October
2013
Vol. 8
No. 1
Newsletter
Preserving and Protecting the Historic Princeton Nursery Lands
www.fpnl.org
Princeton Nurseries Celebrates 100 years!
On a crisp sunny day this September, the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands hosted a celebration in honor of the
founding of the Princeton Nurseries Kingston site in 1913.
Left to right: Mark Texel, Elizabeth (Lib) Flemer, Bill Flemer IV, Karen Linder, David Knights, Robert von Zumbusch, and Mayor Frank
Gambatese help to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Princeton Nurseries. Photo by Jonathan Michalik
Mayor Frank Gambatese and other South Brunswick and Franklin Township officials joined FPNL members and friends at
the event. Also present were New Jersey Historic Preservation Office Administrator Dan Saunders, NJ State Park Service
Director Mark Texel, Congressman Rush Holt, David Knights, and members of the Flemer family that founded Princeton
Nurseries. Several Princeton Nurseries alumni joined us for the event. Attendance was estimated at 200 people.
Following the celebratory speeches, FPNL president Karen Linder and Lib Flemer served up sparkling cider and a
celebratory carrot cake iced with 100 trees in honor of this historic event. Bill Flemer and the Bare Root Band provided
the music. FPNL is especially grateful to the Staff of the D&R Canal State Park and to South Brunswick Township for
helping to spruce up the site for the event, to the Township for setting up tents, a stage and the sound system.
New welcome sign for Mapleton Preserve
Just in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site, an anonymous donor has
provided the funds needed to craft a new sign for the Mapleton Preserve. A new signpost was also installed as part of
the project. We are delighted with this new addition, which helps guide visitors to the Preserve.
The sign's scrollwork, layout and graphic look are based on that of the original Princeton Nurseries sign that graced this
location for many years. The work was done by Kane Brothers Restoration. Pictured left are Connor, Pat and Tim Kane.
Shown below is the original Princeton Nurseries sign, taken when the Princeton Nurseries was still in operation in
Kingston.
Connor, Patrick and Tim Kane next to the new
Mapleton Preserve entrance sign. Photo by Vicki Chirco
Princeton Nurseries entrance sign, circa 1991,
from the 1991 Princeton Nurseries Catalog
In Memoriam - David Knights
Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands mourns the passing of David Knights. David was a key partner, along with South
Brunswick Township and the State of New Jersey, in the preservation of over 200 acres of green space around the village
of Kingston, including the land and historic buildings that make up Mapleton Preserve. This summer and fall, he also
secured funding for the new sign for Mapleton Preserve as well as additional brush and mowing clean up around the
area in preparation for the anniversary celebration.
There was an incredible urgency in David's efforts these last few months. He was working to find additional funding for
the remediation of the greenhouses at Princeton Nurseries. The restoration of the Propagation House has been delayed
due to the detection of asbestos in the glazing compound of the windows. David was working hard to find funding for
the greenhouse work, and had spearheaded the clearing of brush from around the building. His sustained interest and
efforts in the restoration and rehabilitation of the properties were enormous. His passion for the nursery land
manifested itself to the end in his determination to be present at the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the
Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site (see photo on p. 1), as well as in the words he wrote that were read by Anne Zeman
for the event.
His energy and enthusiasm for this property was amazing, as was the considerable power and resources he could tap to
focus on restoration. He came to care a great deal for our special place, and was a good friend to us in many ways. He
will be missed.
Greenhouse cleanup:
Woodwinds, a family business in Kingston with extensive experience in caring for trees and
shrubs took on the job of professionally removing the trees, brush and vines that were overgrowing the Propagation
house and greenhouses. The goal of this four day exercise was to make the greenhouse area more presentable – for
visitors, contractors and asbestos removers. Woodwinds DONATED two days of services and Princeton University paid
for two additional days of clearing. In addition mowing was done by Mapleton Nurseries. The appearance of the area
has been dramatically improved!
FPNL is very grateful for these efforts, as well as the efforts of David Knights, who catalyzed this work. The next step is
removal of the broken glass and trees INSIDE some of the greenhouses - a hazardous job that is badly needed before
restoration can be done in earnest. If we can raise the funds, we hope to complete this by the spring.
Fall membership drive: Our fall membership drive to solicit members for 2014 is underway.
We urge all who love
this property to join the Friends of Princeton Nurseries to help support our mission.
This year, we have a special goal. In recognition of David Knight's deep commitment to the restoration of the Princeton
Nurseries propagation building and greenhouses, we are raising funds to augment the grant funding that has already
been raised for this purpose. There is an urgent shortfall in that funding, due to the discovery of asbestos in the glazing
for the greenhouse windows. Appropriate options for the remediation of this issue are currently being explored, but we
know one thing - any option will be expensive. As the funding shortfall is holding up progress on the restoration work,
we are activity seeking your help to get this done.
