This is the first garden on the Whale Pond Brook watershed greenway. It was designed by Estelle Lumer, our Monmouth County Master Gardener extraordinaire and paid for with a generous allowance from the Long Branch Environmental Commission. This fall will be the third year.Volunteers watered and spread wood chips. People stopped by and chatted. It was fun and the garden is coming along. Come visit it and walk on the trail to help keep the weeds down….corner of Norwood and Elinore, by Monmouth University entrance.
By the way, there are still PLENTY of wood chips to spread so let us know if you can go and we’ll meet you there.
Mark Brummer from Brummer’s Tree Service donated a truck full of wood chips to help us keep the weeds down in Ross Island Lake park. We also walked around and looked at the trees on the island and towards Norwood Ave.
The stone hut on Ross Island has been cleaned of debris and restoration of the structure itself is underway. A lovely garden with native plants has been established on Elinore Ave. Cranes, swans and other birds of the desirable kind are there to be observed. More people are walking around, enjoying the garden and the view. Some are even pulling up beach chairs and relaxing in this new ambience.
We’ll be there Thursday morning if you want to join us for more gardening. Bring your own tools.
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Ken Manzi, our mason, has completed Phase II of repairing the stone hut roof. He used the platform to pull his men and equipment back and forth. See the aluminum canoe? That’s how he got the platform off the island to use. We have to be creative to get this job done. Thanks Ken.
Our good friend Beth Woolley, Long Branch Historic Commission, attended the Monmouth County Historic Preservation award ceremony on Feb 22, 2016. The WPBWA received a grant to complete the work on the east side of the stone hut roof. A huge Thank You to Monmouth County and the City of Long Branch for their continuing financial assistance in restoring the Ross Island Stone Hut, a rare Architectural Folly that remains from Long Branch’s Gilded Age.
The work is being done by Ken Manzi, our stone mason.
Here are some of our volunteers at the stone hut during a clean-up in December.
We did so much work today that we actually finished clearing Ross Island, for now. By next spring the sticker bushes we cut down will be easily removed.
Welcome to the Ross Lake Park Garden Journal, a dedicated space where the Whale Point Brook Watershed Association (WPBWA) captures the evolution of our sanctuary in Long Branch. If you’ve been seeking a moment of peace, we invite you to walk our paths, breathe in the lake air, and watch our native landscape thrive.
Our Mission: Restoration and Beauty
The hear of our work at Ross Lake Park is the native shrub and pollinator garden. By prioritizing plants indigenous to our coastal region, we are doing more than just landscaping, we are rebuilding a broken ecosystem. There plants provide essential food and habits for local birds, bees, and butterflies, ensuring the the watershed remains vibrant and resilient.
What’s Blooming?
Our seasonal updates keep you informed on the “who’s who” of the garden. Currently, our native shrubs are establishing deep roots, providing a lush backdrop for the seasonal pops of color from milkweed, goldenrod, and aster. These selections aren’t just for show—they are hardworking filters that help manage runoff before it enters Ross Lake, protecting our water quality.
A Place for Solitude
Beyond the environmental benefits, Ross Lake Park offers a rare urban escape. There is a specific magic in standing among the wildflowers and gazing across the water toward the historic Ross Island Stone Hut. It is a view that connects the history of Long Branch with the future of our conservation efforts.
How You Can Help:
Observe: Visit often to see how the garden changes with the seasons.
Volunteer: Join our “weed and seed” days to get your hands in the dirt.
Learn: Use our journal as a guide for what you can plant in your own backyard to support local pollinators.
We look forward to seeing you by the water!
Neighbors working together to restore our watershed.
Volunteers watered and spread wood chips. People stopped by and chatted. It was fun and the garden is coming along. Come visit it and walk on the trail to help keep the weeds down….corner of Norwood and Elinore, by Monmouth University entrance.
