PLANTING THE SEED

EDGEMERE PARK was one of those places to drive past along Beacon Boulevard in Sea Girt on the way to the beach or on the way out of town. It wasn’t given a second look since there was nothing remarkable about it. Many healthy trees were lost over the years because it had become so overgrown with invasive weeds and vines. The only area that still flourished was a small patch near the road where Sea Girt Beautification Committee members planted seasonal flowers, however, even that went by the wayside because of a lack of water.

A NEW ERA

What once felt like a lost cause began to turn around in 2020, offering a new sense of hope. Councilwoman Diane Anthony “planted the seed” for the creation of the Sea Girt Conservancy. Conservancy members, along with town volunteers, got to work cutting, weeding and pruning to rid the park of the thousands of invasive weeds that had taken hold. It seemed like an overwhelming task until eventually an interesting “smothering” process was tried. Piles of flattened cardboard and many layers of mulch helped further choke the invasive plants and vines.

As this project proceeded, it was supported through generous donations to the Sea Girt Conservancy by residents, private donations and grants. The park cleanup continued with help from the Sea Girt Firehouse and The Department of Public Works to forward the Conservancy’s mission “to promote the preservation, enjoyment and ongoing maintenance of Sea Girt’s parks and open spaces for the environment and the benefit of the public, thus ensuring the continuation of these valuable resources for current and future generations.”

Today, Edgemere Park’s trees are returning to health once again. One of the wonders of the park the Conservancy group uncovered was that two species of trees had been hidden under the massive vines—a magnificent Big Leaf Magnolia and stunning Cottonwoods were rescued.

POLLINATOR GARDEN

A pollinator garden—a habitat that supports the biodiversity needed by the insect and bird kingdoms—also thrives in Edgemere Park. It supplies food, shelter and areas to breed and also attracts pollinating insects known as pollinators. The gardens are planted with native plants and wildflowers that attract such pollinators. Solitary bees, migratory butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and other beneficial creatures visit and transfer pollen from flower to flower.

The Sea Girt Conservancy members Donna Thurston and Tom Trivella are just two of the workers who spend time enjoying this habitat. The pollinator garden has been planted with over 2,000 plants, shrubs and trees thus far, and additional plantings are scheduled for the future.

“I am so pleased when people stop by the garden to talk about their childhood memories of riding bicycles and playing tag in the park so many years ago before the invasion of invasive weeds and vines was rampant,” remarks Donna Thurston. “Passersby are happy to see what we have done with the pollinator garden. Some even comment that Edgemere has become a nature museum!”

Mike Matthews, an environmental specialist and member of the Conservancy says: “People are becoming more aware of the need for pollinators. Much has been written about the decline of the honeybee population attributed to the loss of habitat, pesticides and hive infestation from the Verroa Mite. Another parasite, the Tropi Mite, is headed this way from South East Asia, India and Pakistan. These dangers make the preservation of our native bees more important than ever. Fortunately, native bees are a diverse group, many of which are solitary—not living in hives—and luckily, are less susceptible to mite infestations.”

Thanks to the leadership and the dedication of The Sea Girt Conservancy members, as well as the many Sea Girt resident volunteers, Edgemere is not an abandoned park and garden any longer. It has transcended from an overgrown invasive plant wasteland to a beautifully bountiful environmental landscape. Edgemere Park and its pollinator garden have a bright future filled with the wonders of nature—a bright haven of trees, flowers and native bees for all to enjoy.

The Conservancy gives tours of this garden. Visit their website at seagirtconservancy.org for more information.

BY JUDITH JONES-AMBROSINI