Pollinators Take Center Stage At Mercer County Program April 27

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County will present “Pollinators and Pollination Strategies,” on Saturday, April 27, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tulpehaking Nature Center in Hamilton Township.

Naturalist and educator Mary Anne Borge will present the program, which will be followed by a guided walk in the Abbott Marshlands. This program is co-sponsored by the Tulpehaking Nature Center, Mercer County Park Commission and Friends for the Abbott Marshlands.

Using many of her own photographs, Borge will describe how plants entice visitors to their flowers and manipulate them to carry pollen to other plants of the same species, ensuring successful pollination.

She will also discuss the important pollinators of the region’s native plants, including many types of bees, flies, wasps, beetles and birds. Borge is an instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope, Pa., a writer, photographer and educator. She is the Associate Editor of Butterfly Gardener, a magazine published by the North American Butterfly Association.

The importance of pollinators has been underscored by recent reports of threats to their habitat, health and viability. Together, the Mercer County Park Commission and County Planning Department have adopted a new initiative, Partners of Pollinators, which provides assistance to townships and other entities in Mercer County interested in incorporating pollinator habitat into their landscapes.

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 1440 Parkside Avenue in Ewing. Rutgers Master Gardeners participate in volunteer programs throughout the county, and answer home horticulture questions through their Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline, 609-989-6853, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the Rutgers Master Gardener program, the Mercer Educational Gardens or other Extension educational programs, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension at 609-989-6830 or visit the Master Gardeners of Mercer County website at www.mgofmc.org.

The Tulpehaking Nature Center, located at 157 Westcott Avenue, provides programs and exhibits that encourage visitors to explore and discover the many cultural, historic and natural resources of the Abbott Marshlands.

It is owned by the County of Mercer and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission. For more information about the nature center, programs and schedule of events, visit www.mercercountyparks.org.

Cooperating agencies include: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; U.S. Department of Agriculture and county Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

Residents can contact their local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director's Office for concerns related to discrimination at 848-932-3584.