Written By Felix Zheng
On September 28, the Syosset AYLUS organization visited the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, where we helped out inside and outside of the greenhouse. When we arrived, we were assigned to sift out seeds from a hyssop-leaved thoroughwort using a wooden box and a tool to sift out the seeds. Some benefits of this plant include its role as a pollinator magnet, attracting butterflies, bees, and wasps. It also hosts predators of the brown marmorated stink bug, which can aid in natural insect control. Additionally, it is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require much attention to care for. Historically, early pioneers used the leaves as a poultice to heal broken bones and as an antidote for venomous and poisonous bites. By sifting out the seeds, we encourage the growth of native plants like Eupatorium hyssopifolium, which supports local ecosystems, attracts pollinators, and improves biodiversity. Outside of the greenhouse, Maggie, an assistant at the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, instructed us to find pots that didn’t contain any plants and dump them into a box. One of Maggie’s friends would then take them to the fields for reuse. Overall, the Syosset AYLUS organization was very successful in helping the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, contributing to biodiversity on Long Island and maintaining the native plants at the greenhouse.
Members who participated: Felix Zheng (2hrs) , Kayla Fu (2hrs) , Lucas Fu (2hrs) , Miles Chen (2hrs) , David Guo (2hrs) , Justin Lin (2hrs) , Anderson Dong (2hrs) , Aiden Dong (2hrs)
