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After 13 weeks of virtual learning, our Environmental Steward participants stepped beyond the screen and into the field—bringing their knowledge to life in some of New Jersey’s most environmentally significant places.
Invasive Species Spotlight: Dame’s Rocket
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Is the “Invasive Species Spotlight” useful to you? Let us know how. Hesperis matronalis Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a 2-3 foot tall flowering biennial often found along moist roadsides and wooded areas. Its erect, multi-stemmed structure and purple/pink flowers resemble native eastern blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) and therefore often misidentified as native. Dame’s rocket was introduced to the US in the 1600’s as a garden plant; however, its success invading the wild is largely due to its popularity in commercial […]
May Invasive Species of the Month: Wisteria
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Invasive vines such as Wisteria spp. can kill healthy, mature trees. Simple actions like controlling invasive vines can help save trees, which are vital for capturing greenhouse gases and reducing the impact of climate change.
November Invasive Species of the Month: Round-Leaved Bittersweet
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Round-leaved bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus, is an invasive vine that climbs, strangles, and smothers live trees.
July Invasive Species of the Month: Privet
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Privet, Ligustrum species, is an invasive, flowering, deciduous shrub. Various privet species are commonly used as hedges in residential and commercial landscapes. Some privet species have spread into understory forests and roadsides and are considered invasive plants in New Jersey.
April Invasive Species of the Month: Jetbead
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Jetbead, Rhodotypos scandens Jetbead is an invasive spring flowering, deciduous shrub. It is available as an ornamental and spreads into understory forests and roadsides. Its attractive white flower starts blooming in April making it easy to identify this time of year. Jetbead can grow in both full sun and shade. Due to its tolerance of […]
December Invasive Plant of the Month: Angelica tree
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December Angelica Tree Aralia elata Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata) is an extremely aggressive, fast growing, deciduous tree that invades forest canopy gaps, forest edges, and right of ways. It is a heavy seed producer and once this tree invades an area it takes over quickly, forming dense stands (Figure 1) and suppressing native vegetation […]
2023 Impact Summit graduates 41 new Environmental Steward Volunteers
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41 new volunteers were certified as Rutgers Environmental Stewards on Saturday October 28, having each completed a project that helped address an environmental issue in their community. These volunteers partnered with 48 organizations across the state educating close to 4,000 people on pressing issues such as climate change, habitat conservation, water quality protection, and reducing […]
October Invasive Plant of the Month: English ivy
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October English ivy (Hedera helix) Invasive vines such as English ivy can kill healthy, mature trees. Simple actions like controlling invasive vines can help save trees which are vital for capturing greenhouse gases and reducing the impact of climate change. Ecological threat: English ivy (Hedera helix) is an ornamental vine commonly planted in landscapes as a […]
Invasive Species of the Month: Linden Viburnum
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Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum) is an ornamental shrub commonly planted in landscapes, Linden viburnum invades the understory of forests and thrives in the shade. Be on the lookout for Linden viburnum’s bright red cluster of fruit in the fall persisting into December. This invasive shrub has creamy white flowers in clusters in the spring.