One project is installation of a native flower garden on the grounds of Lambertville Public Library, on Lilly Street
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — SEE Lambertville, an environmental group dedicated to the city’s sustainable future, is looking for volunteers and donations to help get a few spring projects off the ground.
One of the projects is the installation of a native flower garden on the grounds of the Lambertville Public Library, on Lilly Street. Landscape designer Michael Cheney is aiding SEE with designing and planting.
May 9, SEE Lambertville and its volunteers will prep the beds. Planting will be done May 16 and 17. All work will occur from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The month of May might be a few weeks away, but the group says it needs volunteers now to help in several different capacities, including soliciting donations of planting material, soil and mulch.
”This garden will beautify one of the major community institutions in town, one that is also at the entrance to the city from Route 29,” said Julia Taylor, who co-founded SEE Lambertville with Emily Goldman.
SEE stands for “social, environmental and economic,” the pillars of sustainability.
”The garden will be a showcase for sustainable gardening using native plants,” Ms. Taylor said. “This will cut down on water use and maintenance.”
For someone who’d like to help out but can’t see himself/herself digging in the dirt or asking for donations, the group also is accepting monetary donations for the purchase of materials.
Donations of plants also will be accepted. Those who would like to donate plants and materials should contact Ms. Taylor for a list of the project’s needs.
”We could use as much help as possible in getting donations of plant material or cash to buy plant material,” Ms. Taylor said.
The group plans more projects in the near future, including a community garden in the city. The group needs to scout out a location that is large and sunny, something that may be difficult to find in the heart of the city. But it will be worth it, according to Ms. Taylor.
The structure of the community garden will ultimately be determined by its location.
”The garden will provide local residents with a fun and sustainable way of learning the joys of growing and eating food that they have produced,” she said. “In addition, food grown in the garden will be donated to local charities and food banks. We hope to be inclusive of all of Lambertville and encourage participation by our Spanish-speaking neighbors.”
Future projects will include a local harvest series, which will aim to encourage residents to eat as much local, seasonal food as possible and tie it in with local beverages as well, such as those produced at local wineries and breweries. Plans still are being formulated.
”In addition to those concrete activities, we’re building our base of interested folks and are looking for new volunteers and suggestions of new activities,” Ms. Taylor said. “This summer, we’ll be working on a local foods cookbook that will be sold as a fundraiser. We’re also going to try to take on more discrete beautification projects around town.”
Materials needed, according to Ms. Taylor, include 25 cubic yards of topsoil; Northern Sea Oats (21 plants at 1 quart); Purple Cone Flower (35 plants at 1 quart); Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’/Stone Crop (29 plants at 1 quart); Panicum virgatum/Switchgrass (130 plants at 1 quart); Nepeta/Catmint (24 plants at 1 quart); Eupatorium/Joe Pye Weed (15 plants at 1 quart); Coreopsis tinctoria/Tickseed or Rudbeckia Fulgida/Black-Eyed Suzan (30 plants at 1 quart); Liatris spicata/Spike Gayfeather (24 plants at 1 quart); Athyriumfilix-femina/Lady Fern (15 plants at 1 quart); Aster novae-angliae/New England Aster or Phlox divericata/Woodland Phlox (20 plants at 1 quart); Delphinium exaltatum/Larkspur (22 plants at 1 quart); and Geranium maculatum/ Wild Geranium (50 plants at 1 quart).
For questions or to volunteer or donate, contact Ms. Taylor at [email protected].

