharing our gardens with other living things will not reduce our pleasurable garden experiences, but enhance them.
On Beyond Monarchs and Honeybees - The Case for Diversity
Randi Eckel, PhD
Monarchs Butterflies and Honeybees have been getting a lot of press recently and a lot of folks have stepped up to help them, which is good. But with more than 10,000 species of native Butterflies, Moths and Bees in the US, as well as lot of other creatures that depend upon native plants, it is critical that we look beyond just two species! A look at communities, specialists and the critical role of diversity in our midst.
Assessing Forest Health in Central New Jersey with Students and Citizen Science
Jay Kelly, PhD & Students
Raritan Valley Community College and NJ Audubon have been working in partnership since 2013 to engage students and citizen scientists on issues affecting forest health in central New Jersey, focusing on the effects of deer and invasive plant species on forest structure and composition, and how this translates into impacts on birds and other forest-dwelling species. We will present the preliminary results of the first two years of these intensive studies of forest bird and plant communities by student interns and citizen scientists, outreach made to local officials to improve forest health, and student research projects focusing on ticks, deer and other factors.
Presentation Collaborators
Dr. Jay F. Kelly (Raritan Valley Community College), Dr. Nellie Tsipoura and Mike Allen (NJ Audubon), and student participants
Growing Native Plants from Seed at Home
Michael Van Clef, PhD
Mike has been growing native plants from seed at his home for over 15 years. He will provide a presentation on the propagation and use of native plants. Topics will include seed collection, storage / seed treatment methods, seed sowing and early germination care, and use of native plants for your garden. All techniques are easy to perform at your own home without specialized tools or facilities.
Mechanical and Biological Control of Japanese Stiltgrass
Samantha Nestory
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) poses a major threat to native biodiversity and restoration efforts in invaded areas. While there are recommended control methods, few studies have scientifically quantified the efficacy of these methods. A previous study determined that mowing any time after midsummer reduces the M. vimineum population. We expanded upon this study to determine the effects of mowing height, mowing timing, and leaf mulch on M. vimineum populations and the resident plant community. The results from this experiment could be integrated into an effective management program, which could increase the success of restoration
Speaker Bios:
Doug Tallamy, PhD
Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 84 research publications and has taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, Humans and Nature, Insect Ecology, and other courses for 34 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers' Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence.
Randi Eckel, PhD
Dr. Randi V. Wilfert Eckel, owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm in Frenchtown, NJ, a specialist in native plants and the interactions between plants and insects. Dr. Eckel has been been propagating and promoting native plants since 1996, as well as giving lectures and workshops, while working at the USDA.
Jay Kelly, PhD
Assistant Professor, Raritan Valley Community College jkelly@raritanval.edu
Jay Kelly teaches a wide range of field biology and environmental science classes at Raritan Valley Community College, from introductory environmental science to ecology and field botany.
Mike Van Clef, PhD
Ecological Solutions, LLC
Mike has a Ph.D. in ecology and over 20 years of experience working on the stewardship of rare and invasive plant species, white-tailed deer management, forest and grassland restorations, ecological health monitoring and natural resource policy. Mike prepared the "New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species", serves as Stewardship Director for the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and acts as the Science Director for the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team.
Samantha Nestory
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Delaware
Samantha Nestory is currently a graduate student at the University of Delaware. She is pursuing a Master's degree in Entomology under the advisement of Judy Hough-Goldstein. She received her bachelor's degree in Ecology from the University of Delaware in 2014. She plans to enter the field of restoration ecology upon graduation.
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LocationRaritan Valley Community College Edward Nash Auditorium Conference Center (View)
118 Lamington Road
Branchburg, NJ 08876
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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