Turn around if you’re taking in the view of Manhattan from West Orange’s Eagle Rock Reservation 9/11 Memorial, and you’ll see the Eagle Rock Meadow, an oasis of native plants blooming inside a black fence. The gate is always unlocked, and anyone is welcome to wander the paths of this ¾ of an acre beauty and discover what lives there!
The Master Gardeners of Essex County planted the Meadow in 2014, but it was not maintained, and over the next ten years a jungle of invasive plants, such as Mugwort and Phragmites, moved in. Starting in the summer of 2024, the Meadow took on new life when the Essex County Chapter of the Native Plant Society partnered with the Master Gardeners. Led by Deb Ellis, a team of 15 dedicated volunteers has worked hard to create walking paths, remove invasives, and add new native plants.
The Plants, Pollinators, and Birds
The Meadow is a haven for wildlife. As you enter, you will hear birdsong, see beautiful flowers and grasses, and maybe see a dragonfly or monarch butterfly! Native plants—plants that co-evolved with our insects and wildlife—support biodiversity better than plants introduced from other countries. With more than 20 species of flowers that bloom from early spring to late fall, the Meadow provides a constant source of food for pollinators and birds. In winter, dried seedheads provide food for birds, and flower stalks make cozy homes for insects.
The Project
In 2024, the team spent hundreds of gardener-hours, pulling waist-high—sometimes shoulder-high—Mugwort to give the Goldenrods and other natives room to flourish. As they worked, the team learned valuable lessons, such as using the Mugwort stalks as mulch for paths. One volunteer came almost every day to hack at the thick rhizomes of Mugwort growing near the fence. Amazingly, by fall, much of the Mugwort was gone—from sight. But removing the invasives wasn’t enough. Unless new plants filled the areas where the invasives had encroached, the unwanteds would find their way back. So in the spring, Golden Alexanders were planted where Lesser Celandine had been. In the fall, volunteers planted other natives, chosen for being deer resistant and because they are host plants, where Mugwort had been.
In the second year of the project, volunteers are focusing on adding more natives, continuing the fight against invasives, and making the Meadow more welcoming to the public. Help is always welcome; contact Deb Ellis at debellisnj@gmail.com.
The Seasons
Blooms begin in April with the Golden Alexander and Arkansas Bluestar and continue well into the fall with Aromatic Asters. Here are some of the flowers you can expect to see.
Who’s in bloom
| April to May | Arkansas Bluestar, Amsonia hubrichtii |
| April to May | Golden Alexander, Zizia auria |
| April to May | Iris, Iris versicolor |
| May to June | Foxglove Beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis |
| June to July | Giant Coneflower, Rudbeckia maxima |
| June to August | Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata |
| July to August | Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca |
| July to September | Common Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum |
| July to September | Joe Pye Weed, Eutrochium maculatum |
| July to September | Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Euthamia graminifolia |
| July to September | Canada Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis |
| July to September | Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium |
| July to September | Rosemallow, Hibiscus laevis |
| July to September | Tickseed, Coreopsis Tripteris |
| August to October | White Turtlehead, Chelone glabra |
| August to October | Virginia Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum |
| September to November | Aromatic Aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium |
PHOTOS—
Mugwort vs. Goldenrod (the before picture)
The open gate as you approach from the 9/11 Memorial
Arkansas Bluestar in spring
Goldenrod and friends in late August
Rattlesnake Master visitors
Bee on Boneset
Sharing a Common Milkweed
Red-winged Blackbird en route to her nest in the nearby Pussy Willow tree
Mid-workday break
Photo credits—Kate Albright, Deb Ellis, Charla Price, Vickie Cece
