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Saunders Woods – A Generous Gift to Our Community
The Land Alliance was thrilled to add Saunders Woods to our ever-growing list of preserves in 2023. This generous land donation was made by the Saunders family, long time Matinecock residents and proponents of land conservation. When the Saunders first approached the Land Alliance about donating the property we knew this would be a big conservation win for the community. Located in the Village of Matinecock, Saunders Woods is comprised of 12 acres of vacant, forested land quietly set back from Piping Rock Road. The property holds many important conservation values. High on the list is the property’s location within the Kaintuck Brook watershed, one of Long Island’s most biodiverse and ecologically valuable areas. Kaintuck Brook drains into Mill Neck Creek and subsequently the Long Island Sound. Protecting the property also preserves habitat for many native flora and fauna including red oak, tulip tree, American holly, spice bush, Canada mayflower, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Solomon’s seal, woodpeckers and red fox. The new preserve provides connectivity to 15 acres of preserved woodland and meadows owned by the North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary, which connects to the back fields at Friends Academy. Over the winter, the Land Alliance surveyed the property to establish clear boundary lines so encroachment issues could be identified and resolved. This summer Land Alliance staff will design and build a trail system. In the not-too-distant future, we hope to open those new trails to the public. We are grateful to the Saunders family for trusting that their conservation legacy would be upheld under Land Alliance ownership. In many ways the donation is a quiet tribute to Thomas A. Saunders III, who passed away in 2022. Mr. Saunders was raised in Virginia and had great admiration for Thomas Jefferson and his affinity for nature. In fact, one of Mr. Saunders’ favorite Jefferson quotes was “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.”
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Wawapek Greenhouse Restoration and Native Seed Propagation
Last year, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Gerry Charitable Trust, the restoration of the historic greenhouse at Wawapek began. This Hitchings and Co. structure was once a small part of a very large complex of greenhouses. It was cleaned up, broken glass was removed and replaced, window frames were repaired and repainted and new planting beds were installed. While the full restoration isn’t yet complete, we couldn’t wait to start putting it to use! This fall, with the help of our volunteers, we’ve been collecting native wildflower and grass seeds from our preserves to propagate in the greenhouse. When collecting native seeds, it is important to remember not to take all the seeds in an area. Native wildlife relies on seeds and berries for their food at this time of year (when there aren’t many insects available to eat). Propagating seeds that will eventually be planted in places that have a winter season requires cold stratification. Stratification is a survival mechanism that ensures that seeds don’t germinate too soon. You may have heard of people putting native seeds in their refrigerator to mimic a cold period. This is the same process. The difference is, we will be leaving the potted seeds outside in the greenhouse instead of in the refrigerator. This will allow them to stratify naturally over the winter in a contained environment where birds cannot feast upon the seeds. The plants that we grow will be used in Land Alliance pollinator gardens and meadows (which include more than 50 acres at this time). Once the restoration of the full greenhouse has been completed, the possibilities are endless. We could expand to grow vegetables or annual flowers for use on our properties. We could host a plant sale and/or expand our growing efforts to other locations like Humes. For now, this is a good start but… as those of you who know us can understand… we dream big! Native Seeds We Are Propagating in the Wawapek Greenhouse False Blue Indigo False Blue Indigo (Baptisia species) is a perennial plant known for its attractive blue-green foliage and striking blue, purple, or white pea-like flowers. It’s a native wildflower that provides nectar for pollinators and is part of the legume family. Common Milkweed Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a native perennial plant that plays a vital role in supporting monarch butterflies as a host plant for their caterpillars. It has clusters of pinkish-purple flowers and produces a milky sap. White Wood Aster White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) is a native perennial herb with small, daisy-like white flowers. It’s often found in woodland settings and provides nectar for various pollinators. Switch Grass Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) is a native warm-season grass with attractive, upright foliage that turns a beautiful golden color in the fall. It’s valued for its ornamental qualities and as a habitat for wildlife. Joe-Pye Weed Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium species) is a tall, native wildflower with large, domed clusters of pink to purple flowers. It’s a favorite among pollinators, particularly butterflies and bees. Foxglove Beardtongue Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a native wildflower with tubular, white to pale pink flowers and attractive foliage. It’s known for attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. Little Blue Stem Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a native grass species appreciated for its fine, bluish-green foliage and attractive seed heads. It’s a crucial component of prairie ecosystems and provides habitat for wildlife. Anise-Hyssop Anise-Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a fragrant, native perennial herb known for its lavender to blue spikes of flowers. It’s a favorite of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, and has a sweet, licorice-like scent.
