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News

Backyard Restoration, One Native Patch at a Time

3/13/2023

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by Jackie Grennon Brooks
I’m restoring my backyard patch by patch. I’m following the Doug Tallamy rule of 70%. He has found that if we can restore our landscapes to 70% native plants, we can pretty much bring back the other native wildlife. I’ve said goodbye to the garlic mustard, am still working on that pesky English Ivy, and am tackling the barberries this spring.  I am replacing them with natives.
Through a conversation about wild geraniums at a local farmers market, Mindy Block, who grows and sells native plants for Quality Parks, was questioning just how native her wild geraniums really were (see photos Mindy took below). They were blooming later than Geranium maculatum are “supposed to bloom” and they were producing flowers with a much deeper color than expected.
Actually Balkan Geranium, easily mistaken to be our native Wild Geranium
Wild Geranium found locally, originally from near about Mass. Blooms in late.
Long Island sourced Wild Geranium

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Garden Obstacles: Alternatives to Invasive Ground Covers

3/10/2023

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by  Kim Simmen, KMS Native Plants
It's almost that time of year again to start working in the garden. Here is my rant about The Home Depot, and all the big box stores. 
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Image by Tham Yuan Yuan
Please stop buying your plants at these establishments as they all still carry non-native, awful ground covers like creeping Jenny, English ivy, pachysandra, and vinca.

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Why Consider Rewilding  For Life

1/25/2023

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by Caran Markson
Why Consider Rewilding  For Life? The biggest benefit, also known as a reward  for including native plants into an established garden, is that you increase biodiversity. Pictured below is the rewilding of Carpenter Farm Park by Go Native Long Island, a huge effort underway to restore its natural state.
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The Yellow Intruder

7/20/2022

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by Mindy Block

​In 2013, I purchased a butterfly milkweed at Cathy's Flower Stand in Mt. Sinai thinking it was our native butterfly milkweed. I planted it in the backyard, and all was fine until it bloomed yellow. 
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When Lawns Transition to Natural Landscapes Call It A Garden to Avoid Legal Fines

8/25/2021

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by Mindy Block
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Updated: Dec 7, 2021

​Many native pollinator gardens have been added to Harborfront Park to increase habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Recently these gardens were being replaced by more and more lawn spaces. Conversations and actions are underway at Village of Port Jefferson  to balance biodiversity and aesthetics.  


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Board Members

Mindy Block, President & Founder
Annelies Kamran
Caran Markson
Fred Edel, Co-Chair
​Jenn Lucas
Phil Benvin
Quality Parks is a professional organization sponsoring projects to improve both business and environmental conditions by balancing social, economic and environmental concerns. We disseminate information, develop and provide experiential learning opportunities, and support efforts designed to stimulate, encourage, educate, and involve the general public in natural resource stewardship practice​s. ​We are a  federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, since 2000, based in Port Jefferson, on  Long Island, New York
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Policy Statement
A Tribute To Raymond P. Corwin
A Tribute To Larry Paul
Copyright © 2023, Quality Parks. All rights reserved. 
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Suffolk County GIS is down since 9/22.  Tax Map  parcel research services is donated by Property Shark  between 1/24/23-7/24/23.