Since we solicit renewals and donations only once a year, we urge you to join or to renew your membership in Friends
of Princeton Nursery Lands TODAY. Your donations help support all of our programs, this newsletter and restoration
and interpretive projects. If you are on our mailing list, you will receive a renewal form soon. If not, please visit our
website at www.fpnl.org to join or renew using either PayPal or by downloading a membership form.
Notes from the fields -Poison Ivy:
Leaves of three, let them be. Hairy rope, don’t be a dope. These and other
warnings are attached to one of Mapleton Preserve's most attractive fall plants - poison ivy (PI). Plants are either male
or female - the latter can host clusters of berries that mature in the autumn. Fall birders know that one of the best ways
to find migrating warblers is to search near the brightly colored vines of PI. The birds are looking for these off-white
berries whose waxy coat provides high
calorie fuel for migration. The seeds can
pass through the bird unharmed, and
when deposited in bird droppings, can
sprout into a new poison ivy vine - this a
very effective method of seed dispersal.
Though lovely to look at, contact with the
plant can cause an allergic reaction within
1-3 days. PI produces an oil, ‘urushiol’
(chemically related to lacquer), that is
released when the leaves, stems or roots
are touched or crushed. In sensitized
individuals, it is contact with this oil, and
not contact with the plant, that causes
allergic symptons, so you can get PI from
patting your dog, or touching tools used to
dig up the plant. The oil is best removed
within 30 min of contact, using cool water
and an oil-based soap, or an ivy product
such as Tecnu, which can chemically
neutralize the active ingredient in the leaves.
Poison ivy images courtesy of CampingwithGus.com
National Public Lands Day - 2013
MANY THANKS to the enthusiastic volunteers that joined Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for National Public Lands
Day Cleanup at Mapleton Preserve on Sept 28. Some of them are shown below.
Volunteers weeded the butterfly garden, cleaned
the interpretive signs, cleared brush along the
ginkgo row, improved drainage for the selfcomposting toilet, and removed about 15 cubic
yards of wisteria from the fencing.
We are very grateful to J. Vinch and Sons, Inc. of
Lawrenceville, who donated the use of a large
container to hold all of the brush. THANKS ALL!
Upcoming events: Come visit Mapleton Preserve this Fall!
Oct 11, 2013 - Jan 7, 2014: "Legendary Locations": This juried South Brunswick Arts Commission exhibit features
paintings, photography and mixed media inspired by real or imagined places of note, and includes several pieces
inspired by Mapleton Preserve. The show can be viewed at The Gallery in the South Brunswick Municipal Building, 540
Route 522, Monmouth Junction. It is open 8:30 am -4:30 pm weekdays and is also open evenings when meetings are
scheduled. For more information, visit www.sbarts.org
Sunday, October 20, 2-4 pm, Fall Foliage Walk at Mapleton Preserve: In celebration of this 100th anniversary year of
the founding of Princeton Nurseries, Rick Henkel, formerly Sales Manager for Princeton Nurseries, will lead a walk on
the Nurseries’ Kingston site. After working for the Nurseries for 32 years, he founded Princeton Horticultural Services,
which he continues to run. Rick has an extraordinary knowledge of trees and knows the Kingston Site and its trees
intimately. Meet in the Mapleton Preserve for a leisurely two hour walk. It is free and will be held rain or shine. For
more information, call 609-683-0483 or email tari@kingstongreenways.org.
Thursday, Nov. 28th (Thanksgiving), What's for Dinner at the Preserve? A Thanksgiving Day Nature Walk: Join FPNL
President Karen Linder for her popular Thanksgiving Day morning exploration of the Mapleton Preserve. Come find out
what's on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner for the animals and birds at Mapleton Preserve, and enjoy the abundance
and subtle beauty of late fall. This 10 am program begins at the Main Office for the D&R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton
Road, Kingston. The event is open to all, but preregistration IS requested. Call 609-683-0483 to reserve a spot.
Sunday, Dec. 15th, Audubon Christmas Bird Count (BIRDERS TAKE NOTE!): The Kingston segment of this year's
Audubon Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the Kingston Greenways Association, begins at 7:30 AM to catch the "early
birds". We will bird until noon and then take a break for lunch at Main Street Café. The group then continues with the
count in the afternoon. You can join us for morning, afternoon, or both. If interested, give Karen Linder a call (609-6830483) for more info. We would particularly appreciate the help of experienced birders, but novices are also welcome!