For more information contact Jennifer Holmes, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 302-739-3436; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Join the St. Jones Reserve for an Open House on Nov. 5
Event includes the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Plant Sale
(DOVER, Oct. 21, 2011) – St. Jones Reserve will host a free Open House and the Delaware Native Plant Society’s 11th Annual Native Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. The Open House and plant sale will be held rain or shine at the Reserve located at 818 Kitts Hummock Road near Dover.
According to Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Education Coordinator, Jennifer Holmes, the Reserve will hold its third annual Open House and invite the public to tour the building and grounds and enjoy the beauty of autumn in the St. Jones estuary. “We are pleased to invite the public to the Open House to explore the St. Jones Reserve.” said Holmes. “We welcome families to partake in presentations and activities about native pollinators, explore a discovery lab, view exhibits about the Reserve, and bring a container to take home free compost,” said Holmes.
Held every year on the grounds of the St. Jones Reserve, the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Plant Sale is a much anticipated event that offers beautiful native plants for sale for home landscapes. Native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants, including persimmon, cardinal flower, pawpaw, and other difficult-to- find plants, will be available to purchase at exceptionally low prices. For the best selection, buyers are encouraged to arrive early. New this year visitors have the opportunity to nominate their favorite native plant for the distinguished honor of Delaware Native Plant of the Year for 2012 award.
With activities planned for all ages, visitors to the Open House can:
- tour the St. Jones Center for Estuarine Studies, a building dedicated to understanding Delaware’s coastal areas, including its research laboratory, exhibits and classrooms;
- discover the wonders of the Reserve by going on a self-guided walk;
- learn more about Delaware’s native pollinators with Heather Harmon (Entomologist with the Delaware Department of Agriculture) at 10:30 am;
- explore the amazing creatures that live in our estuaries;
- watch the video about the Blackbird Creek Reserve;
-pick up free compost for landscaping beds and gardens (bring a container);
-learn about rain gardens, view a certified “Rain Garden for the Bays,” enter to win a free rain barrel; and hear about the many ways to become involved in volunteering to protect our natural resources.
"The Delaware Native Plant Society and the St. Jones Reserve share the same goals of protecting and conserving our native plants, and this event is a wonderful opportunity for us to work together to promote stewardship,” said Eric Zuelke, Delaware Native Plant Society.
Organized in 1998, the Delaware Native Plant Society, a non-profit organization, has a statewide membership and encourages the use of and works to preserve, conserve, restore, and propagate native plants and native plant communities in Delaware.
Plants are grown in the Delaware Native Plant Society’s nursery from locally collected seed, have been donated by members, or have been rescued from sites scheduled for clearing and development. This is one of only a handful of sources for plants collected and grown in the Delmarva region. The sale is the society’s only fundraising event; all proceeds go back into nursery operations.
For more information, visit www.delawarenativeplants.org.
The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) was established in 1993 to promote the stewardship and understanding of Delaware’s coastal areas through science and education. DNERR is a cooperative program between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware Coastal Programs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country.
For more information, visit:
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/DNERR
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Vol. 41, No. 408
