The North Fork Audubon Society has strived to connect people with nature since 1971. In their last 10 years as an organization, that mission became even more intentional with the creation of their native plant sale, giving North Forkers an opportunity to buy the plants that are best-suited for the local environment.
All of the plant sale stock is from Glover Perennials, where many plants are grown from seeds collected on Long Island.
“I think we all watched our woodlands and fields and grasslands on Long Island disappear,” says Robin Simmen, a board member of the Audubon Society. “And we’ve replaced them with this human idea of what the landscape should look like, which is extremely sterile and does not support wildlife.”
The Audubon Society hosts a spring sale and a fall Native Plant Sale each year; the fall sale is set for Sept. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Stop by the Roy Latham Nature Center at Inlet Pond County Park to sort through nearly 70 species of native plants to pick out something suitable for your property.
“It’s such an incredibly important tool for our community to have access to these species which are hard to find,” says Simmen. “There’s not a single retail center anywhere on Long Island that sells as many of these native species in one shot as we do.”
Not only are a lot of these selections beautiful additions to any garden — many are also drought-resistant, deer-resistant, bird and butterfly-attracting organisms.
Here are some plants, ranging in price from $9 to $120 that shoppers can expect to see this weekend:
Asters
Pick through varieties like New England asters, New York asters and Maryland Golden asters. Maryland golden asters are particularly drought-resistant, requiring minimal water plus they sport golden daisy-like flowers.
Native Grasses
A whole slew of native grass cultivars will be available, including little bluestem and switchgrass. Also known for their low-maintenance growth, these grasses are great to fill your yard to improve all-around soil health and irrigation.
Ferns
There will be about five species, some of which are Christmas fern, maidenhair fern and hayscented fern. This highly requested non-flowering plant is drought-resistant and deer-resistant — ideal for the deer-populous North Fork.
Goldenrods
About five types will be available, this plant being integral for migrating insects and birds. The seaside goldenrod boasts yellow blooms that are a great source of nectar for insects.
Berrying Plants
Loads of berrying plants will be sold this weekend, like viburnums, beach plums, hollies, honeysuckle, bayberries and elderberries. You can make jellies from the beach plums, syrup from elderberries and enjoy the plants’ colorful flowers and fragrant scents. Plus, these picks have the qualities of being drought and salt-resistant.
Berrying plants will attract an influx of birds during migratory times, including eastern bluebirds, cedar waxwings, catbirds, northern mockingbird, woodpeckers, American robins, Baltimore orioles and eastern towhees, in addition to native bees, butterflies and moths.
Meadow Kit
These 10-plant packages include two varieties of native grasses and flowering perennials to assist in transforming a yard into a more sustainable setting.
