Purple Martins Gather at Maurice River, NJ
Ever have the opportunity to spontaneously drop everything and go away for a wonderful weekend without your computer?
I had that thrill this past weekend when my dear friends Kathy and Hugh invited us to spend the weekend with them at their new (to them) Cape May home and wildlife garden. Oddly, I have quite a history with this wildlife garden, as it used to belong to my friend Irma McVey, but this was the first time I had been able to visit since Kathy and Hugh purchased this property after Irma’s passing.
When we first arrived at their house, we got to spend a delightful afternoon at the new Cape May Brewing Company tasting some of their delicious offerings, and then we headed out to see a spectacle that I have wanted to see for many years.
Every year from the beginning of August until the first week of September the Purple Martins gather into huge flocks before making their journey south in huge migratory flocks. Cape May, NJ residents also gather in flocks to watch these huge gatherings of these birds at the Maurice River bridge. For observant nature watchers, this spectacle is the first sign that summer is coming to an end.
Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area
The next morning we got up quite early to attend a bird walk at Cox Hall Wildlife Management Area, a former golf course that is now being restored to wildlife habitat. It’s so amazing to me to see large areas like this being given back to wildlife, especially in an area where the pressures of new development are overwhelming.
The former turf grass of the golf course is now open meadows, the water hazards are now wildlife ponds, and some of the property has even started to revert to woodland. And the birds are loving this new habitat!
My friend Hugh got great photos of a beautifully posing Lark Sparrow, an uncommon bird in this area, and a life bird for many attending this walk.
Part of the restoration of this land has included planting large fields of sunflowers to feed the birds.
The evening before, Kathy and Hugh had been talking about wanting to meet one of Irma’s very dear friends, Evelyn Lovitz. In another of those funny twists of fate, Evelyn was also attending this walk. So we invited her to come back to the house for breakfast and a nice leisurely stroll through the wildlife garden, where we were so excited to discover Monarch caterpillars.
After spending the afternoon with Evelyn, we had another treat when our mutual friends Pat and Clay Sutton stopped by for dinner. Ironically, I had first met Irma McVey while attending a series of wildlife gardening workshops that Pat was teaching.
I was beginning to see that not only is there a web of life in the wildlife garden, but there is a corresponding web of life between wildlife gardeners 
Carole Sevilla Brown lives in Philadelphia, PA, and she travels the country speaking about Ecosystem Gardening for Wildlife. Check out her new free online course Ecosystem Gardening Essentials, 15 free lessons delivered to your inbox every week.
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Carole, it’s wonderful to hear about the golf course being restored to a wildlife area! I believe I have read about this place. Especially amazing when there is so much development going on. It is indeed a happy note! Thanks for sharing your story with the web of wildlife gardeners.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Where To Go To See Native Plants in California?
Kathy, this area of New Jersey is under incredible pressure from developers wanting to build condos for resort vacationers. The fact that this piece of prime real estate has been set aside for wildlife habitat is astounding given these pressures. It’s such a relief to see that more habitat will be created here.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..The 5 Pillars of Ecosystem Gardening
Carole, I love what you said about the “web of life between wildlife gardeners”. I have also found this to be true. As my brother and I travel to other states to attend conferences or give workshops, we run into familiar faces from other wildlife events. We also find ourselves writing reviews for fellow nature authors while also receiving them from generous like-minded souls like yourself and Betty Hall. It is such a thrill to share our passion for wildlife with a growing circle of friends! We are learning new stuff almost on a daily basis now.
Judy, I am having the same experience as I travel around the country to speak about creating wildlife habitat in that I’m meeting so many people who are so intricately connected. One person is a good friend of another dear friend of mine. People I’ve never met before come up to me and say “I heard about you from ______” who happens to be another close friend. I meet people I’ve only known on Facebook before, and it’s so lovely to meet them in person. We truly are spinning our own web of connections
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Wildlife Gardeners Spin the Cycle of Life
Carole I have never had the opportunity to drop it all and just go or maybe I have never allowed myself the opportunity, but I plan to very soon…what a delightful place to visit and to see a golf course given back to nature brightens my heart….of course maybe that is because I really hate golf…I am terrible at it so I would rather see nature than golf and after all don’t we have enough golf courses…I hope we see more of the country restored to nature…
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Journal-September 2012
Donna, my wish for you is that you have the opportunity very soon to just drop everything and go wherever your heart leads you! It is truly one of the best gifts your can give yourself
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Starting Over: Deciding What Can Stay and What Must Go