Cheesequake State Park Hike
by Captain Peter Walker

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Many thanks to Monica Orso for organizing the nature hike and planned astronomy night at Cheesequake State Park on October 7th. Unfortunately Monica had to leave us shortly after the start of the hike, and the astronomy night was cancelled due to cloudy weather.

Nevertheless Peter W., Naomi G., Teri R., Jeff H., Maureen H., Joanne R,. Robert M. and Mike R. enjoyed the hike led for us by NJ State Naturalist Jim Faczak. We learned that Cheesequake (whose name may come from the Lenape word Cheseh-oh-ke, meaning upland or "upland village,”) is distinctive in that it encompasses hilly northeastern hardwood forests, open fields and even an isolated section of the Pine Barrens that drops down to saltwater marshes and freshwater marshes along Cheesequake Creek. The area therefore has plant species characteristic of both northern and southern New Jersey. We tasted both wild olives and persimmons.

Photos taken by Naomi are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/1a2Q8FJRrY9YtV2h7

Peter