Invite Hummingbirds into Your Home and Garden
A Native Plant Workshop with Dropseed Native Landscapes
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum presents “Hummingbird Stations,” a hands-on gardening workshop with Anthony Marinello of Dropseed Native Landscapes and the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. In “Hummingbird Stations,” workshop participants will explore the local varieties of flowering shrubs and perennials that can be added to any garden to attract migrating nectar-feeders like Ruby-throated and Rufous Hummingbirds.
Individuals who attend “Hummingbird Stations” will get an in-depth introduction to ecologically sound gardening practices and the importance of native plant communities to our region. Long Island enjoys several unique biomes, including the only tall-grass prairie east of the Alleghany Mountains, as well as large tracts of marine grassland along its shore. These plant communities play an integral role in the lives of many native animal species, from invertebrates to mammals, by providing support for the entire food chain. “Hummingbird Stations” will focus on the contributions of native plants to avian biodiversity, specifically the five documented species of hummingbird recorded in New York, which arrive in Suffolk County towards the end of May. Dropseed Native Landscapes will explain the many steps we can take to ensure that the presence of these charismatic birds can be enjoyed for generations to come.
In addition to the educational program, workshop attendees reserve the right to purchase specialized native plant kits to be brought home on the day of the program. These kits will include plant varieties discussed in the workshop, as well as other native species to facilitate the transformation of your garden into an ecological oasis. All varieties discussed and distributed as part of “Hummingbird Station” will come in the form of plugs, which are already sprouted seedlings that are ready to be transplanted into your flower beds and begin the work of attracting hummingbirds.
Location: The “Hummingbird Station” workshop will take place on the grounds of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Superintendent’s Cottage, which is located across the street from the main campus. Handicapped parking will be available for program participants.
Inquiries about the program or the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s commitment to horticultural education should be directed to info@vanderbiltmuseum.org. Other questions or requests, particularly those concerning plants native to the Long Island region and ecologically sound gardening, should be sent to anthony@dropseednativelandscapesli.com.