Pollinator
Meadow
Project

In March 2023, we began working on the John Schleicher Memorial Pollinator Meadow after a year of planning. In coordination with the Morris County Park Commission, we broke ground on March 9th. On May 20th, we had a group of POWWW volunteers and board members who helped us clear weeds, spread wood chip mulch, and plant 1125 native plant plugs of 24 different species. Heavy rain in the afternoon sent the crew home before all of the plugs were in, so the remainder was planted over the next two weeks.

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In June 2023, we hired our first paid intern, Christian Mayer, with a Morris County Park Alliance grant. Christian worked 10 hours a week for three months under the direction of Mike Leone, and alongside POWWW Volunteers Nick Homyak, who tirelessly tackled the Mile a Minute vines, and more. Board member Jeff Scheidecker spread wood chips around the planting area to create a walking path.

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All of this hard work began to show results starting in August and September, as the first plants began to bloom, along with many surprise native volunteers attracting an array of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. All in all, it was a very successful start to an exciting project, made possible by a coordinated group effort with generous financial support from Judith Schleicher and her family, the Morris County Park Alliance, and many volunteer hours.

 

In 2024, we expanded the planted area, added a memorial bench and volunteers spent numerous hours weeding and maintaining the meadow. We hope to add permanent educational signage in 2025.

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