Cora Hartshorn Arboretum

06/02/2026

In bloom in our front garden now: Virginia Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana. Never mind the slightly spooky name, this is a great native plant if you love pollinators (check out the bumblebee and the Solitary Sweat Bee enjoying spiderwort snacks). Another huge bonus? Deer do not like it!

05/26/2026

Your support makes a difference!

Garden Volunteer Meeting: Saturday, May 30th from 1:00-2:30pm.

Join CHA staff and like-minded individuals to combat invasive plants and improve the size and health of our native pollinator garden. You do not need to be an expert in order to be helpful. Everyone willing to learn and not afraid of dirt is invited.

Preregistration is required! Register by emailing Wendi at [email protected] to let her know you are interested.

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

Our forest is full of young animals at this time of year. Please stay on the trails at all times and do not disturb growing families or the plants that support them! 🌱
The quieter you can be, the more animals you will see. 🦊
Red foxes like this gangly cub “greatly enhance the ecosystems they inhabit. As highly mobile animals, red foxes act as dispersal agents for many plants. They can also regulate populations of rodents, which aids in the reduction of Lyme disease within the landscape.” -Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station, ‘Red Fox Ecology and Behavior’

05/19/2026

Get a head start on your summer reading!

The ArboReaders will meet once again on Saturday, August 1st at 7:30pm at CHA to discuss Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion.

From a New York Times bestselling nature writer comes a celebration of what goes on outside in the dark, from blooming moon gardens to nocturnal salamanders, from glowing foxfire and synchronous fireflies that blink in unison like an orchestra of light. We can't wait to discuss this incredible story with you.

You can support our partner, , by purchasing your book from her shop.

05/11/2026

Team Birdin’ With Glorious Purpose would like to thank everyone who cheered us on, made donations, fed us snacks, and drove us all over Essex County during Saturday’s World Series of Birding. Despite the rainy weather, we all had fun finding a wide variety of birds in multiple locations. Over the course of the day we were able to identify 112 species, and tied for 4th place in our division.
112 species is a lot of birds in a densely populated county, and all of them are deserving of conservation. Your support of our work on the Global Big Day of birding, and every day, makes a difference in the lives of wild birds. Thank you! 🪶

05/09/2026

Thank you, Turtle Back Zoo! We just picked up 34 more species on the reservoir!
🦆

05/09/2026

Good morning, Essex County! It’s 7:30 and Team Birdin’ With Glorious Purpose has found 51 bird species.
🐦‍⬛

05/09/2026

Two in the morning and we have 2 owl species already!
🦉🦉