Look and learn: NNGI installs over 150 native plants on Village Hall property

A vision that merges environmental and educational benefits with natural aesthetics came to life late Friday afternoon as leaders and volunteers with the Northport Native Garden Initiative installed over 150 plants at Northport Village Hall’s Main Street property.

The project has been in the works since June 10, when Northport Native Garden Initiative (NNGI) founders Sara Abbass, Matt Gorman and Nicole Tamaro sent a letter to the Village seeking permission to create a native garden in the space. The garden plantings – ferns, perennials, grasses and shrubs – were sourced by NNGI and paid for by community donations to the nonprofit organization, which has been involved in several projects around town since their inception in the fall of 2020. Northport Village Trustee Dave Weber and volunteers Eric Sandin, Monica Zenyuh and Barbara Bolen assisted with the plantings.

“I’m very grateful and proud to be a part of this community,” said Matt. “We have had so much support from our 750-plus members, and without fail, when we have a call for volunteers, they show up. I’m hoping this garden will be an example to the community that we can support the environment and – at the same time – have a structured and beautiful garden. Sara worked really hard on that and I think she did a great job.”

The gardens were planted in multiple areas in front of Village Hall and include Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), Butterfly Weed, (Asclepias tuberosa), Summersweet “Hummingbird” (Clethra alnifolia), and Sara’s favorite, Pink Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris).

The physical labor is one of the easier parts of the project, said Matt, who explained that the plants, chosen to suit sun exposure and soil conditions, were planted in the fall to allow time for them to establish their roots. A lot of effort went into the picking, planning and placement of the plants for an aesthetic that not only lasts, but complements its surroundings.

“You want seasonal interest, too,” said Sara. “You’re playing to the aesthetic of a formality closer to the building, to keep that structure and to keep things looking a little bit cleaner as you get to the building. And then as you come out, it’s a little more playful – the color, the leaf structure, structure of the plant, and then height too, which is really fun.”

Color will draw eyes to the center island piece, surrounding the Northport Village Hall sign. The more structured pieces flank the left and right sides of the building’s entrance, Sara said.

NNGI founders hope the gardens will be a point of education for the community and are considering, with official approval, to add signs to the area that highlight the initiative and spread awareness about the benefits of natives, and other environmental programs like the FLUPSY floats, throughout Northport.

Native gardens are excellent at adapting to their environment, so there’s no need for fertilizers or other potentially harmful chemicals that could make their way into Northport Harbor during storm runoff, which is especially problematic down Main Street. They also promote the presence and survival of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

“One of the fun aspects of native plants is watching their growth and change over the next few seasons,” said Nicole. “Our hope is that those who stop to observe the garden will want to incorporate some of these plants into their landscape, building a stronger ecosystem for Northport and beyond.”

Nicole said the garden shows how the Village is open to working with local organizations like NNGI, and are a good example of how local officials can utilize resources within their own community.

“This helps to build a deeper trust, collaboration, and investment back into the community,” she said.

Learn more about the NNGI here.