Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are happy to announce that this past spring habitats for pollinators were created as multiple pollinator gardens at Whitney Pond Park in Manhasset and Gerry Pond Park in Roslyn.

Park visitors can enjoy the beautiful plants and pollinators in these gardens and provide vital resources for native pollinators like butterflies, bees, hoverflies and beetles.

“Protecting and preserving our environment is a top priority for the Town of North Hempstead and these pollinator gardens go a long way towards supporting our native pollinators, as they are an important part of our ecosystem,” Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “I am proud that the Town is taking the lead on initiatives like this one, as they serve to increase the biodiversity of the Town.”

The planting of these gardens benefits the endangered monarch butterfly (declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature) and aids in the Town’s efforts to create habitat through the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge program.

The gardens were planted with many native nectars and host plants, including butterfly milkweed, which is a host plant for monarch caterpillars and an important nectar source for a variety of other pollinators. Additional plant species included mountain mint, Virginia rose, turtlehead, Canadian columbine, spotted beebalm and asters.

In addition to creating habitat on Town properties, the Town is working to expand the use of native plants throughout residential areas by offering $350 rebates to residents to install a native plant garden in their yard.

This year, the Town received $10,000 from the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District for this rebate program. A limited amount of funding for the program remains for 2022. Fall is a great time to plant since it has cooler temperatures and higher amounts of rainfall.

For more information and details on how to apply, please call 311 or visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/sustainability