Wildlife Tours Showcase Lower Township Gardens

VILLAS – Have you ever wanted to take a peek into some of the butterfly or humming bird gardens that are tucked throughout Lower Township? Or have you always wanted to learn the ins and outs of gardening, but you didn’t know where to start?
This summer, the Nature Center of Cape May will tour various private gardens in the county, with many located in Lower Township, and teach participants the importance of landscaping for local birds and butterflies.
“It is a great educational opportunity that is very hands on,” said Gretchen Whitman, sanctuary director at the Nature Center of Cape May. “It teaches people to look at the landscape a little bit differently, maybe reduce the amount of chemicals they use or to plant certain things because they are good for a bird’s or butterfly’s habitat.”
“And people that go on the tours have a great asset in Pat Sutton,” added Whitman. “She is the expert and has been teaching people about backyard habitats before it was fashionable.”
Sutton, a naturalist, author and backyard habitat educator, has been leading tours focusing on wildlife gardens for 22 years.
The gardens are all unique, noted Whitman . Some gardens feature wooded areas or meadows, while others consist of containers or ponds. Some gardens are on large properties whose gardens stretch over a great deal of space, while other property owners made an oasis on a small parcel of land.
“Sometimes people get very inspired when they go on these tours or take one of our gardening classes. You realize that it doesn’t take a lot to create a wonderful space in your own backyard,” said Whitman and added that a garden can be made wildlife friendly in as little as one year.
The tours are held in July, August and September in order to focus on the different season for perennials and annual plants and peak hummingbird or butterfly diversity.
Mid-July is the time of peak butterfly diversity and numbers. Gardens on the July tour will showcase native nectar plants, key caterpillar plants, diverse design ideas, and a blizzard of butterflies and hummingbirds.
In August, it is the peak of Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration. At that time, native nectar plants, healthy insect populations, water sources, and adequate cover are key elements of each garden.
During the month of September, it is the height of Cape May County’s world-famous fall Monarch migration. Gardens on tour that month features native nectar plants and as many as five different kinds of milkweed (used by Monarchs for egg laying to create the next generation).
The dates for the Private Wildlife Gardens Tours are:
July 18: South “Cape Island”
July 19: Mid-country “North Cape May to Rio Grande”
July 20: North “Goshen to Dennisville”
Aug. 15: North “Goshen to Dennisville”
Aug.g 16: South “Cape Island”
Aug. 17: Mid-country “North Cape May to Rio Grande”
Sept. 19: Mid-country “North Cape May to Rio Grande”
Sept. 20: North “Goshen to Dennisville”
Sept. 21: South “Cape Island”
Space for all tours are limited, so booking in advance is required. For more information about these programs or the Nature Center of Cape May, call 609-898-8848 or email nccm@njaudubon.org. You can also visit www.njaudubon.org/centers/nccm.