Bluegrass at Mapleton Preserve

Saturday May 9th, ~11 a.m. -1 p.m.

After the Hands Across the Canal event, come hear Central New Jersey’s favorite Bluegrass band, “Riverside” at Mapleton Preserve, at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston.

Bill Flemer, Jerry Steele, David Olsen, and Steve Hendershott are longtime Princeton-area musicians, and central Jersey's favorite bluegrass band. The band’s collective experience in rock, country, and folk idioms gives Riverside a unique approach to traditional bluegrass music and adds a bluegrass flavor to songs by the Beatles, the Byrds, and to country and western swing favorites.

It’s free and all are welcome! This concert is sponsored by Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, in the hope that participants in the Hands Along the Canal event (and others) will want to pack a lawnchair and a picnic lunch, and plan to make a day of it.

For more information, contact Karen Linder, Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands at 609-683-0483.

Hands Along the Canal

Saturday, May 9th at 10 a.m.

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. To celebrate the Park and raise awareness of this important recreational resource, the Kingston Historical Society and East Coast Greenways are sponsoring Hands Along the Canal —a bold undertaking that will attempt to line thousands of hand-holding park users along the historic towpath from Millstone Aqueduct to Rocky Hill.

Those of you who love and use the D&R should mark your calendars, register at the website and plan to be a part of this show of support for the park!

Participants will link hands at 10 am, and you must plan to arrive early, in order to be in place at this time. If you plan to be a part of this "human chain", please register ASAP at the East Coast Greenways website (www.greenwaynj.org) so the organizers can keep track of where everyone will enter the park. The registration form is also available at the D & R Canal State Park website (www.dandrcanal.com/programs.html#hands).

Because there is limited parking at the entrances to the D&R Canal, organizers are asking bicyclists and runners to park a distance away and bike or walk/run to the park entrance of their choice (Rocky Hill at Rt. 518; Rockingham Historic Site at Rt. 603/Laurel Ave; Kingston Lock at Rt. 27; D&R Canal State Park/Mapleton Preserve at 145 Mapleton Road; Millstone Aqueduct and Footbridge at Mapleton Road). These locations highlighted in yellow on the map in the April 2009 newsletter at www.fpnl.org.

If you plan to enter the Canal at the Kingston Lock on Rt. 27, parking is limited. However, ample parking will be available at Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston – those who park there can follow a trail to the canal. Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands will be at the Preserve to provide directions to the Canal.

After the event, there will be a special bluegrass concert from ~11-1 at the Headquarters for the D&R Canal State Park (D&R Canal State Park/Mapleton Preserve, 145 Mapleton Road, Princeton, NJ 08540) by Riverside, Central New Jersey’s favorite bluegrass band. Its free, and all are welcome.

Birding "Big Day" at Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal

Male baltimore oriole photo courtesy of Mdf (Wikipedia)

Saturday, May 2nd, 8:00-11:00 am

Join Karen Linder and the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for a Birding “Big Day” on Saturday, May 2nd. We want to find as many bird species as we can at Mapleton Preserve and along the adjacent sections of the D&R Canal. Meet at the D&R Canal State Park Headquarters, 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston for an 8 am start. See http://www.fpnl.org/ for directions and map.

Expect good birding, as breeding season and spring migration will be in full swing. Birds that reside here year round, those that winter here and those passing through on their way north in migration should be present. The event is free and will be held "rain or shine" from 8 am to ~11. Volunteers do not need to be experts - just a pair of eyes and the desire for a fun day are required, but binoculars are recommended. Strong birders are especially welcome. If this has piqued your interest, please contact Karen Linder at 609-683-0483.

This walk is part of a larger effort to inventory all the bird species seen along the D&R Canal and adjacent preserved areas in one day. The effort is being championed by NJ Audubon volunteer Arlene Oley and the D&R Canal State Park in recognition of the 175th anniversary of the Canal. FPNL will be covering the Princeton Nursery Lands on Mapleton Road and adjacent sections of the D&R Canal.

If you want to help cover another section of the Canal or volunteer to lead a walk on the Canal on that day, please contact Arlene Oley (arobirder@aol.com). It is free and all are welcome.

Early morning bird walk with John Maret at Mapleton Preserve

Palm Warbler photo by Brenda Jones

Saturday Sept. 20, 8:00 -10:30 am

Join John Maret and the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands on Saturday, Sept. 20th at 8:00 a.m. for an early morning bird walk through the Mapleton Preserve. This walk holds the promise of early fall migrants. Meet at the D&R Canal State Park Headquarters/Mapleton Preserve, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston. The event will be held rain or shine. It is free and all are welcome. Call 609-683-0483 for more information.

BACKGROUND

D & R Canal State Park Headquarters/Mapleton Preserve – where this event will take place--contain the historical heart of Princeton Nurseries, a wholesale tree nursery that once operated a thriving business in Kingston. The Preserve and its surroundings contain both wooded and grassland habitats – the varied offerings of evergreens, hardwood trees, open fields and bountiful berries draw many interesting species of birds, including sparrows and warblers.

