Partners for Plants

OUR THGC PARTNERS FOR PLANTS PROJECT IS COMPLETE!

It’s wonderful to see such a dedicated group of people coming together to make a positive impact on the environment. Thank you to all volunteers ~ THGC members, their family members and community members who dedicated their time throughout the many years. Removing massive pb crowns and planting new vegetation (860 Plants) is an important step in preserving natural habitats and promoting sustainability. It’s also inspiring to see someone like Pamela Sherlock taking the lead and guiding the THGC initiative to great success. Thank you Pamela! You are a treasure to our THGC and the GCA. It’s through the dedication of individuals like Pamela and the hard work of all members involved that we can make a difference in our communities and in the world. Kudos to the Three Harbors Garden Club, Caumsett State Historic Park, and everyone involved in this great initiative!

A thank you letter from The Caumsett Foundation…

Greetings Pamela,

As the Caumsett Foundation Environmental Chairperson, I was delighted to meet you in August of 2019 to discuss the Three Harbors Garden Club’s (THGC) interest in contributing to Caumsett’s environmental management projects. You began the conversation by asking if there was a particular project that the garden club could sponsor and after some discussion it was decided that creating native plant pollinator islands within a 4-acre site know as Bull Pen #1 Field would be a worthwhile endeavor. The existing vegetation composition of this site consisted mainly of cool season grasses, invasive woody vines, and some native forbs. Native plant pollinator islands would increase biodiversity and gradually spread within the field. Using this idea, you successfully wrote and were awarded the 3-year P4P grant supported by the Garden Club of America.

From start to finish we were assisted by experts including Suffolk Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) who provided detailed instruction on location, preparation, and follow-up evaluations of the gardens. Native plant selection was guided by CCE, NYS Parks Regional Environmental Office, Long Island Native Plant Initiative and Long Island botanist Victoria Bustamante. THGC and the Caumsett Foundation worked hand in hand coordinating volunteers to established five garden plots planting 685 native plants ranging in size from quart to 2-gallon containers. Volunteer chores included digging out the invasive porcelain berry root crown, solarizing, installing deer fencing, planting, and weeding. All these tasks were completed by THGC members, Foundation volunteers, NYS Parks Saturday Stewards and a local boy scout troop. In the process of carrying out this work the benefits of native plants and their connection with native pollinators was reinforced to all that participated. Educational signage was designed promoting this theme with the intent that this knowledge could lead to more pollinator friendly habitat in the backyards of homeowners who visit the Park.

The Caumsett Foundation would like to express its gratitude to you, the Three Harbors Garden Club, and the Garden Club of America for the support and implementation of the 3-year P4P grant at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve. In addition to the Garden Club, we would like to recognize the expertise of Suffolk Cornell Cooperative Extension for their planning and preparation advise on this project. Through the P4P grant THGC and the Caumsett Foundation have worked together to promote biodiversity within the Park and educate the public as to the importance of native plants and pollinators. It has been a pleasure working with you and furthering a relationship that advocates for the preservation and enhancement of Caumsett’s natural resources.

Best Regards,

Sue Feustel

The Caumsett Foundation Environmental Chairperson

About the Project

The Pollinator Islands, located in the Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, aim to improve the biodiversity of Butterfly Hill’s 5-year-young grassland restoration site. Through research, invasive mapping and trials to test plant feasibility, grant funding supports the creation of islands containing wildflowers to attract pollinators and protect the only known colony of the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly on Long Island. Click here to see full details of this fascinating project.