-
Five Native Plants to Consider Planting
Did you know that for the first time ever April was designated National Native Plant Month by the United States Senate? Native plants play an indispensable role in supporting resilient ecosystems like stabilizing soil, filtering water, cleaning air and supporting wildlife. Once these plants become established, they require less watering and need no chemical fertilizers or pesticides to thrive. They also preserve the natural history of the flora and fauna of the American landscape. There are more than 17,000 native plant species across the US, which include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and wildflowers. Here on the North Shore of Long Island, we have many beautiful native species. Pictured here are five native wildflower and shrub options you might consider planting that are lovely to look at and help with pollination and the sustainability of our ecosystem. When buying, look for straight species (non-cultivars) locally sourced. winterberry (Ilex verticillata)New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Continue reading -
Enhance Your Outdoor Adventures with These Six Nature Apps
When it comes to spending time outside usually the best app is NO app. However, some apps can enhance your outdoor adventures. Here are some of our favorites, which are free. All Trails: This easy-to-use app helps you locate nearby trails for your next adventure. It also includes location, length of trail, information on whether a property is dog or kid friendly and photos! You can find many of our nature preserves on this app. Seek: Have you ever come across a flower or tree that you wish you could identify? Well, this app uses your camera to identify the plants and animals around you. This app is kid-friendly and is great for families who want to explore nature together! iMap: Invasives allows you to collect observations of invasive species and upload them to an online database that is then used by New York State DEC, NY Natural Heritage Program and other organizations to track invasives and identify ways to manage these species that are threatening our ecosystems. Audubon Birds: Learn how to identify the birds in your backyard or in our nature preserves. Here is a field guide to over 800 bird species in North America that fits right in your pocket! eBird: Want to help scientists and organizations document bird distribution? This citizen science-based app allows you to enter bird observations from anywhere in the world into a database managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. iNaturalist: This citizen science-based app helps you to identify the plants and animals around you and connects you with a community of over 750,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn about nature. Sharing your observations helps create quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
Continue reading
