This episode of The WildStory is all about the southernmost point in New Jersey—beautiful Cape May, known to beachgoers as a summer destination. But for nature lovers, September is migration season and the very best time to head to Cape May. Which is exactly what many of us from the Native Plant Society of New Jersey will be doing, for a special trip to Cape May the weekend of September 27th through the 29th. The retreat sold out faster than we anticipated, but we wanted to share some of the wonders of the area with you in this episode, which includes an inspiring roster of guests from South Jersey.

Our featured poet isPenny Harter (4:00), who has lived and written in May’s Landing for the past dozen years. Penny and Ann spoke about memory, grief, and the everyday creatures and objects that become the imagery that fills her poetry. Penny also offers a mini-lesson on haibun, a beloved Japanese form near to her heart, a form that allows ideas to ripple and expand, like rings upon a lake,

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel (0:32:00), a native plant expert for NPSNJ and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, talks about entering fall, when the many species of goldenrod come into their glory. She clears up the confusion between goldenrod and ragweed and shares why Seaside Goldenrod, which grows along the seashore, is one of her favorites.

We then hear from naturalist Mark Garland (0:44:54) the Director Emeritus of the Cape May Monarch Monitoring Project. Mark has lived and worked in Cape May for more than 20 years and is the author of Watching Nature: A Mid-Atlantic Natural History. Mark talks with Kim about the Monarch butterfly and why its migration is unlike any other that we know of on this planet.

In our final segment, Kim and Ann catch up with naturalist Pat Sutton (01:09:04), who has lived and worked in the Cape May area for over 40 years. Pat shares her knowledge of Cape May Island, one of the top spots in the world to see butterfly and bird migration. She points out her favorite places to visit and tells us about her film, "The UNFOLDING of Pat Sutton’s WILDLIFE GARDEN,” which features her 1/2 acre home wildlife habitat which encompasses 202 native plants, 61 trees, shrubs, and vines, 9 grasses, 5 ferns, 213 bird species, 79 butterfly species and 113 other pollinators.

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. Follow us on Instagram Here to see clips.

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD

Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,

Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel

Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