ReWild Long Island’s North Fork Chapter and Group for the East End are inviting North Forkers s to explore the native plants growing right here during “Where the Wild Things Grow: A Native Plant Discovery Walk,” on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Skipper Horton Park in Greenport.
The relaxed, one-hour walk will offer participants an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the natural landscape, and discover the native plants that make up Long Island’s living ecosystem. This event is free, but registration is required. Participants are asked to dress appropriately, as we may encounter pesky insects and foliage while walking through nature. It’s recommended to wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, hair under a hat, and spray clothing with bug spray.
Led by Taralynn Reynolds, outreach director for The Group, participants will seek out native plants that have emerged naturally after invasive plants were removed. The removal of invasive plants is crucial to allow native plants not only to thrive but to reestablish themselves.
She will discuss the importance of the work conducted on the Peconic Bay to Long Island Sound Integrated Trails Initiative Phase 5 project, funded by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.
“The Bay to Sound project is a decades-long, multi-phase, public-private partnership,” said Ms. Reynolds. It is a network of trails crossing a variety of ecosystems and open space preserves– including trails at Arshamomaque Preserve, Skipper Horton Park, and Pipes Cove Preserve.
Pollinators, Birds, Groundwater and Aquifer
“Where the Wild Things Grow” reflects both organizations’ commitment to helping people see, appreciate, and protect the native landscape around them. By becoming familiar with the plants growing in our parks, gardens, and wild places, residents can begin to understand the intricate relationships that sustain the local ecosystem—and the important role each of us can play in protecting it.
Native plants are the foundation of that web of life. They provide food and habitat for pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, which in turn support native birds and other wildlife. Protecting native plant species therefore has a multiplier effect: when we protect the plants, we also protect the insects and birds that depend on them, strengthen biodiversity, and help sustain the larger ecological community.
Native plants also play an essential role beneath our feet. Their deep and extensive root systems help hold soil, reduce erosion, filter stormwater, and allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, thereby contributing to aquifer recharge and protecting groundwater quality. In this way, preserving native plants is not only about protecting what we see above ground—it is also about protecting the water we drink and the ecological systems that sustain our communities.
“Where the Wild Things Grow” invites residents to look more closely at the landscape around them and recognize that the plants growing beside a path, in a meadow, or in a backyard garden are part of a much larger living system. The more we know and value our native plants, the better equipped we are to protect the places—and the web of life—that make our communities home.
Skipper Horton Park is at 72250 Main Road in Greenport. Organizers are asking attendees to dress appropriately (long sleeves and pants tucked into socks), as the group will be walking through vegetation. Light rain is fine, but heavy rain cancels. Registration is required as space is limited. Register here on the ReWild website.
— ReWild North Fork
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