Ronald R. Rogers Arboretum

25 acres (12 acres of open field and 13 acres of mature woodland)

Directions:

From the New York City area: Drive south on the NJ Turnpike to exit 8; head west on Route 33; in Hightstown turn left onto Main Street and then right onto Route 571;  follow 571 to Grover's Mill.  The arboretum is located on the right at the corner of Hightstown Road (Rt.571) and Clarksville Road, across from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.  Heading west on Route 571, make the right onto Clarksville Road; drive about 0.1 of a mile and turn right into the small parking area (opposite the intersection of Clarksville Road and Norcester Road).

Geology:

Canoe Brook runs just outside the park boundary on the east side.

History:

2000  --  the arboretum was dedicated on Arbor Day in honor of the later Ronald R. Rogers, who is remembered as West Windsor’s Forester.  He was a volunteer who promoted and implemented community forestry in the Township.

The arboretum has many oak species as well as ecologically related trees species that grow in West Windsor and its environs.

2002  -- on Arbor Day, West Windsor dedicated its September 11 memorial consisting of reflecting pools in honor of those who died September 11, 2001.  The memorial is designed as a space for contemplation. 

Trails:

The natural area is at the back of the area.  The White Oak Trail is a semi-circular walk that starts/finishes at the two far edges of the natural area.  Then there is another semi-circular Red Oak Trail that extends out and back from the White Oak Trail.  Then comes the Re-forested Stormwater Management Basin.  None of the trails are marked/blazed.

In the arboretum section there is an asphalt track that circles the perimeter of the area. 

10/25/04.  On a cool morning dog Sonar and I walked in the natural area.  I followed the trail for a little ways but then got impatient and set off on my own.  I found myself walking in the Stormwater Management Basin and then worked my way over to Clarksville Road opposite Villa Drive. 

Returned to the woods and walked to the arboretum.  There is a dedication plaque on a stone marker honoring Ronald R. Rogers.  The date on it is April 21, 2001.  There are memorial ponds (with gold fish) dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.  Most of the arboretum is empty lawn with a few planted trees scattered  around the edges.  In the middle of the wide expanse of lawn is a gazebo.  Also in the arboretum are tennis courts and a playground near Canoe Brook.  Dr. Patrick L. Cooney.

PLANT LIST for the natural area:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney
* = plant found in bloom on date of field trip, 10/25/04

Trees:
Acer platanoides (Norway maple)
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Betula lenta (black birch)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Ilex opaca (American holly)
Juniperus virginiana (red cedar)
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum)
Nyssa sylvatica (tupelo)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Quercus alba (white oak)
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
Quercus rubra (red oak)
Quercus velutina (black oak)
Sassafras albidum (sassafras)

Shrubs and sub-shrubs:
Chimaphila (striped wintergreen)
Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepper bush)
Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus)
Ilex crenata (crenate holly)
Ligustrum sp. (privet)
Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's honeysuckle)
Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry)
Vaccinium sp. (blueberry)

Vines:
Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
Smilax rotundifolia (round-leaved greenbrier)
Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)
Vitis sp. (grape)

Herbs:
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Allium vineale (field garlic)
Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)
Artemisia vulgaris (common mugwort)
Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosus (butterfly weed)
Aster spp. (aster) *
Callitriche sp. (water starwort)
Gnaphalium obtusifolium (sweet everlasting) *
Linaria vulgaris (butter and eggs) *
Oxalis sp. (yellow wood sorrel) *
Plantago major (common plantain)
Polygonum cespitosum (cespitose smartweed) *
Polygonum sp. (smartweed) *
Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)
Trifolium repens (white clover) *

Rushes:
Juncus effusus (soft rush)
Juncus tenuis (path rush)

Sedges:
Carex  lurida (sallow sedge)
Scirpus cyperinus (woolly grass bulrush)

Grasses:
Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus (Virginia brome grass)
Dactylis glomerata (orchard grass)
Eleusine indica (zipper grass)
Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stilt grass)
Setaria faberi (nodding foxtail grass)
Setaria glauca (yellow foxtail grass)
Tridens flavus (purple top grass)

Ferns and fern allies:
Dennstaedtia punctilobula (hay-scented fern)
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)

PLANT LIST for the arboretum area:

Trees:
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Acer saccharum (sugar maple)
Amelanchier canadensis (shadbush)
Betula nigra (river birch)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Fraxinus americana (white ash)
Ilex opaca (American holly)
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum)
Pinus strobus (white pine)
Quercus alba (white oak)
Quercus bicolor (swamp white oak)
Quercus cerris (turkey oak)
Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak)
Quercus imbricaria (shingle oak)
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
Quercus robor (English oak)
Quercus rubra (red oak)
Quercus shumardii (Shumard oak)
Quercus velutina (black oak)

Herbs:
Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed)
Nymphaea odorata (fragrant white water lily)