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Cushman Woods Meadow Transformation
About two years have passed since we launched site preparation for the Cushman Woods meadow. The first step was forestry mulching, which involved the use of a powerful brush-cutting tool to cut and shred years’ growth of undesirable vegetation. It included porcelain berry vine and multiflora rose on about five open (but badly) invaded acres of Cushman Woods Preserve. This area is located along a utility line in the northwest part of the property. Then came monitoring and removal of invasive mile-a-minute weed, unhealthy and invasive trees and vines (that clung to desired meadow trees). This was followed by the planting of new trees to screen the debris area. The extensive tree work and the addition of four lovely benches were funded by Oliver Grace and the Oliver R. Grace Charitable Foundation. A milestone was reached when the Cushman Woods meadow was seeded late last fall with warm-season native grasses and wildflowers. Funding for site preparation, meadow design, seed and installation was provided by the Cushman family and the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District. The photo above shows the wild rye coming in early to help combat regrowth of invasives before the natives can establish.
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Enjoy the Gift of Nature: Explore Land Alliance Preserves
Enjoy the Gift of Nature: Explore Land Alliance Preserves North Shore Land Alliance preserves are free and open to the public from sunup to sundown seven days a week. Please join us at these wonderful places filled with flora and fauna and the wonders of nature. Louis C. Clark Sanctuary – 8 acres (Valentines Lane, Old Brookville) One of the most ecologically diverse preserves also happens to be one of our smallest. This 8-acre property contains a mixture of upland forest and freshwater wetlands, with trails traversing the narrow strip of forest separating Valentines Lane from the wetlands. Cedar Swamp Creek, which flows into Hempstead Harbor at Glen Cove, runs through the Sanctuary. Together with nearby James Preserve, over 100 bird species as well as several species of fish, frogs and turtles make their home in this special environment. Cordelia H. Cushman Preserve – 15 acres (Route 25A, Oyster Bay Cove) Mature hardwood forest comprises nearly all of this pristine 15-acre preserve. Chestnut and white oak trees dominate the canopy, with maple, beech and tulip trees making a presence as well. The preserve also has mountain laurel and a large variety of other native plants, 13 of which are protected by New York State. They include dwarf rattlesnake plantain, pink lady’s slipper and spotted wintergreen. Robust populations of numerous fern species, including cinnamon, New York and Christmas ferns, also are there. Cushman Woods – 28 acres (Still Road, Matinecock) This hilly, 28-acre forest is brimming with big trees. It boasts an intricate trail system that was once a popular fox-hunting route for the Meadow Brook Hunt (an event that occurred in the late 1800’s). The trail system at Cushman Woods is the largest of all our preserves and has several restored carriage trails. Many bird species, fox and other mammals make their home here. The preserve also makes up a significant portion of the Beaver Brook watershed. It contains hundreds of acres of protected woodlands, wetlands, ponds and meadows that provide invaluable habitat for wildlife. Their connectivity and their value in preserving our underground water supply are additional reasons why the Land Alliance and its partners are so actively protecting land there. Additional ecosystem services here, like recharging our groundwater, absorbing harmful carbon emissions and cleaning our air, ensure a healthier community for all that follow us. Fox Hollow Preserve – 26 acres (Near White Oak Tree Road on 25A_Laurel Hollow (parking by arrangement) This beautiful 26-acre preserve contains an unusual variety of distinct forest types. It features a diversity of oak, beech and other hardwoods, with white pine woodland and shrub layers dominated by mountain laurel and maple-leaved viburnum. The diversity attracts many different bird and other wildlife species to the preserve. Take a stroll there down the hilly trails, which contain some of the steepest sections of trail in Nassau County. Depending on the time of year, you could easily spot or hear Great Horned Owls, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a diversity of Warblers and Red-tailed Hawks. Redcote Preserve Hope Goddard Iselin Preserve – 42 acres (Chicken Valley Road, Upper Brookville) A beautiful hardwood forest, a white pine plantation, which was planted