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Adding Natives to Your Garden

Adding Natives to Your Garden

I want to share something that’s been weighing on my heart lately. As a landscape designer, a gardener, and someone who sees plants as more than just decoration, I’ve come to realize that growing native plants isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about connection, responsibility, and healing.

Eyes to the Sky: Peak Raptor Migration in the Park

Eyes to the Sky: Peak Raptor Migration in the Park

In the fall, Brookdale Park is a terrific place to spot migrating raptors of all types. Hawks, falcons, eagles and vultures begin their southerly migration in early September. Many of them are following the nearby Watchung Ridge. And these birds passing through need to refuel often during their long journey. That’s why you’ll see so many of these birds here in the park through much of autumn.