Scudder Park Native Garden

The Scudder Park Native Garden was established to beautify a corner of Scudder Park in Northport. The garden was designed, planted, and is maintained by Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in cooperation with the Village of Northport Parks Department. Perennial, drought tolerant plants were selected based on the site’s condition, which is dry, sandy, sunny, and windy. The plants are also salt tolerant, which is important as this area suffered major flooding in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy.  

Many of the plants are native to the area and once established require minimal care. These plants provide nesting sites and nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects and help sustain beneficial pollinators.  Included are Northern Bayberry, Red Bud Tree, Switchgrass, Little Blue Stem, Indian Grass, Yarrow, Common Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, different types of asters and goldenrods, and many more. Many of the plants were purchased from Long Island Native Plant Initiative and funded with a generous donation from an anonymous donor.