Volunteer Opportunity for Planting at Wysong Park, Saturday, May 28, 9am-5pm

Wanted: Volunteers for planting at the Mendham Township native plant demonstration garden near the Ralston playground in Wysong Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28.

Shifts can be as short as an hour or as long as the whole day depending on interest and availability.

The garden is the result of “The Nature of Mendham” a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat program, in partnership with New Jersey Audubon and Wild Birds Unlimited in Denville. The purpose is to make the Mendhams greener and more wildlife-friendly by creating wildlife habitat while educating and engaging residents.

The program encourages homeowners to use best management practices for wildlife on their property, such as using native plants and avoiding pesticides, and certifying their yards, which they can do at nwf.org/certify. The Mendhams will become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat when we achieve 175 certification points (1 point for each residence, 3 points for each town property, and 5 points for each school).

The garden, a 10-foot by 12-foot area at the park, was mulched on April 23. On Saturday May 28, about 40 perennial plants and 14 shrubs will be planted. The plants were chosen based on their value to wildlife as nectar and host plants. All have some to high deer resistance and a variety of bloom times from April to October.

For more information, call Kylie Bailin at (973) 216-4413 or email kbono@openix.com. Participants are asked to bring their own gardening gloves and shovels.