These stones, on the west side of the garden,  slow the water flow down and keep try to keep  it from going out into the parking lot if the rain garden overflows.

The clean-up tonight at Ross Island Park is canceled due to the weather.

The Wild Rivers National Monument, New Mexico  was created this year and is already under ‘review’ by Secretary Zinke.  So remember, whether it be the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Red River in New Mexico or our Cranberry Brook and

Whale Pond Brook, we love and try to protect our rivers and watersheds. Last month at our local Sierra Club meeting we generated 19 letters to Secretary Zinke urging him to protect our national monuments and parks.  At the local level, please join us in our clean-ups, educational efforts,  trail building and gardening.  Get to know your watershed. Check out the events page on how you can get involved.

We went to the Master Gardener sale with our native plant list  of ideas from various  people. We wanted to provide food and housing for bees, butterflies and beneficial insects.   Here’s what we purchased, using a generous donation:

We’ll be planting them this Tuesday, May 23 at 4 pm.  Please join us in celebrating our new additions.

May 17

Today was a busy day at the Park.

We changed the shape of the western entrance to the trail and filled in the area with wood chips.  Looks like it’s been like that forever.

We are experimenting with using vinegar on some of the weeds. We poured it on and will see what they look like on Wednesday.

Suzan Cole released beautiful butterflies that she and her ESL class hatched. She released them in our butterfly garden. She also released some lady bugs that her class nurtured.

She also picked her 4X4 garden area.

We’ll be there again at 2 – 4:30 on Wednesday, May 17.

Butterfly garden is growing. See the first purple flowers in the middle.

Chuck and I were working at Ross Lake this afternoon and saw an osprey dive into the water and come up with a fish in it’s talons.  It flew away to the north and it’s mate flew along with it.  If you stand quietly in the garden you will see so many wondrous things.

Come join us this Wednesday May  beginning at 1 until ????? as we help to beautify the garden.  Tools and gloves will be available or you can just stop by to chat and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the lake and garden.

Elinore Ave, Long Branch 07740

UPCOMING EVENTS- PLEASE JOIN US!

CINDY LANE HIKE  – walk the new greenway trail

WHEN: FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 AT 6:00PM

MEET AT THE WEST END OF CINDY LANE, OFF OF KINGS HIGHWAY, OCEAN TOWNSHIP.

*************************************************************

SHREWSBURY WATERSHED  –                           Arboretum Walk and Dinner/ Trivia!

WHEN: TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017 AT 5:30PM

MEET AT THE F. BLISS PRICE ARBORETUM AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ON THE NORTH END OF WYCKOFF AVENUE, EATONTOWN.

After  the walk, we will head over to  The Marina in Oceanport for dinner/ drinks/ trivia night!

http://www.marinaatoceanport.com

*********************************************************************

ROSS ISLAND BECOMES A PARK!             DEDICATION CEREMONY

WHEN: SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 AT 2:00PM                                  (NOTE: this is a tentative date)

MEET AT ELENOR AVENUE, LONG BRANCH. THE HISTORIC ROSS ISLAND HUT WILL BE DEDICATED AS A PARK.

*********************************************************************

STUDENT TRAIL – GILLIAN’S TRAIL  HIKE AND CLEAN UP

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST  16, 2017 AT 6:00PM

MEET AT THE OCEAN TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL ON WEST PARK AVENUE.

*********************************************************************

Questions? Please email us at [email protected]

                  All the friends of the Whale Pond Brook wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful new year.