Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County will sponsor the 22nd Annual Insect Festival on Saturday, September 19, at Mercer Educational Gardens, 431A Federal City Road, Hopewell Township. The festival will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free and on-site parking is available. We will be celebrating the tiny bugs and insects that make our life possible. Learn about their vital role in our lives and how they create the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems through fun, hands-on activities!
This year’s celebration will feature educational activities for visitors of all ages, including the popular “Scavenger Hunt,” “Bugs in Water,” and Q&A with our Rutgers Master Gardeners. Other highlights of the event are “Bugs Galore,” “Native Bees,” “Composting,” “Carnivorous Plants,” “Crafts,” “Insect Hunt/Catch and Release,” Tick Awareness, Native Plants, “Storytime,” and free Mosquito dunks with information on how to make your own “Mosquito Bucket” at home. These buckets help control mosquito growth without harming other insects in our eco-system. Master Gardeners dressed as human-sized insects and bugs will again be circulating throughout the Fest to explain their role in our ecosystems.
Attendees are invited to view the demonstration gardens onsite and learn how insects interact with the different plants. The public can also learn about various methods of composting, in which insects decompose organic waste and recycle minerals to support the production of food crops and other plants. Along the way, there will be activities designed to teach children of all ages to appreciate and respect the amazing beauty, diversity, and essential roles of our insect friends! In fact, three out of every four of our planet’s known animal species are insects.
“Community programing like the Annual Insect Festival simultaneously create a wonderful opportunity for some family fun, while also giving attendees from Mercer County and the surrounding area, a great chance for a fantastic educational opportunity,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “This is one of many ways our government can directly serve constituents.”
Invited partners to the Fest include: Tulpehaking Nature Center, The Watershed Institute, Isles, Friends of Abbott Marshlands, NJ Native Plant Society, Mercer County Mosquito Control Commission, Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory (NJDA), Rutgers Residential Insects Lab, Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, a NJ Beekeeper, and new this year Beyond the Bug which will demonstrate live insects. There will be plenty for all to see!
The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Master Gardeners participate in many volunteer programs throughout the County. For home gardening, plant, turf or insect questions, you can visit our Helpline office at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, Monday through Friday, and speak with a Rutgers Master Gardener volunteer. You can also call us, (609)989-6853, or send us an email AsktheMGs@mercercounty.org. Visit our website at www.mgofmc.org for Helpline hours and more information.
