Remember the drought of last summer? When members and friends of the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society (VHAS) endeavored in the spring of 2024 to install a bog garden on the museum grounds, they could not have imagined the hot and dry season we were in for.
The vegetable garden fared very well due to frequent watering, thanks to VHAS member Shirley Gibbons. And the rain garden, already established, offers wonderful vistas to passersby on Seventh Street through the seasons. The bog garden, however, with its need for natural rainwater, was more challenging.
This year looks to be better and the public is invited to help plant some carnivorous plants—pitcher plants and Venus fly-traps!—in the Mary Treat Memorial Bog Garden. The event, on Saturday, June 21, at the VHAS, 108 S. Seventh Street, in Vineland, will be a celebration of the summer solstice.
The bog garden mimics the habitat where 19th century Vineland naturalist Mary Treat collected carnivorous plants, which she studied and shared with colleagues Asa Gray and Charles Darwin. At Saturday’s event, Deborah Boerner Ein will discuss Treat, whom the gardens are named for. Ein researched the Treat files at VHAS as well as other resources and wrote Mary Treat: A Biography as well as a children’s book about the trailblazing ecologist who called Vineland home.
And kids (of all ages!), SEE BELOW for a page from Mary Had a Little Zoo to color and bring along on Saturday. You can plant just like Mary Treat did in her backyard.
Gardener Meredith Koenig (pictured below at the garden’s installation in fall 2023) will showcase the rain garden on the VHAS grounds. The society installed an informative signboard in April to welcome visitors to the rain garden. The signboard outlines what a rain garden is, how it works, and all about the native plants selected. Koenig will elaborate and be available to answer questions.
The Rain Garden and the signboard were designed and installed by the Rutgers Water Resources Program in coordination with the Vineland Historical and Antiquitarian Society, Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, William Penn Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the American Littoral Society.
Finally, you are invited to bring a favorite garden recipe using Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables.
This is a free event but you may register at https://forms.gle/LLeb24Hbhprzz9G66
KIDS’ PAGE
This coloring book tells the story of Mary Treat. Great summertime activity for kids, grandkids, even adults! Written by Deborah Boerner Ein. Inside illustrations by Laura Bethmann. Cover illustration by Emily Farrell. Exclusive to SNJ Today—one of the 32 pages in Mary Had a Little Zoo, presented here as a “Kid’s Page.”
Book is available at tinyurl.com/4swsx4kw and on Amazon: tinyurl.com/mary-treat-zoo
Available locally:
• VHAS, 108 Seventh St., Vineland
• RRCA, High St., Millville
check marytreat.com
OR buy direct from the publisher by using the QR code below:
