Leaving Your Leaves Is a Good Thing for Your Garden and the Planet

People in my suburban neighborhood are still raking leaves to the curb, and the leaf blowers are still working hard, but maybe there shouldn't be a fall clean-up frenzy.

Many of us have been brought up to believe that a tidy, sterile lawn is the sign of a "good gardener." That bare look is ecologically disastrous.

Walk through a forest now, and the floor is covered in a rich tapestry of leaves. That’s what nature intends.

Leaving the leaves is a matter of life or death for beneficial bugs. Dozens of species that pollinate our crops, eat pests, and power the entire food web survive the winter by hunkering down in the leaf litter. We're talking about native bees, butterflies, moths, and more, who shelter there as adults, eggs, larvae, or cozy cocoons. 

Scientists have been sounding the alarm about a global "insect apocalypse," and by tossing those leaves, we’re essentially trashing their winter homes and their only shot at surviving until spring. 

Your birdfeeder is nice if you keep it stocked, but birds evolved to forage on native seed heads all winter long, so leaving them standing through winter is one of the easiest ways to support bird populations.

Raking and blowing is mostly about aesthetics. The lawn covered with leaves might not be the look you want and thick layers of leaves can turn a lawn patchy, but removing leaves from the lawn and then entirely from your whole landscape might not be necessary. I was even taught to be careful removing the leaf litter too ealy in late winter or early spring because the life beneath wasn't ready to handle the temperature fluctuations.

Putting leaves into my garden beds has become my habit. They become free, nutrient-rich mulch that suppresses weeds and feeds your soil. I do use a mulching mower to shred them into small pieces. And a lot of it goes into my compost, where they will decompose into beautiful leaf mold—one of the best, richest soil amendments on the planet.

Don't pile leaves or mulch right up against the base of tree trunks because tree roots need to breathe.

Visiting Hunterdon County New Jersey

The Delaware and Raritan Canal in Lambertville
Image by Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com CC BY-SA 3.0

Hunterdon County was named for Robert Hunter, a colonial governor of New Jersey. Language changes over time and location. Robert's family seat of "Hunterston" was in Ayrshire, Scotland, but the name became "Hunterdon" when it was used in the U.S. 

Hunterdon County is a place where outdoor activities can easily fill up a weekend trip. Cross-town trails, antique flea markets, and Colonial-era taverns look over the Delaware River on the west, while farms and vineyards dot the interior, and arboretums and parks make for pet- and family-friendly visits on the east. 

A nature walk or bike ride through the Delaware and Raritan (D&R) Canal State Park is a possibility. The towpath is 70 continuous miles of gravel path. But a beginner-friendly trail between Stockton and Lambertville is roughly four miles each way.

Clinton, New Jersey with Red Mill (foreground) and the downtown district
across the Raritan River (background) Image by John Bohnel - CC BY-SA 3.0

It's not all outdoors, though. As the weather gets colder, you might find it preferable to visit the Stockton Inn Boutique Hotel, a 300-year-old property, still serves as Stockton’s anchor and makes the case for staying in town. This nine-room pet-friendly hotel has two new adjacent “carriage houses” and two new on-site restaurants and bars run by globally-trained Executive Chef Bob Truitt and New York City tiki bar legend, Brian Miller. It is across the street from the Stockton Market. 

The Sergeantsville Inn is popular with locals and restaurant critics. Hunterdon County is also home to a restaurant owned by Saveur magazine’s founding food editor and former test kitchen director called Canal House Station. Book your seat A.S.A.P. as USA Today named Canal House Station as one of the Best Restaurants of 2025.

Art, wine, and food come together at Finnbar, a Frenchtown place that blends art and hospitality, showcasing local artists on its restaurant walls, welcoming visitors from ArtYard up the road for a pre- or post-show bite, and sharing profits with nearby non-profit Studio Route 29. 

Visit The Ciderhouse at Ironbound Farm in Asbury. Ironbound is a regenerative farm and incubator, on-site cidery, winery, market, restaurant (with an indoor tasting menu), and animal farm that supports New Jersey’s agricultural ecosystem through 579 farm trail and second-chance hiring practices. In the fall, weekend food trucks park out in the pavilion, musicians show up, and the fire pits light up. And with several indoor/outdoor spaces, there isn’t a bad seat to snag. 

Hunterdon County’s craft beverage scene is also a trip in itself, with nine breweries, two cideries, and six vineyards, including Unionville Vineyards and Beneduce Vineyards, part of the Jersey Winemakers Co-Op “Open Source” wine project. 

