Fantasy (Traffic) Island

Project to Grow Native Plant Species Can Benefit More Than Insects and Migrating Wildlife

Craig Rothman explains planting process to students at Cape May Tech.

“Gardens can be magical,” says Donna Rothman, “when we plant for nature.”

Rothman is the chair of the Avalon Environmental Commission, which along with the Avalon Garden Club, is hoping to provide the borough with a bit of that magic, and potential long-term savings to boot.

Aside from providing a welcome and much-needed habitat for insects and migrating wildlife, the introduction of native plant species on an experimental traffic island on Dune Drive is also expected to assist the borough in saving natural resources and maintenance costs over a longer term.

Donna Rothman explains pilot program to Cape May tech students.

Rothman is passionately dedicated to reintroducing native plant species back to the barrier island’s environment. And for good reason. Numerous studies have shown that both bird and insect populations have declined on a wide scale over the past two decades. Some describe the declines as “dramatic” and “dangerous.” Others have even described the decline in insect populations as apocalyptic-like.

Overly dramatic? Hardly. Recent studies have shown decreases of as much as 75% in insect populations over the last 50 years. Few people realize that 87% of all plant species require pollination. More importantly, 75% of all crops that drive our food chain require pollination. Without insects to pollinate, our food chain will grind to a halt. And yes, the consequences would be dire.

The introduction of native species on one traffic island will hardly result in immediate change of a trend that has been a half-century in the making – but Avalon is at least trying to introduce change and make a difference.

“The idea evolved from work that we were doing in the pollinator garden in Armacost Park,” Rothman says. “That, and some of the local gardens in Avalon where homeowners have already incorporated native species.”

Which led Rothman to seek out Christine Black, of Grow Native Gardens in Brown Mills. Black, a noted authority in the field of natural plant species, agreed to work with Rothman and Avalon on an experimental, or pilot, project by designing the plantings for the island.

With idea in hand, Rothman’s first stop was the office of Avalon Business Administrator Scott Wahl.

“Avalon has always taken pride in embracing concepts that benefit our environment,” Wahl says. “This is a concept that can benefit the environment while helping to preserve our natural resources.”

Craig Rothman shows island planting plan to students.

Win-win.

The next stop for Rothman was the Avalon Garden Club, which has been entrusted with beautifying the traffic islands along Dune Drive for nearly a half-century. The Garden Club added its support by helping to fund the project. Says Rothman: “We are especially thankful to the Garden Club for their generosity and vision.”

Avalon Garden Club president Nancy Hudanich is delighted by the partnership.

“This is an exciting educational initiative as the Garden Club continues to beautify Avalon,” she says. “It’s all possible through an ongoing collaboration with the Borough of Avalon, the Environmental Commission, the Cape May County Technical High School and, of course, the Garden Club. With a focus on water conservation, resiliency and sustainability learning about native flora is intrinsic to the Garden Club’s mission.”

As a retired school superintendent, she also appreciates the value to the students involved: “I am thrilled that the Tech is so involved. What a great opportunity for these students.”

The next step was to acquire the necessary plants – which unfortunately isn’t as easy as stopping by your local garden center and picking up a flat of pansies. This is where the school and its students come in.

Greenhouse at Cape May Tech.

For the necessary indigenous seedlings, Rothman sought the involvement of Mike Adams’ Environmental Science and Sustainability class at Cape May County Technical High School. Adams sought and received the approval of the Technical High Schools’ board so that work could begin at the campus located just across the Great Sound from Avalon in Cape May Court House.

Which is where Rothman and her husband Craig landed in mid-February. Both master gardeners, the Rothmans instructed the students how to initiate the growth of the mostly plant plugs and some microscopic seeds. They’ve been nurtured since February in the school’s greenhouse. The students will continue to cultivate the seedlings until they are ready to be transplanted on the selected island, which is located between 70th and 71st streets on Dune Drive in Avalon.

The students will continue learning by being involved in the transplanting process which will be overseen by Christine Black of Grow Native Gardens and the Avalon Garden Club on May 30.

Seedling in a peat pot.

Since the plants are indigenous to this specific area the traffic island will not require irrigation or lawn maintenance saving the Borough both an expense and the use of natural resources moving forward.

From experience, Rothman understands that realizing the full potential of the experimental plantings may take a year or even two. “The island will require some work this first year,” Rothman says. “We’ll keep an eye on it throughout the summer.”

And hopefully, the magic that she mentions will happen. As the summer goes on, the island should become filled with pollinators and be home to butterflies, hummingbirds, and wildlife as they pass through the Jersey Cape.

Help the environment. Protect our natural resources. Educate our youth. Save on maintenance. Magic indeed. Win-win.