Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP)

SAP is a coalition of local groups making Suffolk County a greener pollinator corridor through good gardening practices. Our goal is to amplify the efforts of many groups helping residents, towns and communities become part of the growing regional initiative led by the Pollinator Pathway.

A similar effort on the national level was launched by Doug Tallamy. HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK is a grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosytem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. Here's a link to the website: https://www.homegrownnationalpark.org/

Here's a recent article about the Suffolk Alliance for Pollinator launch.SAP launch

The Town of North Hempstead is offering terrific programs in March:

Click here for a list of native plants appropriate for Long Island landscapes

Rain Gardens March 29, 6:30 pm

Rain gardens capture stormwater from a gutter downspout or sloped area. Rain gardens have many benefits such as pollution reduction, aquifer replenishment and wildlife habitat.

(Click here to learn about the Town's efforts to help monarchs and here to learn about protecting all pollinators)

This website is also helpful in learning about rain gardens and provides steps to creating them:

Rain Gardens a Design Guide by UConn

Register HERE

Pollinator Pathway https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/is a robust resource for those starting their inquiry as well as those well along their way with their pollinator landscape. “Be Part of the Pollinator Pathway” contains specific gardening suggestions on a couple of fronts: lawns, plants, watering and the use of pesticides. Plant lists for a variety of conditions, including coastal areas and deer resistant plants, are found under the subhead ‘Plant Natives.’ Those interested in locating a property on the Pollinator Pathway map are invited to “Join Now.” Explore the website for its many contributions.

Local groups are likewise promoting good land stewardship.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Suffolk County offers additional resources. We offer programs on pollinator gardens, native plants, best lawn practices, alternatives to lawns, and berries for birds at Suffolk libraries year-round. Check the CCE events for in person and Zoom programs. Most Suffolk libraries admit patrons from other libraries. At our Spring Gardening School event, we have workshops on native garden design, pots for pollinators, and an intro to beekeeping.Contact Community Horticulture if your group would like a program. See our website for materials for Pollinator Support https://ccesuffolk.org/gardening/pollinator-support.

If you would like more information about plants and pollinators, please contact CCE’s Horticulture Diagnostic Lab. The phone is (631) 727-4126, Monday-Friday, 9AM-noon. You may also reach Alice Raimondo aw424@cornell.edu or Sandra Vultaggio sib7@cornell.edu by email. Visitors are welcome at the 423 Griffing Avenue, Riverhead office weekdays 9AM-4PM.

Note: Groups and organizations collaborating on building a Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators are found on this webpage. To mention a few:

Rewild Long Island, with four chapters throughout Long Island, provides education, tools and an internship program to increase the biodiversity of public and private spaces. https://www.rewildlongisland.org/

ChangeHampton is a community effort to promote restorative, bio-diverse, healthy & sustainable landscaping practices and expand the Pollinator Pathways Movement on Eastern Long Island. https://www.changehampton.org/

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is promoting civic action including identifying some local sources providing seasons of native plants as linked here. https://quoguewildliferefuge.org/go-native-for-wildlife/

If your group or organization would like to join the Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators, please contact Roxanne Zimmer, rz378@cornell.edu.

Join the buzz!