On August 13, the Syosset AYLUS organization visited the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. We were accompanied by Maggie, Pam’s assistant, and Pam, the owner of the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. We were given various tasks, such as potting plants and making labels to help organize and identify them. Many Syosset members worked with Pam, while others assisted Maggie with sorting plants and placing them outside the greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse, we planted Sweet Goldenrod. This plant has several benefits, including being an excellent pollinator supporter. The bright yellow flowers of Sweet Goldenrod attract a variety of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. This helps support local ecosystems and enhances biodiversity. Additionally, as a native plant, Sweet Goldenrod is well-adapted to its local environment and requires fewer resources, such as water and fertilizers, compared to non-native species. This contributes to more sustainable gardening and land management practices. Some of the plants that were missing labels we made labels for them and placed them into the pot so they can be marked correctly some of the plant that we labeled were Little Bluestern which have benefits such as being a Pollinator Supporter Little Bluestem contributes to a healthy ecosystem by supporting pollinators. While it’s not a primary nectar source, its presence in native plant communities helps maintain a diverse habitat for insects. After completing these tasks, Pam assigned us the task of removing weeds. This is beneficial for the greenhouse and plant biodiversity because weeds compete with desirable plants for essential resources like water, nutrients, and sunlight. By removing weeds, we reduce this competition, allowing garden plants or crops to grow more robustly. Weeds also have the potential to spread rapidly through seeds, runners, or root systems. Removing them before they flower and produce seeds helps prevent their spread and reduces future weed problems. Overall, the Syosset AYLUS organization was very successful in maintaining biodiversity in the greenhouse and on Long Island.
Members who attended: Felix Zheng (4hrs) , Anson Ye (4hrs) , Vincent Ye (4hrs) , Darren Gao (4hrs)