John Maret, an avid and experienced birder, will lead the walk. He is a an active member of the Washington Crossing Audubon Society (WCAS), and is a keen participant in their annual World Series of Birding.

Fall can be an excellent time for birding, as waves of warblers are passing through New Jersey during autumn migration. However, fall warblers can be challenging to identify, due to their small size and their preference for protective cover. In early May, they are relatively easy to spot, as they sport bright breeding colors and the males may be singing territorial songs in an attempt to attract a mate.

But in the fall, some birds have color patterns that are more subdued than they are in the spring, calls may be reduced to a single “call note” or chip, and they can easily hide in mature foliage.

The good news is that during fall migration warblers can be plentiful, as they often migrate in large flocks. Most migrate at night and rest during the day. Early morning provides the best time for fall warbler watching, as these songbirds recharge their batteries after the night flight, foraging in trees for insects.

Identification is not just matching the living bird in front of you to a picture in a book – it involves behavior, the habitat the bird is found in, the sounds it makes, and the timing of migration, as well as seasonal changes in feather color.

On the walk, the group will watching for bird behaviors that provide clues to identification. For example, the palm warbler pumps its tail up and down, and feeds close to the ground. American redstarts flutter like butterflies, and their constant motion is characteristic. Songs and call notes, or chips, are helpful means of identification too. Learning these sounds takes a good pair of ears and lots of practice – John Maret, the leader for this walk, has “educated ears” and is an excellent teacher.


DIRECTIONS:

Mapleton Preserve/D & R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston, NJ

From Route 1: Take Ridge Road exit heading towards the town of Kingston for approximately 1 mile – bear left on Ridge at the intersection of Ridge Road and Heathcote. At the stop sign, turn left onto Academy Street (Academy St. becomes Mapleton Rd). The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located ~0.2 miles on the left side of the road.

From Route 27: Turn onto Academy Street at the traffic light in Kingston (across from the Kingston Cemetery). Academy Street becomes Mapleton Road as it heads towards Route 1. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located ~ 0.3 miles on the left side of the road.

Walk at the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site

Join Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for a long walk through the preserved lands of the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site, Kingston, NJ on Saturday, July 19th at 10 a.m.

Meet in the parking area for the Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park (145 Mapleton Road, Kingston). We will explore lesser-known corners of the Nursery property.

For further details contact Karen Linder at 609-683-0483. The event is free and open to all.

Photo by Tari Pantaleo

Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands Annual Meeting

Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 PM

The Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site is being nominated to the NJ State and National Registers of Historic Places. At the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands (FPNL) Annual Meeting, trustees Karen Linder and Robert von Zumbusch will present a slide talk on the Site, its history, and its future. The talk will describe the boundaries and location of the proposed Historic Register District, explain the nomination process, show pictures of key houses, buildings and landscape elements, and relate some of Princeton Nurseries’ unique history.

The presentation will be held in the Education Building (formerly the Nurseries’ blacksmith shop) at the D&R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. The event is free and open to all. For more information, contact Karen Linder at 609-514-2416. Directions at end.

BACKGROUND: State and National Register Nomination: In 2006, South Brunswick Township Historic Preservation Commission (SBTHPC) received a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission and funding from South Brunswick Township to nominate the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site to the NJ State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The nomination, prepared by Hunter Research, was reviewed this February by the NJ State Review Board for Historic Sites. By unanimous decision, NJ State Review Board determined that the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site is of both local and national significance, approving the nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Formal signing of the nomination by NJDEP is imminent. After approval at the State level, the nomination will be forwarded to the Federal Government for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. National Register status, when attained, will allow application for State and federal grants for historic preservation, which is particularly critical in the case of on-site Nursery buildings.

Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands (FPNL) has worked with SBTHPC to prepare an interpretive brochure and a PowerPoint presentation describing the proposed Princeton Nurseries Historic District and the benefits of National Register status. The début of the slide show will be at FPNL’s annual meeting on June 11th.

DIRECTIONS: Mapleton Preserve/D & R Canal State Park Headquarters, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston (on Mapquest or Google Maps, use mailing address of 145 Mapleton Rd. Princeton, NJ 08540)

From Route 1: Exit at Ridge Road heading towards the village of Kingston for approximately 1 mile. Take second left, following Ridge Road (Division St). At the stop sign at the end of Ridge Road, turn left. The D & R Canal State Park Headquarters and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.2 miles on the left side of Mapleton Road. Alternatively, take the Mapleton Road Exit, heading towards the village of Kingston for 1.7 miles. At the stoplight, turn left on Mapleton Rd.. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located approximately 0.6 miles on the right side of the road.

From Route 27: Turn onto Academy Street at the traffic light in Kingston (across from the Kingston Cemetery). Academy Street becomes Mapleton Road as it heads towards Route 1. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.3 miles on the left side of the road.

Arbor Day Event/Grafting Demonstration

Saturday, April 26, 2-4 p.m.

