Garden Tour And Plant Sale Coming To Madison This Weekend

MADISON, NJ — Pollinator-friendly plants will be found in more than just gardens during the Madison Environmental Commission's third annual Eco Garden Tour. Native plants will also be available for purchase from Toadshade Wildflower Farm.

The tour will be held this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 17 from noon to 3 p.m.

The self-guided tour will include seven stops that can be done in any order. Homeowners include expert gardeners as well as newcomers who have gone all-in on native plants because they add beauty and life to our yards.

All gardens have the same goal: less lawn, more native trees, no pesticides, and an array of multi-season blooming native plants that support pollinators from early spring to late fall.

“The Eco Garden Tour is a great way to see how our neighbors are creating beautiful yards with pesticide-free habitats for birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators,” said Rachel Ehrlich, Borough Council liaison to the Environmental Commission. “Suburban yards are actually ideal for re-creating the pollinator-friendly conditions of meadows and woodlands that used to be common in New Jersey.”

The new Madison Public School (MPS) Pollinator Habitat, located at 359 Woodland Road, is the tour's crowning achievement, according to officials.

Bridget Daley and Joan Maccari of the Environmental Commission designed and co-led the garden project as a Rutgers Environmental Stewards initiative, which they carried out with the help of more than 60 volunteers who planted and cared for the 3000-square-foot garden.

“Native plants, which are essential, are uncommon at local nurseries, so we’re excited to share seeds and to have Toadshade join us to sell native plants,” Maccari said.

On the day of the tour, Maccari will be handing out pollinator plant seeds at the MPS Pollinator Habitat.

Experts such as Quiet Communities, which will demonstrate eco-friendly lawn care; Nature of Reading Bookshop, which will offer favorite nature-themed books; and the Native Plant Society of NJ, the North American Butterfly Association, and the Great Swamp Watershed Association will also be present.

“The movement to 'shrink the lawn' and add more native plants, spearheaded by Douglas Tallamy, bestselling author of Nature’s Best Hope, has inspired so many of us who have been working on this tour. It’s amazing to see homeowners removing invasive species like ivy and pachysandra and adding habitat that is buzzing with beneficial insects,” Maccari said.

The tour is free to attend, but advance registration is required, which can be done here.