On what could be described as a “perfect Anne Petereit Day,” more than 50 members of the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society, gardeners, environmentalists and neighbors formally cut the ribbon dedicating the Anne Petereit Native Plant Garden in front of the Strauss House Sunday afternoon.
”Anne Petereit loved a rainy day,” said Joanne Delosso during the ceremony, “she loved the rain for the plants and flowers, so it’s fitting we had rain today.” The rain, which had been heavy earlier in the day, cleared in time for the dedication and the festive celebration which continued inside the Strauss House later.
Known as the Flower Lady, Petereit for many years made it her personal mission to care for and tend gardens and plantings throughout the borough as well as being a strong proponent of historic preservation.
Mayor Lori Hohenleitner was joined by Marlyn Scherfen, a volunteer with the Historical Society, Lisa Ramsthaler, Mrs. Petereit’s daughter, Joanne and Roy Dellosso of the Historical Society and Jeff Lewandowski, owner of Jeff’s Landscaping, in officially cutting the ribbon and displaying the engraved stone noting the name of the Garden. Historical Society president Lynne Petillo welcomed everyone to the museum.
Scherfen, who works with a native species group, explained that the native plants in the new garden, which replaced lawn that went up to the house, were all native to the state with another two that are native to the southern United States. She also pointed out the Butterfly Weed with its orange flower, is a milkweed Monarchs butterflies use for their entire life cycles and worms have already been visible on the plant.
Some of the other native plants in the garden include Black-eyed Susans, New England asters, Sunflowers, BlueStar’s, Cardinal flowers, indigo and Kobold, blooming in blues, yellows, pinks and purples, all plants that attract birds as well as butterflies.
Some of the other plants in the Petereit Garden are designed to bloom from early spring through late fall and range in size from inches to four feet, also include winterberry holly, which grows to 12 foot and blooms in June and July.
Roy Dellosso, society vice-president, who has worked in the garden with his wife Joanne since it was started more than four months ago, noted Joanne applied for a grant after Scherfen suggested native plants for a Petereit garden and was successful in securing that to cover much of the cost for the engraved stone. The plants were secured from Jeff’s Landscaping in Farmingdale and Lewandowski volunteered to clear the area and put in the plants in. Dellosso’s have been watering the plants since the garden started.
Mrs. Petereit’s daughter, Lisa, in expressing her thanks for the honors bestowed on her late mother, said the native plant garden in front of the historic society’s mansion is the perfect blend of her mother’s dedication to the borough and her affection for it.
It has been a busy season for the Historical Society and continues throughout the month. The Society one of the more than 100 vendors in the Flea Market scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yacht Harbor and Thomas Craig Finnegan is continuing the Society’s lecture series on September 17.
Finnegan, a surveyor and historian, will speak on the history of surveying in the area since the 1700s ,highlighting the Presidents who were surveyors as well as the importance of early survey maps .
Finnegan’s program will be held at the Mansion at 7:30 on September 17, and admission is free. Guests are invited to make donations or bring non-perishable items for the local Food Pantry.’
The Museum is open on Sundays throughout the month from noon to 4 p.m.
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