Newsstand Menu
photo of New England Asters
鈥淚 love the New England Aster (seen here) because it allows for bees to have food going into winter,鈥 says LaboratoryHorticulturalist Riley McKenna. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice bright color. They have a lot of varieties, and they鈥檙e native to our region.鈥

HarborScope blog

Among the wildflowers

As summer transitions to fall, 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 (麻豆传媒社区鈥檚) lower roadway becomes a kaleidoscope of color. Near the Luke and Wawepex buildings, where road meets seawall, flowers of all shapes and sizes bloom. Whether on a walking tour, attending a , or simply taking a break, the area makes for an ideal stopping point to relax and take in the harbor. Just mind the bees and the butterflies鈥攖hey鈥檙e only trying to do their jobs.

鈥淭hose vibrant flowers have been a wonderful addition to the Laboratory’s landscape,鈥 says RK Narayanan, Senior Director at 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Office of Business Development & Technology Transfer. 鈥淚鈥檝e always found that area to be particularly peaceful. And the flowers have enhanced its inherent beauty.鈥

photo of Luke and Wawapex
The area by the Luke and Wawepex buildings before (left) and after (right) the seawall restoration. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great place to have lunch or relax and look at the water if you’re having a rough day,鈥 LaboratoryHorticulturalist Riley McKenna says.

Laboratorycompleted restoration work on its 174-year-old seawall in 2022. Once the construction crews were gone, it was time to spruce the place back up. Prior to the renovation, the area had been nothing but green. 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 on-staff horticulturalists saw an opportunity to add a little more color.

鈥淭hese flowers are all Northeast natives,鈥 LaboratoryHorticulturalist Agnes P. Cwalina says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e attracting native species of bees. Birds are stopping by on migration to eat the seeds. If plants aren鈥檛 being eaten by birds, bugs, or bees, there’s something wrong. That means the plant isn鈥檛 good for what lives around us. The beautiful thing also is that these are perennials. They鈥檒l be coming back year after year.鈥

photo of bumble bee on flower
Native pollinators like bumble bees, seen here, and other beneficial insects are essential workers in any healthy ecosystem. They cut down on pests and help local plants reproduce.

Since 1890, Laboratoryand its predecessors have been stewards of the local environment. This responsibility goes beyond mere preservation work. 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 dedicated grounds crew and horticulturalists labor year-round to ensure the area鈥檚 health and beauty lasts beyond the current season.

鈥淩ight plant, right place is the biggest thing,鈥 LaboratoryHorticulturalist Riley McKenna says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easier to work with nature than against nature. Native species, like the flowers by the seawall, are just better. They鈥檙e more drought tolerant. They鈥檝e adapted to the area. Cold Spring Habor has a maritime climate. There鈥檚 a lot of moisture and salt. But because we have the water, there鈥檚 also so much biodiversity. We鈥檙e very lucky to see all this every day.鈥

photo of wildflowers near the Laboratoryseawall
鈥淐old Spring Harbor鈥檚 natural landscape is exquisitely complemented by the seawall’s colorful and varied flower types, making for an absolutely charming scene,鈥 Narayanan says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a testament to the lab鈥檚 commitment to fostering a welcoming and inspiring workspace.鈥

Tags

Stay informed

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest discoveries, upcoming events, videos, podcasts, and a news roundup delivered straight to your inbox every month.

  Newsletter Signup