If shopping in picturesque small towns with charming main streets are your vibe, then Bridge Street in Frenchtown should be considered. Check out the records abd do some vinyl shopping at Blue Raven Records, picking up outdoor gear at Sunbeam General Store, and gift shopping at Modern Love.

Antique shop lovers should spend an afternoon on Union Street in Lambertville, meandering the aisles of must-visit stores like A Touch of the Past Antiques, Midiri Antiques, and the People’s Center.  

High Point State Park

High Point State Park in Sussex County, New Jersey, is a great destination for outdoor recreation and excellent views. 

As the highest elevation in the state, it offers visitors a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and year-round activities. Nestled atop the Kittatinny Ridge at 1,803 feet above sea level, High Point State Park is a jewel in New Jersey’s park system. 

Whether you’re seeking solitude on a wooded trail, family fun by the lake, or awe-inspiring views from the monument, High Point State Park delivers. It’s a destination where history, nature, and recreation converge—making it one of New Jersey’s most treasured outdoor escapes.

Spanning more than 16,000 acres, the park is best known for the High Point Monument, a 220-foot granite obelisk dedicated to New Jersey’s veterans. From its summit, visitors enjoy panoramic vistas stretching across three states—the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, the Catskills of New York, and the rolling valleys of New Jersey.

For recreation seekers, High Point offers an abundance of options. The park boasts over 50 miles of trails, ranging from gentle walks to challenging hikes. These trails accommodate not only hikers but also mountain bikers, horseback riders, and, in winter, cross-country skiers and snowshoers. 

Seasonal changes transform the landscape: spring wildflowers, lush summer greenery, fiery autumn foliage, and serene snow-covered ridges make every visit distinct. Winter transforms High Point into a snowy playground. With trails open for snowmobiling, dogsledding, and skiing, the park becomes a hub for cold-weather recreation. Even in the chill, the monument and surrounding ridges remain accessible, offering crisp, clear views that reward those willing to brave the season. 

Water enthusiasts gravitate toward Lake Marcia, a spring-fed lake perfect for swimming in summer months, fishing, or enjoying a peaceful picnic by the shore. Families often spend the day at the designated beach area, while anglers cast lines for trout and bass. 

The park also features campgrounds, making it a favorite spot for weekend getaways under the stars. High Point is more than just a natural escape—it’s a place of discovery. Visitors can engage in geocaching adventures, explore historic sites, or participate in educational programs hosted by the Friends of High Point State Park. 

Wildlife enthusiasts will find deer, foxes, and a variety of bird species thriving in the park’s diverse habitats, offering ample opportunities for photography and quiet observationThe Tourist Checklist.

Stocking Landlocked Atlantic Salmon in New Jersey

 

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery staff have been stocking landlocked Atlantic Salmon this fall. With the cooler weather, water temperatures dropped into the low 50s, allowing staff to safely stock the fish. 

Landlocked Atlantic Salmon are a freshwater form of Atlantic Salmon that do not migrate to the ocean. In New Jersey, they are actively stocked in select lakes each fall and are thriving as a recreational fishery.

The salmon averaged 14 inches and ranged from 11.7–16 inches, with some reaching 24 inches and 6 pounds.

Stocking occurs when surface temperatures drop below 60°F, typically in October–November. Each year’s salmon is marked with a distinctive fin clip to track age and health over time.

Following the stocking, staff were able to split next year’s fish into two tanks to allow room for growth.

The following waterbodies were stocked with Landlocked Salmon. These lakes are deep, cold, and well-oxygenated, with Alewife forage fish to support salmon year-round.

Tilcon Lake – 440

Lake Aeroflex – 505

Wawayanda Lake – 1,275

Merrill Creek Reservoir – 720

Holdover Trout Lakes (Tilcon, Aeroflex, Wawayanda)

Salmo salar sebago, is a freshwater variant of Atlantic Salmon. Native to eastern Canada and Maine; they were introduced successfully to New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and other northeastern states. Unlike their ocean-migrating cousins, landlocked salmon live entirely in freshwater lakes and reservoirs.

For anglers, the minimum size: 12 inches.
Daily limit: 2 salmon per day
Spring pre-season closure: All salmon must be released unharmed.
Trophy Trout Lake (Merrill Creek Reservoir): Minimum size: 15 inches. Combined daily limit: 2 fish (includes salmon, rainbow, and brown trout

All salmon stocked from 2022-2025 have a distinct fin clip marking the year they were stocked. This will help Fisheries Biologists assess the growth rates and condition factors of these fish during sampling.