An Arbor Day celebration welcomes guests to Mapleton Preserve, the former home of Princeton Nurseries, on Saturday, April 26th, from 2 – 4 p.m. William Flemer IV (a member of the Flemer family that founded the legendary Princeton Nurseries) will present a demonstration of the grafting techniques used by the Nursery. This will be followed by the planting of a specimen tree in the Flemer Arboretum. As in past years, those who worked at the Princeton Nurseries Kingston site have been invited back to share stories and memories with the public. All guests will receive a seedling tree to bring home and plant. This event, sponsored by Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, will be held at the Headquarters of the D&R Canal State Park, located at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston, 08540. For more information and directions, call 609-514-2416 (weekdays) or 609-683-0483 (evenings and weekends). Registration is NOT required, all are welcome and admission is FREE! Master Gardeners will receive 1 CE unit for attending this event.

BACKGROUND

William Flemer IV has trees in his blood. He is a member of the family that founded the Princeton Nurseries, a legendary wholesale tree nursery that was headquartered for 82 years in Kingston, NJ, and was operated by four generations of the Flemer family.

Princeton Nurseries (now located in Allentown, NJ) has provided a specimen tree to be planted for the 2008 Arbor Day Celebration. This continues their tradition of donating specimens for the Flemer Arboretum. The arboretum is named for legendary plantsman William Flemer, III and his brother, the late Dr. John Flemer. William Flemer III (who passed away last spring) developed some of the best loved plants in American horticulture, including the Princeton Sentry® Gingko, ‘Snow Queen’ Hydrangea, and the October Glory® Maple.

This year's tree is a Maackia amurensis 'Starburst', and was developed by William Flemer III at Princeton Nurseries. A small deciduous tree with exotic, rich-green leaves and reptilian-like copper-colored ornamental bark on younger trees, this urban-tolerant die-hard has a nice display of spiky white flowers in mid to late summer. Amur Maackia is tolerant of poor soil and pollution.

About Mapleton Preserve

Mapleton Preserve contains the historical heart of the Princeton Nurseries lands. This wholesale tree nursery knew global renown for the beauty, quality and longevity of its cultivars. In the 20th century, the property covered well over a thousand Kingston acres, and hundreds of splendid trees remain in Kingston -- as showpiece specimens and towering windrows, one of the key characteristics of the site. Princeton Nurseries now operates on three thousand acres of fertile farmland in Allentown, New Jersey, but they announced last June that they plan to cease operations by the spring of 2010.

In 2005, the 53-acre property now known as Mapleton Preserve was jointly purchased as open space, by the New Jersey Green Acres program and South Brunswick Township. The restored main office for Princeton Nurseries’ Kingston site has now become the D & R Canal State Park Headquarters. Several other historic buildings dot the grounds, including eight greenhouses.

If suitable funding can be obtained, they will be restored and put to nature-related use within the next ten years. Significant progress has been made to this end.

South Brunswick Township Historic Preservation Commission received funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission and South Brunswick Township to nominate the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site to the NJ State and National Registers of Historic Places. That application was reviewed this February by the NJ State Historic Sites Council. By unanimous decision, it was determined that the site is of both local and national significance. After approval at the State level, the nomination will be forwarded to the Federal Government. National Register status, when attained, will allow application for federal grants for historic preservation.

The South Brunswick Township (SBT) Historic Preservation Commission also obtained a grant from Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund to prepare a Cultural Landscape Report for the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site. The grant, which was highly competitive, will help document current conditions, formulate a landscape preservation treatment plan and help to guide future restoration at Mapleton Preserve, when funds are released from the State. Additional matching funds will be provided by South Brunswick Township.
Finally, South Brunswick Township Historic Preservation Commission recently received a grant from Middlesex County to prepare a preservation plan and architectural drawings for future stabilization and restoration of three key nursery buildings.

In addition, Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, a “friends” group for the property, has received 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. Tax exempt status is extremely important, as they can now directly solicit donations for preservation and restoration activities at the Princeton Nurseries Kingston site.

DIRECTIONS:

D & R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston 08540

From Route 1: Exit at Ridge Road heading towards the town of Kingston for approximately 1 mile. Follow Ridge (previously Division St) when it turns left. At the stop sign turn left onto Academy Street (Academy St. becomes Mapleton Rd). The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.2 miles on the left side of the road.

From Route 27: Turn onto Academy Street at the traffic light in Kingston (across from the Kingston Cemetery). Academy Street becomes Mapleton Road as it heads towards Route 1. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.3 miles on the left side of the road.

Arbor Day History:

In the 1800’s, J. Sterling Morton, journalist, moved to the generally treeless state of Nebraska from wooded Michigan. Soon becoming editor of Nebraska’s first newspaper, Morton set about diligently spreading agricultural information, particularly his enthusiasm for trees to fellow pioneers. All seriously missed trees, --not only aesthetically, but to serve as windbreaks to keep plains soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun.

On January 4, 1872, J. Sterling Morton successfully proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, and one million trees were planted on its first observance. During the 1870s, other states passed legislation to observe Arbor Day. The tradition spread through schools nationwide. Today the most common date for the state observances is the last Friday in April, also known as National Arbor Day.