NJMC staffer Jim Wright, who keeps this blog, also writes a column every other Thursday for The South Bergenite. His latest, about the new Sensory Garden at DeKorte, is below:

DeKorte Park’s newest attraction is also its smallest: a charming tenth-of-an-acre sensory garden near the park’s entrance.

From more than a mile of wheelchair-accessible trails to interactive educational kiosks, the N.J. Meadowlands Commission has long been a champion of connecting the disabled with the natural world.  The sensory garden, according to NJMC Senior Landscape Architect Lisa Cameron, was the next logical step.

“We’ve always wanted to help DeKorte visitors who have disabilities and who have a very different experience coming to the park than others do,” says Cameron.  “We wanted to create a small space with a diversity of plants within reach so those who have limited mobility or eyesight can still have a meaningful experience.”

The rest of the column follows.

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For the second time in a week, we have had reports of skirmishes between Peregrine Falcons and Common Ravens at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. 

Michael Mastropasqua was able to photograph some of the most recent action on Tuesday. (Thanks, Mike!)

He writes:

I took a trip out to Laurel Hill this morning that turned into quite a spectacle. 

Just as I entered the park I noticed a huge group of Ravens and Turkey Vultures encircling and eating what seemed to be small, mostly eaten, muskrat carrion. 

As soon as they saw me, everyone flew off into the trees first, then onward to the hill. 

When I drove out to ballpark to follow them, I witnessed a series of dramatic events…

Rest of Mike's account and more pix follow.

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