Citizens United To Protect The Maurice River - How To Create A No-Fuss Wildlife Pond / 6-5-25

Frogs, toads, and dragonflies all need freshwater ponds for egg-laying to create future generations. Even a tiny pool will attract and support them. On Thursday, June 5, Pat Sutton will lead a tour of several backyard water features in Millville and will then offer her How to Create a No-Fuss Wildlife Pond presentation at the Charlesworth Hotel and Restaurant in Fortescue. Learn what a true wildlife pond is and how simple it is to create – with no need for running water, filters, fish, and all the fuss. Pat will share the basics of how to create a wildlife pond and, even more importantly, how to maintain it so that wildlife benefits. Learn which native plants to add to the pond (and which problem plants to avoid). Don’t make the same mistake that others have made by creating a pond for exotic fish that supports little else. In a true wildlife pond, expect to attract and watch the amazing life cycle of huge Green Darner dragonflies or count a growing population of Leopard Frogs, Green Frogs, and Gray Treefrogs that find your pond as if by magic. Look forward to the child-like wonder and joy of searching for and finding young Gray Treefrogs that have emerged from your very own pond and taken up residence on insect-rich, native nectar plants in your garden! Create it and they will come!

Adding in a fish-less pond that resembles natural water features in our area can get you one step closer to the Maurice River Watershed Stewards Wildlife-Friendly Property Designation.
Be Prepared
Wear a visor or hat and bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and extra layers of clothing (in case it's cool, buggy, or for sun protection). Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a pen & paper for note taking and a camera for capturing blooming perennials you’d like to add to your own garden, design ideas, and plant groupings, since the wildlife ponds are full of features that may work in your own yard. Bring binoculars to enjoy visiting pollinators.

About Pat Sutton
Pat Sutton lives near Cape May, New Jersey. She has been a working naturalist since 1977, first for the Cape May Point State Park and then for 21 years with New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, where she was the Naturalist and Program Director (1986 to 2007). Pat has a master's degree from Rowan University in Environmental Education and an undergraduate degree in Literature from the State University of New York at Oneonta.

Today, Pat is a free-lance writer, photographer, naturalist, educator, lecturer, tour leader, and wildlife habitat/conservation gardening educator.

A passionate wildlife habitat gardener and advocate for butterflies, moths, bees (all pollinators), birds, dragonflies, frogs, toads, and other critter, Pat has taught about wildlife-friendly and native plant gardening for over 30 years. Her own wildlife area is a “teaching garden” featured in many programs, workshops, and garden tours.

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Date and Time

Thursday Jun 5, 2025
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

Thursday, June 5, 2025
Tour: noon
Presentation: 3 pm

Location

For the tour meetup: CU Maurice River Offices, 17 E. Main Street, Millville, NJ 08332

For the presentation: Charlesworth Hotel & Restaurant, 224 New Jersey Avenue, Fortescue, NJ 08321

Fees/Admission

Tickets for the tour and presentation: $35
Tickets for just the presentation: $20
Register at Registration Options
You are invited to stay for dinner at the Charlesworth after the presentation, which is scheduled to conclude at 4:30 pm. Please call the restaurant at 856-447-4928 to make your reservation for 5 pm

Website

http://CUMauriceRiver.org

Contact Information

856-300-5331
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