EARTH Demo Gardens Brochure 3 - Middlesex County NJ · dozens of shade, ornamental & fruit trees have been added to the park. These named varieties allow residents to see how trees,

T

E.A.R.T.H.Center

E.A.R.T.H.Center

Thanks to

Middlesex CountyBoard of Chosen Freeholders

Located at

South Brunswick, NJ42 Riva Ave

E-nvironmentA-gricultureR-esearchT-eachingH-ealth

E-nvironmentA-gricultureR-esearchT-eachingH-ealth

Department ofParks & Recreation

Division of Solid WasteManagement

Department ofPublic Property

*

*

* Take Cranbury Rd (Rt. 535) inE. Brunswick

* Make right onto Davidson Mill Rd* Make left onto Riva Ave

(just before bridge)* Park entrance is on the left

* Take Exit 130, Route 1 South* Follow directions for Route 1

* Take Exit 8A (Cranbury, Jamesburg)* Follow signs for Route 32 West* Take Route 130 North (New Brunswick)*

DIRECTIONS:

from Route 287

from Route 1

from Route 18

from Garden State Parkway

from NJ Turnpike

Take exit for Route 1 South* Follow directions for Route 1

Take Route 1 to Route 130 South* At 6th Light make left onto

Davidson’s Mill Rd.(a BP Connect Station is on corner)

* Make right onto Riva Ave. aftersecond small bridge

* Park entrance is on the left* Follow entrance road all the way backuntil you see our new building

Look for BP gas station on left* Make a right onto Georges Road* Make a right onto Riva Ave* Follow Riva Ave down and aroundthe Mill Pond

* Park entrance is on the right

* Follow entrance road all the way backuntil you see our new building

* Follow entrance road all the way backuntil you see our new building

Agriculture Dept.732-398-5262

Master GardenerHelpline

732-398-5220

www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices

The EARTH Center’s mission isto provide sound, research-basedinformation to meet the needs ofMiddlesex County residents.

more directions available atwww.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices

DemonstrationGardens

DemonstrationGardens

Davidson’sMill Pond

Park

Davidson’sMill Pond

Park

C i r c l e o f T h y m e H e r b G a r d e nOur 13-bed herb garden was installedin 2004, by our Master Gardenersw i t h a g e n e r o u s d o n a t i o nf r o m C l a y t o n B l o c k . E a c h b e dh a s a n i n d i v i d u a l t h e m e t h a tc h a n g e s y e a r l y . V i s i t o r s c a nencounter a var iety of cul inary andornamental herbs that thrive in local conditions.

Low Maintenance Turfgrass AreaThese trial turf plots demonstrate thatdifferent seed varieties will require differentmaintenance levels and yield differentresults. Discover what grasses will work bestin your yard conditions.

Community groups and Garden Clubs can learnbest practices in our vegetable display garden.

V e g e t a b l e D i s p l a y G a r d e nOver 1000 sq. f t o f garden wasestablished in 2004. Walkways andr a i s e d b e d s u s i n g r e c y c l e dplastic lumber were added in 2007.H e r e , v i s i t o r s c a n e n c o u n t e rv e g e t a b l e s f r o m a r o u n d t h ew o r l d a s w e l l a s s t a p l e s o fNew Jersey farms. Cultural techniques suchas mulches, staking and harvest methodsare featured. Master Gardenersw o r k t o c u l t i v a t e a n o u t d o o rclassroom where residents gain anenhanced respect for local agriculture.W i t h i n t h e v e g e t a b l e g a r d e nis the Beneficial Insect Attracting Garden,featur ing plants to attract insectswhich feed on pest species. The aimis to use predation to eliminate pests,rather than poisonous pesticides.

R a i n G a r d e nOur Rain Garden, built in cooperationw i t h R u t g e r s Wa t e r Q u a l i t yexpe r t s , shows homeownersthat a simple landscape additioncan do wonders for filtering andrecharging our groundwater reserves.

Master Gardeners Shade GardenDesigned and installed by MasterGardeners in 2005, this gardencontains plants that tolerate shadyconditions. The shade garden islocated right outside of ourMaster Gardeners ranch house,home to the MG Help l ine.

L a n d s c a p e T r e e W a l kThanks to donations by local nurserymen,dozens of shade, ornamental & fruittrees have been added to the park. Thesenamed varieties allow residents tosee how trees, added to their landscape,will mature. The tree display areaalso provides a place to teachproper pruning and culture techniques.

C o m p o s t D i s p l a y A r e aWe feature the myriad of compostbins available on the market today.Also displayed are bins that gardenerscan make with low cost materials.The EARTH Center hosts workshopson composting during the spring andfall.sponsored by the Middlesex CountyD i v i s i o n o f S o l i d W a s t e .

732-745-4170,Free! For info on these call

Looking to learn more about these topics?Contact us for a tour at 732 398 5262.

Looking to learn more about these topics?Contact us for a tour at 732 398 5262.

M i d d l e s e x C o u n t y ’ s o f f i c e o fR u t g e r s C o o p e r a t i v e E x t e n s i o na n d i t s A g r i c u l t u r e D e p a r t m e n t ’ sMaster Gardeners can be found inDavidson’s Mill Pond Park, South Brunswick,surrounded by 400 acres of parkland, woodsand gardens. The Extension office (dubbedthe EARTH Center) was finished in 2004after demonstrat ion gardens werealready installed by anxious

extension staff .Master Gardener

volunteers and

T h e B u t t e r f l y H o u s eF i l l e d w i t h p l a n t s a n d f l o w e r st h a t a t t r a c t a n d n o u r i s hbutterflies native to our area, thebutterfly house was built in 2009.Visitors can get up close and personalwith these winged wonders while learninghow to attract them to their yards.

G a r d e n f o r t h e H u n g r yAll of the produce from this youthv o l u n t e e r t e n d e d g a r d e n w i l l b edonated to and distributed by Elijah’s Promise.