South Huntington Public Library

Visitors to South Huntington Public Library are being welcomed by more than books this season. Three new native pollinator garden beds now grace the library's front entrance thanks to a partnership with the Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI), bringing beauty, biodiversity, and environmental education to the community.

South Huntington Public Library was one of just ten organizations selected to participate in LINPI's 2025 Native Plant Pollinator Garden Program, funded through the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District's Community Assistance Program. The library's 200-square-foot garden features nine species of native plants grown from ethically collected Long Island wild seed.

The project supports the library's mission to provide educational opportunities beyond its walls while reinforcing its commitment as a Certified Sustainable Library.

"The library's sustainability initiative and being certified as a sustainable library really shows its commitment to work that supports the environment within the community," said Mary Pigliacelli, Executive Director of the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. "Gardens also need to be maintained, and we met with the wonderful grounds team who clearly would be taking good care of the garden."

LINPI selected organizations whose gardens would have a lasting public impact and whose staff demonstrated a commitment to maintaining them. The library's highly visible location and strong community engagement made it an ideal site for the project.

Designed by LINPI Co-President Colleen Doyle, the garden features native flowering plants selected to thrive in the site's sunny conditions while providing habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Native plants also help improve water quality, reduce erosion, and support Long Island's unique ecosystems.

The garden serves as a living educational resource for visitors. Inside the library, patrons can explore a garden flip chart located at the Propagation Station in the Adult Services Department, where they can identify each plant species and learn about its role in the local environment. Visitors are also encouraged to take home free seed packets from the library's Seed Library to begin their own native gardens.

In addition to the new landscape, South Huntington Public Library offers books, programs, and other resources to help residents learn more about sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship.

The Long Island Native Plant Initiative, founded in 2011, is a volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to preserving Long Island's biodiversity by increasing the availability of native plants throughout the region. The organization welcomes volunteers at its nursery in Brentwood and provides educational resources for homeowners interested in creating native landscapes.

Community members are invited to stop by South Huntington Public Library to experience the new gardens and learn how small changes at home can help support local pollinators and protect Long Island's natural environment.