Home > Archives for Science

Science Archive

Invasive Species Spotlight: Dame’s Rocket  

May 15, 2026 by and

Main Content

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 […]

How’s the Weather in the Garden State?

April 13, 2026 by

Main Content

Exploring Current Weather and Drought Conditions Data Sal Mangiafico, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Link to PDF: salem.njaes.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Earth-Day-Every-Day-April-2026.pdf State and federal websites are available to assess recent trends in temperature, precipitation, and drought status for New Jersey.  In particular, data describing recent weather can be compared with 30-year normal values to contrast recent weather with the more […]

Rutgers Earth Day Every Day Webinars – Eat Your Way to a Healthy Environment – Spring 2026

April 7, 2026 by

Main Content

PDF of Flyer: https://salem.njaes.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Spring2026E2D2Flyer.pdf Registration site: https://go.rutgers.edu/foodforthought Thank you for your interest in the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Earth Day Every Day Webinar Series. Review the webinars and descriptions then choose which webinars you’d like to attend below. You will receive reminder emails as the dates get closer. All webinars begin at 6:30 PM and will […]

What’s New in 2026:  A Guide to New Jersey’s Latest Environmental Laws

March 19, 2026 by

Main Content

By: Patricia Maguire (Program Coordinator, Rutgers Environmental Steward Program) and Michele Bakacs (County Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex and Union Counties) In January, 2026 New Jersey passed several environmental bills that will shape the future of waste reduction, habitat protection, pollution prevention, and land conservation statewide. This article summarizes the new laws and provides links to learn more. Staying […]

The Birds & The Bees: Pollinators in Your Yard & Garden

February 17, 2026 by

Main Content

Steve Yergeau County Agent II, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean and Atlantic Counties Link to pdf: https://salem.njaes.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Earth-Day-Every-Day-February-2026.pdf Just like some couples need assistance from Cupid for Valentine’s Day, plants need help during pollination from pollinators like birds and insects. Pollination is the act of moving pollen grains in a flower from the anther (male part) […]

Go Blue in the New Year: Resolutions for Being a More Responsible Steward of New Jersey’s Marine Resources

January 21, 2026 by

Main Content

Douglas Zemeckis and Paige Radcliffe, Rutgers Cooperative Extension You often hear about Going Green to be environmentally friendly, which is a great message to encourage an ethos of being environmentally conscious. In fact, our team published an Earth Day Every Day newsletter article about “Green New Year’s Resolutions” back in January 2021. And, more recently […]

How Nature Can Make Urban Dwellers Healthier

December 2, 2025 by

Main Content

A study by Rutgers ecologist Myla Aronson and colleagues has found “overwhelming” evidence that increasing biodiversity in cities – establishing parks, installing native plants and encouraging sustainable landscaping – can significantly improve human health. Reporting in the science journal People and Nature, Aronson and coauthors described conducting a systematic review of more than 1,500 studies to synthesize […]

Principles of Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardens and Landscapes

November 23, 2025 by

Main Content

Sal Mangiafico, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Introduction Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach used in commercial agricultural production to conserve resources, save money, and act in an environmentally friendly manner. The principles of IPM are appropriate for the home gardener and landscaper as well. The goals of IPM for the homeowner include: Minimizing the use […]

October Invasive Species of the Month: Porcelainberry

September 29, 2025 by and

Main Content

Is the “Invasive Species of the Month” useful to you? Let us know how. Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata synonym Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Porcelainberry, also known as Amur peppervine, (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) is a fast-growing, woody, deciduous vine (liana) that easily blankets any object or vegetation, smothering trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous plants, and even other invasive plants. […]