August brings additional professional members and clarification of support services, a native plant story about the "Yellow Intruder," new advocacy efforts, and rethinking tick bite prevention.

Featured Professional Members

Featured professionals also support our Long Island Parks and Park Resources knowledge base. Compiled data enables insights and trends. Beyond the data,  we also offer limited advice, and discounted consultation services.

• Caran Markson - natural landscape designer and master gardener
• CEED - Long Island based Nature Center with conservation programs
• CRESLI - Marine Mammal Research & Conservation on Long Island​
• Farmingville Residents Association - for a united Farmingville
• Friends of Wertheim - A voice for its protection, enjoyment, & appreciation
• Go Native Long Island - Invasive Species Consultation Services
• Janet Hann​​ - Monday Crew - Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference
• Jenn Lucas Illustration - Portraits of the Natural World
• KMS Native Plants, LLC - Bring Nature back to your backyard!
• Phil Benvin - Master naturalist, hunter, wildlife tracker, and avid canoeist
• Quality Parks - Native Plants & Conservation
• Wild Heart Connection​ - Forest Therapy & Life Coaching Outdoors in Nature

Native Plant News

Sales have been crazy busy at the Port Jefferson Farmers Market.  If you want to avoid the crowds, want more plant options, and a nursery tour, text Mindy first: 631-255-6512.  Natural landscape design consulting services are available to anyone in need of more extensive advice. Learn more.

We've added an inventory list to our Native Plants page, but do confirm larger purchases. Thank you for ongoing support, especially pots, plants, and seed donations. It's helped expand our inventory. BTW, I could use volunteers, but haven't figured out a way to organize volunteer time. 

One of our newsletter readers encouraged me to write more stories about native plants with referenced materials. I wrote one called the "Yellow Intruder." Find it on Butterfly Milkweed.  

We also have an abundance of Swamp Milkweed which I urge everyone to purchase as the Monarch Butterfly is now globally endangered, and that's a terrific host plant. We have an abundance of Swamp Rose Mallow, a native perennial, just about ready to bloom.

Conservation News

First,  I want to apologize to the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt for not adequately explaining a change in policies. As background, they're fighting against a proposed high power transmission cable through the heart of the Long Pond Greenbelt. 

The cable crisis was just unfolding and I anticipated time spent would be more than I could offer. The Board suggested to at least ask for a Professional Membership. The request only muddied the waters.

Instead, we'll use our knowledge base to send letters requesting a response or clarification of the park/park resource issue. We'll then wait and follow up with a press release. Conservation related consultation services will be offered for greater needs. Contact Mindy directly for more information.

Recently, our Board recommended that I not pursue efforts to declare tick bites a health emergency, as there's already too many ongoing emergencies. Instead, we'll continue to focus on personal protection at the markets, and flag those park resources active in tick bite prevention with additional content.

Quality Parks - Be Naturally Intelligent