in the 1930s, and a colorful meadow comprise these 42 acres. To make this preserve more accessible to the public, the Land Alliance upgraded the entrance in 2018. It converted a barely visible driveway and dirt parking area into a larger, more attractive lot covered with bluestone gravel and surrounded by a rustic split rail fence. Over 100 native plants, like wood fern and witch hazel, were added to the entrance. They help reflect the natural beauty of Long Island’s countryside. Stroll down the interpretive trail and you’ll not only spot or hear a variety of bird species like the Eastern Towhee, you might notice a large, out-of-place boulder called a glacial erratic in the middle of the forest. It was transported hundreds of miles to its present location by a continental glacier which covered the land 25,000 years ago and formed Long Island! Humes Japanese Stroll Garden – 7 acres (Dogwood Lane, Mill Neck _weekend hours only) This unique and historic seven-acre gem of landscape design and woodland boasts an impressive collection of North American and Asian plants. They constitute a beautiful Japanese landscape and impart a meditative experience. The landscape was inspired by a mountain setting by the sea. A stunning stepping stone path is one of the defining features and was inspired by the intimacy of a mountain path. A gentle climb through the woodland part of the garden will lead you to a “mountain peak”. There you will meet the gravel path representing a stream that will guide you to an authentic pondside tea house. Humes Preserve – 40 acres (Oyster Bay Road, Mill Neck) The property consists of meadow, woodland and freshwater wetlands and includes preserved land owned by Nassau County. The Humes Preserve is at the heart of a corridor of 150 protected contiguous acres of open spaces that also includes the adjoining Shu Swamp, Francis Pond conservation areas and the Humes Japanese Stroll Garden. These conserved areas and surrounding lands are the headwaters to a series of rivers, lakes and waterways (both freshwater and tidal) that eventually reach the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Long Island Sound. The conservation of this property helped complete one of the most important wetland and open space corridors on the North Shore of Long Island. Red Cote Preserve – 30 acres (Yellow Cote Road, Oyster Bay Cove) This property boasts a beautiful mix of woodlands and sweeping meadows. White pine dominates the woodland area in the southern part of the property. A mixed deciduous forest with some large oaks is between the fields and in the forest on the eastern side of the preserve. Three mature red cedars stand sentinel over the middle of the western meadow. The large field is mowed once a year in early spring, which optimizes habitat by allowing for all bloom and leaving the dead remains of wildflower stalks to provide refuge for small mammals and songbirds in winter. Shore Road Sanctuary – 8 acres (Shore Road, Cold Spring Harbor) This eight-acre parcel in Cold Spring Harbor was once an ExxonMobil fueling site. It has been transformed into a thriving grassland preserve boasting a beautiful shoreline, salt marsh and wet meadow (where you will find standing water after rainstorms and ice in winter). The grassland, first seeded in 2011 following the property’s remediation, is dominated by four native warm season grasses. It provides invaluable wildlife habitat for foraging and breeding. A pollinator garden was added in 2015. The sanctuary provides significant conservation values not only to the natural upland habitat but also to Cold Spring Harbor, a New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat. These habitats are known to offer maritime beach bird nesting habitat and waterfowl wintering areas, as well as highly productive nursery and feeding areas for marine finfish and shellfish. The beach is an important nesting site for horseshoe crabs. The property has also served as a field trip location for the students of the Land Alliance’s popular Long Island Water Education Program. And throughout the winter, volunteers steadfastly conduct weeekly waterfowl surveys at the shore line. Tiffany Creek Preserve – 200 acres (Sandy Hill Road, Oyster Bay Cove) A mix of ecological communities can be found on this spectacular parcel of land. It includes old growth woodlands and oak forest, extensive fields, freshwater wetlands and a large pond (which was acquired by Nassau County with Environmental Bond Act funding). The preserve lies within the Oyster Bay Special Groundwater Protection Area, Nassau County’s largest SGPA. Protecting undeveloped land, whether at this preserve or at any of our preserves, is critical to protecting Long Island’s sole