Pollinator Pathway

On the banks of the beautiful Carll’s River in Babylon Village, just where it crosses under Park Avenue, you will find the Carll’s River Native Forest, a Save The Great South Bay habitat restoration project established in April 2019 as a collaborative effort with the Village of Babylon. Now it may seem like it simply belongs there but that is exactly the intention. Habitat restoration projects such as this one, return plants to an area that has become overrun by invasive or exotic species and replace them with native species. Natives require no fertilizer or pesticides, and once established, require little if any irrigation. They provide a stunning palette of colors as they bloom and require little maintenance. Their root systems, having adapted to local soils over thousands of years, naturally help remove contaminants, mitigate stormwater runoff before it enters the bay, and reduce erosion. 

As importantly, native plants also provide habitat for our local fauna, the birds and the bees if you will, that are a crucial part of the local ecosystems. In fact, this project includes several species of trees and plants that are known to attract Monarch butterflies.

This 525 sq. ft. planting was carefully curated to recreate a Red Maple Swamp Forest, an ecological community recognized by New York State Natural Heritage Program. As the plants mature, bursts of deep orange of Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) will appear along with pops of purple Marsh Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), blossoms of rosy pink Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), bright yellow Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) complemented by the bluish green Little Blue Stem (Andropogon scoparium). Woody species that were established in prior plantings include Silky Dogwood, Sweetgum, Red Maple, Pussywillow, Groundselbush, and Buttonbush.