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April 18 - 25
On the Edge
River bank montage by Melinda Nye.
An artist's eye reminds us that we face critical decisions every day in a fragile and vulnerable world. Perhaps if more of us spent time along the bank of a stream or in a field of wildflowers there would be less strife in the world. If only we could appreciate those simple gifts found just outside our door, we might be more willing to set aside our prejudices, less inclined to dredge up old grievances, make war.
To celebrate the planet from whence you sprouted, choose among dozens of natural attractions, outdoor activities, day trips, or Earth Day events.
Earthly Delights
Wildlife Observation Area in the Refuge.
Photo: Arthur Panzer
In 1959, galvanized community activists fought a proposed jetport that threatened the Great Swamp watershed. They raised enough money and support to donate thousands of acres to the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge was born. Friends of Great Swamp was established in 1999 to provide assistance and support to Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge through volunteer efforts and the funding of programs and projects to benefit wildlife and refuge visitors. To explore the Refuge Wilderness Area, trails begin in a multitude of locations. Or, begin at the Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center, named after one of the key community activists in the formation of the refuge, at 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township.
Now you see 'em
This spring, head for the woods on a special type of hunt. You won't find explicit directions, but if you log any appreciable trail time in the spring, you'll eventually come across a vernal pool. These distinctive wetlands are seasonal surprises, maybe something that you've never noticed before. The pools play hide and seek with woods walkers and the critters that inhabit them.
Close Encounters
Photo by Dan Bacon
Should you traverse any stretch of woods this spring, or even your backyard, alert eyes are usually rewarded. Bobcats thrive in habitats that merge open lands and forests in the most remote areas of northern New Jersey. Protected under the New Jersey Endangered Species Act, bobcats have settled in large areas of contiguous forest where they were introduced more than forty years ago. But fragmentation, caused by development and traffic, tend to constrain the local populations. Keep your eyes open and you might get lucky!
Restless Natives
A native mountain laurel allee at The Cross Estate Gardens in Morristown.
Native plants (those that lived here before the colonists arrived) make outstanding gardens because they are strong growers, ornamental, require less maintenance than many exotics, and are particularly attractive to birds and butterflies. Some are even rumored to be deer-resistant!
Earth Link Nina and Jonathan White, whose life mission is to heal the earth, create good, wholesome foods that nourish people in a sustainable manner that harmonizes with nature.
A long-time model for earth-friendly agriculture, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse is a regenerative, 100% grass-fed family farm. Towards that end, Bobolink products meld old and new, using methods that resemble how things were done over 200 years ago, while ushering us into a healthy and vibrant future. The property is host to a huge variety of birds, insects, and plant life, most notably the ground-nesting Bobolink, a bird that relies on undisturbed grasslands for its reproduction. Equally content are the farm's cows, who live outside, eating grass and being milked seasonally, and not stuck in a barn being stuffed with grain, animal by-products and hormones, and being milked to death. Order online, or, better yet, an Earth Week pilgrimage may be in order! 369 Stamets Rd, Milford (Hunterdon County), 908/86GRASS.
Action Items
A spring art and antiques fair beautifully blending thirty artisans and antique vendors. Indoor and outdoor settings in a large historic barn and in the pristine riverside amphitheater. Food truck by Angry Dads. 10am - 5pm. Free admission. 140 Route 46 and Ramseyburg Road on the Delaware River in Knowlton Township.
Tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories.
Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.
For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or
choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website. Choose your own adventure!
Like many other small, independent and specialized information sources, our budget will increasingly rely on reader donations. Help us keep you informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey! If you like what we offer, we hope you'll consider a contribution.
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