National Public Lands Day at Mapleton Preserve

Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands will host its annual National Public Lands Day work session in the Mapleton Preserve on Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 2 to 4 pm. National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands invites the public to play a part and contribute to the restoration of the Mapleton Preserve, the former home of Princeton Nurseries and a significant historical site in Central New Jersey.

FPNL's focus this year is mulching trees in the Arboretum, clearing autumn olive from the fields and collecting litter. Volunteers are asked to bring their own loppers, pruning shears, saws, rakes and shovels. Sturdy shoes, work gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats are also recommended.

The entrance to the Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park is at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. For more information, visit the FPNL website or call 609-683-0483.

Apple Day Festival at Terhune Orchards

This weekend, September 13 and 14, Terhune Orchards will host their Apple Day festival from 10 am to 5 pm. The fall harvest celebration will include wagon and pony rides, pumpkin and apple picking, pumpkin painting, a hay bale maze and a cornstalk maze. Throughout the weekend there will be music performed by the Daisy Jug Band.

Food will be available at Pam's cafe, including an "Everything Apple" buffet of fresh apple pies, apple cider donuts, apple muffins and apple salad, as well as hot dogs, soup, chicken and fresh pork sandwiches from the outdoor pig roast. Adults can visit the winery tasting room to sample the farm's award-winning wines.

Apple Day is held rain or shine. Admission is $5 per person; children under 3 are admitted for free. Admission fee includes cornstalk maze, hay bale maze, pedal tractors, children's tractor play area, barnyard animals, Adventure Barn, wagon rides and pumpkin painting. Additional activities will be available at additional cost. The farm store, winery and Pick-Your-Own are open without admission fee. Free parking is available at the farm, located at 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton.

Caution

Princeton Landing residents would be wise to heed the "Pesticide Treated Area" warning signs posted throughout the community. TruGreen sprayed so much today that I can even smell it in my house. People and pets should keep off the treated areas. Stay safe.

O Pioneer!

Joan Rivers

1933 – 2014

Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty