Rancocas Nature Center Chapter
Native Plant Society of New Jersey
Meeting Summary
DATE
November 16, 2015
TOPIC
Native Plant Utilization Project (NPUP)
SPEAKER
None
ATTENDANCE
8 (see attached list)
SUMMARY:
1. Toni Price opened the meeting by commenting and inviting others to comment on the Fall
NPSNJ Conference in Branchburg, NJ. The primary observations were:
 The importance of bio-diversity and the role of native plants therein
 The recognition of the annual cycle of the interactions among plants and wildlife, at both the
general and specialized levels
 The attendees’ appreciation for the participation of Dr. Doug Tallamy, entomologist and
native plant advocate
2. In other business, Toni indicated that she had requested the Chapter’s allocated $500 for
speakers and requested ideas for whom to invite; suggestions for January or after included:
 NRCS on meadow replacement for turf (contact by Toni Price)
 Don Knezic, Pinelands Nursery, on collections and propagation of native plant seeds
(contact by John Black)
 Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory (NJ Department of Agriculture) on their
work (contact by Bill Beetle)
 Larry Kuser, Fernbrook Nursery, on propagation of native woody plants, especially native
azaleas (contact unassigned)
 Wild Ridge Plants, a local provenance native plant nursery, on planning for and
implementation of habitat restoration and native plant gardens (contact unassigned)
3. “The Creature Show,” a web documentary film program featuring New Jersey’s threatened and
endangered specie by Director Jared Flesher was mentioned as an entertaining way of
learning about the ecological relationships. The films are also available via facebook.
4. Jeff DiFrancesco and John Black presented their continuing work on the Native Plant Utilization
Project (NPUP):
 John had not succeeded in inserting language into the video narrative regarding the
human-ecology (native plant) connection. John will upload it to the OneDrive so Bill Beetle




and/or others can take a shot at this.
Jeff distributed his framework for developing business cases and the calculator on direct
and indirect costs for traditional non-native and native landscaping (and the associated
comparative savings). Jeff asked for assistance in defining the parameters and quantitative
factors to be incorporated in the calculators. These costs should be considered on both the
initial implementation and annualized bases. Landscaper Laura Allen of Vincentown
Nursery should be contacted to help with cost factors. Three business case studies will be
develop to demonstrate three different scenarios of the cost savings.
John and Jeff introduced the desirability of providing municipalities with a graduated
certification process for initiating and following through on native plant utilization. All agreed
this would be a good tool. Bill Beetle indicated Sustainable Jersey, staffed through The
Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, has developed just such a program,
including an action very similar to this project. Bill will distribute this action among the
project team and will reach out to the Institute to arrange a meeting to explore collaboration
– there may be no need to reinvent the wheel here.
Bill reminded everyone that the resource interview form (attached) was available and that
he had contacted Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve which was eager to be included as a
resource. Bill documented the interview in a resource record (attached).
All agreed that the actual meetings and presentations with municipalities will be done by
two-person teams in each case, at least initially.
5. Jeff suggested the use of MeetUp and facebook to expand member participation and
“attendance” at Chapter meetings.
6. John agreed to ask Christine to assist in preparing and printing native plant request cards
which customers can leave with garden centers and nurseries to generate demand for native
plants.
ACTIONS: See table next page
NEXT MEETING:
January 18, 2016, at 7:00 at RNC
NOTE: NO DECEMBER MEETING
Prepared by: Bill Beetle
Date prepared: December 13, 2015
Attachments (3)
1
UNASSIGNED
H. Rola
T. Price
M. Fishman
Contact Speakers
NRCS
Pinelands Nursery – D. Knezic
Alampi Beneficial Insect
Laboratory
Fernbrook Nursery – L. Kuser
Wild Ridge Plants - J.
Rosenbaum/R. Mackow
X
X
X
X
?
2
Upload video narrative to
OneDrive
3
Propose language insert
regarding human/ecosystem
interdependence
4
Assist to research/identify
landscaping cost factors
5
Contact Laura Allen & solicit
assistance regarding cost
factors
6
Develop cost calculator
7
Distribute Sustainable Jersey
"native plant" action
X
8
Contact The Sustainability
Institute & book meeting
regarding collaboration
X
9
Explore use of Meetup and
facebook
10
J. DiFrancesco
C. Black
J. Black
B. Beetle
E. Baratta
ACTIONS
Develop and print RNC Chapter
plant request cards
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Native Plant Utilization Project --- Resource Outreach Guide
Background/Purpose Statement: [Use as much or little as you see fit.]

NPSNJ Mission: “Our mission is to promote the appreciation, protection, and study of the
native flora of New Jersey.”

Rancocas Chapter launching a project to bring out the increased use of native plants in
horticulture and landscaping
o
Broad audience: Home residential gardeners, garden clubs, home owners
associations; public regulatory/decision-makers (municipal environmental
commissions, shade tree commissions, planning boards); municipal and county
highway, parks or facilities units; NJDOT; professional and volunteer practitioners
guidance materials and training/education: Master Gardeners, Rutgers NJEAS
Environmental Stewards, planners, landscape architects engineers
o
Starting with municipal activities: public facilities and parks management and
maintenance by delivering presentations and encouraging measures to convert to
native plant uses
o
This will include providing a resource package for undertaking these measures
** ** **
GUIDE:
1. Contact Information:
Resource Name:
Contact Name:
Address:
Phone number:
Web address:
Email:
2. Request their willingness to be referenced as a resource, based on having explained our
purpose and initial steps to convert municipal practitioners. Response:
3. Type of Resource:
Commercial Nursery
Retail/Wholesale
Non-profit
Service area
4. Type of plant materials available:
General natives
Specialized natives – describe
If unclear, confirm materials are natives species, not native cultivars
Geographic focus:
Inner coastal plain
Other – describe:
5. Other services available?:
Planning/design and material selection
Installation
Management and maintenance support/advice
Outer coastal plain
10/23/15
Native Plant Utilization Project: Resource Outreach Record
Outreach Date: October 23, 2015
1. Contact Information:
Resource Name: Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
Contact Name:
Jennifer Pennington, Communications
Kelly Joslin, Education
Address:
P.O. Box 685 (mail)
1635 River Road
Phone number: 215-862-2924
Web address: www.bhwp.org
Email: pennington@bhwp.org
2. BHWP is definitely willing to be referenced as a resource.
3. Type of Resource:
Commercial Nursery: No
Retail:
Wholesale:
Non-profit: Yes – 501c3
Plant sales: Yes – May thru November, plant sales events
spring and fall
Service area: Entire Delaware Valley in PA and NJ
4. Type of plant materials available:
General natives including trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, annual, ferns, grasses, etc.,
including species not found on preserve site
Specialized natives – describe: not specialized
Plant materials are natives species, with a very few native cultivars
Geographic focus:
Inner coastal plain: Yes
Outer coastal plain: less so
Other – describe:
5. Other services available?:
Planning/design and material selection
Yes, but limited in past. Could be explored depending on client and project as a fee for
service arrangement
Installation: No
Management and maintenance support/advice: Not normally as a direct service, but offers
mini-course and work sessions on topics that would support implementation, management
and maintenance. Considerable information and program offerings on website.