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River Road Park, Bedminster Township, Somerset County, NJ

Early Fall - September 15, 2022

Information on the River Road Park, Bedminster Township, Somerset County. Bloomsbury, NJ 08804 :   general information with map

A meadow of goldenrods glistening gold in the sunshine field of gold - goldenrods

It was a cool break from the continuing summer heat. We decided to go locally and see whats in the meadows.

First we went to River Road Park where we had been to before and we knew there were big fields there.We were greeted with a meadow ablazed with goldenrods.

Grassleaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) Grassleaved goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia

Many brightly flowering goldenrods in need of identification! goldenrods

Our big find was this milkweed in the middle of the meadow. Looking at the fruit and the leaves we were not able to definitively idendify it. We will be coming back next summer to look at the flower.

milkweed


Next we headed over to Alberte Winkler Jacob Snyder Nature trail or Miller Lane Park in Bedminster. Since it was a nature trail we were hoping to see some native plants. It was a nicely paved hike & bike trail shaded with trees and mainly invasive bushes etc. We took a short walk and left


Next we headed back to River Road Park, and took the trail opposite (across the street) to the entrance to the park. The trail goes down to the North Branch of the Raritan River and then turns right to follow the river. We revisted this trail on the 17th.

Most striking along this trail was all the beautiful yellow wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) with populations all along the trail on both sides. This was the highlight of the day! wingstem Verbesina alternifolia

This is one of the few non-native geraniums found in the US, Siberian Geranium (Geranium sibiricum) wingstem Verbesina alternifolia


We came across some bur cucumber (Sicyos angulatus) which is a herbaceous annual vine which is becoming a problem for the agriculture industry in NJ. Photo of male flowers. bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus

White turtlehead (Chelone glabra), an unexpected native. White turtlehead Chelone glabra


These large wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) plants manage to fight off the invasives and establish themselves well creating a wonderful trail wingstem, Verbesina alternifolia

Text by Millie Ling and photos by Hubert & Millie Ling 

All text & photos by Millie & Hubert Ling -- --    www.AwesomeNativePlants.info