Update on the Swede Run Fields Pollinator Garden

September 2021- The recently installed pollinator garden at Swede Run Fields continues to grow and flourish. STEM would like to thank all the individuals who worked so hard to plan, plant, water, weed and mulch their sections of the garden. Without your dedication, the young plants would never have made it through our very hot summer.

A special thanks to everyone who managed one of the garden zones - Ruth Larkin, Avery Thomas, Ellen Bleidorn, Linda Porter, Dina Thomas, Mark Hickman, Nancy Fife and Linda Burns and Mark Pensiero. A big thank you to Katie Leakley for managing the volunteers, tracking the hours, and finding backups when the plot leaders were away.

This past week (9/6) large numbers of monarch butterflies have shown up at the garden. They have been enjoying the butterfly milkweed. While I have not seen any caterpillars yet, I expect them to start showing up shortly. If you haven’t been to the garden recently, I highly suggest a visit. Right now, the blue mist flowers, black-eyed Susan, blue aster, and butterfly weed are all in bloom. The false sunflower should be blooming in the next couple of weeks.

Mark Pensiero
President, STEM

Trail Improvements
​Completed at
​Esther Yanai Preserve

September 2021- The youth group of the First United Methodist Church in Moorestown recently completed trail improvements at the Esther Yanai Preserve (EYP). Four elevated walkways were added to help walkers navigate through some of the wetter areas of the preserve. 

Additionally, some sections of the trails were re-routed to move the trails out of wet areas and onto higher ground.

In 2020, four walkways were added to EYP, making a total of eight walkways that now traverse the preserve. 

​STEM would like to thank FUMC for all their hard work and the Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation who funded the purchase of the materials.

Pollinator Garden Planted at Swede Run Field

June 2021- STEM recently completed the installation of 4,500 square foot native pollinator garden at Swede Run Field. The garden surrounds the historic stone building and is adjacent to the dog park. This beautiful site now is the new home to over 1,200 plants. STEM won a grant for the plants from the Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife thorough the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. The plants were provided by Pinelands Nursery. STEM was one of 46 organizations that were awarded a grant of plants.

STEM and its friends and volunteers worked over 100 hours designing, preparing, and installing the garden. A crew of volunteers are also lined up to make sure the garden is tended during the hot summer months. 

STEM would like to thank Diane Walker of Colorstone Gardens for the design and preparation work, Matt Severs for the site preparation, Leonberg Nursery for the mulch, and Katie Leakley for coordinating the volunteers. A big shoutout to the 30 plus volunteers who came out to help us turn this project into a reality.

I hope you will all have a chance to get out to the garden and enjoy it’s beauty. The plants are small now, but with lots of TLC and a little luck they will continue to grow and thrive.  

Regards,
Mark Pensiero, President, STEM

New Kiosk at Esther Yanai Preserve

January 2021- STEM is happy to report the installation of a kiosk at the Esther Yanai Preserve. The kiosk was a gift of Moorestown Parks and Recreation Department and is a wonderful addition to the preserve. Thank you Theresa Miller, Director of Parks and Recreation for making it happen. The kiosk is filled with information about the preserve and it’s history, a trail map, and information about Moorestown’s other preserved open spaces.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the new and improved Esther Yanai Preserve, I highly recommend a visit. A pair of waterproof shoes are highly recommended as the trail is very wet in the winter and spring. Thanks to everyone who has been involved in improving the preserve over the past six months.

​Mark Pensiero, President, STEM

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See 2020