source aquifer of drinking water. This property is surrounded by an additional 250 acres of privately protected lands, which enhance its conservation values. Upper Francis Pond – 25 acres (Oyster Bay Road, Mill Neck) This 25-acre preserve is an integral part of a corridor of 150 contiguous acres of protected open space in the Beaver Brook watershed (which includes the Humes Estate and Japanese Stroll Garden and the North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary’s enchanting Shu Swamp). The trail from the parking area skirts a field before entering the forest. It leads to a large, treasured pond, situated in the center of the preserve. The site is a popular spot for River Otters. The corridor also provides vital breeding habitat for Brook Trout and a large variety of birds, fish and other wildlife species. Wawapek Preserve – 32 acres (Mowbray Lane, Cold Spring Harbor) Perched above the historic hamlet of Cold Spring Harbor, this stunning 32-acre preserve was once being considered for development into 13 house lots. Mature hardwood forest, which comprises over 60 percent of the preserve, protects air quality and provides erosion control throughout its steep ravines. Native trumpet honeysuckle was planted in 2018 to replace wisteria at the preserve’s trellis. An assortment of highbush blueberry bushes are laden with delectable fruit in summer. A pollinator garden that attracts a variety of indigenous insects, a historic yew round and specimen trees complete the formal garden, while woodland trails allow visitors to explore the forests on site. Take a stroll and you might catch a glimpse of some of the animals that live there, like foxes and state-protected Box Turtles. In 2022, the property’s entrance underwent an expansive habitat restoration. In addition, the Ralf Lange Garden was created and restoration of the greenhouse was launched. Click here to learn more about these nature preserves. Adirondack chairs
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A New Preserve in Lattingtown
Mary and Tim Williams have donated their family’s beautiful 4.5-acre property located at 357 Lattingtown Road to the Land Alliance for use as a public preserve. This lovely place once hosted a grand house called the Dormer House. The house was designed by Theodate Pope Riddle, one of the first female architects in America. It was built in 1906 by Mrs. Charles Otis Gates, of the Royal Baking Powder fortune, and tragically was destroyed by fire in 2014. The landscape, which remains today, was designed by the famous landscape architect Ferruccio Vitale (who was also working on the Humes Estate at the time). The meadow is perched above a pond and overlooks the vicinity of St. John’s Church of Lattingtown. Deer paths can be found across the sloped woodland that separates the pond from the meadow. It is easy to envision a loop path that crosses the meadow, then enters the woodland with its diversity of majestic trees and leads to a bench offering a serene view of the pond. Another approach to the pond may be from the driveway, which feels like an old carriage road, in the lower part of the property. Such a path would make its way over a bridge crossing the stream and leading into the pond. A pondside bench or perhaps a bird blind would be welcome in this spot. A deliberately tiny and rustic but functional parking area will be installed at an open grassy area just west of the driveway as one enters the property. The Williams property is in the Frost Creek watershed, which is classified as a wetland suitable for fish, shellfish and wildlife propagation and survival. It is also part of a corridor of undeveloped land that includes the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, The Order of St Josaphat, Kate Trubee Davison Preserve and an adjoining 2-acre parcel donated to the Land Alliance by Miani Johnson in 2016. The conservation values of the property include Long Island Sound protection, groundwater protection, habitat for wildlife and pollinators as well as a recreational opportunity. Among the more noteworthy flora and fauna observations are a diversity of mature trees, including white oak, red oak, American sycamore, tulip and white pine. A spring ephemeral trout lily was observed by the stream this spring along with a variety of native plants such as azure bluet and great laurel. A number of warbler species (both breeding locally and spring migrants) were documented, as was a wood duck on the pond. We expect fox, opossum, bats and other mammals will also call this property home. We are grateful to the Williams family for this wonderful gift and look forward to inviting you to visit later this summer.
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