“Those vibrant flowers have been a wonderful addition to the Laboratory’s landscape,” says RK Narayanan, Senior Director at CSHL’s Office of Business Development & Technology Transfer. “I’ve always found that area to be particularly peaceful. And the flowers have enhanced its inherent beauty.”
CSHL completed 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. CSHL’s on-staff horticulturalists saw an opportunity to add a little more color.
“These flowers are all Northeast natives,” CSHL Horticulturalist Agnes P. Cwalina says. “They’re attracting native species of bees. Birds are stopping by on migration to eat the seeds. If plants aren’t being eaten by birds, bugs, or bees, there’s something wrong. That means the plant isn’t good for what lives around us. The beautiful thing also is that these are perennials. They’ll be coming back year after year.”
Since 1890, CSHL and its predecessors have been stewards of the local environment. This responsibility goes beyond mere preservation work. CSHL’s dedicated grounds crew and horticulturalists labor year-round to ensure the area’s health and beauty lasts beyond the current season.
“Right plant, right place is the biggest thing,” CSHL Horticulturalist Riley McKenna says. “It’s easier to work with nature than against nature. Native species, like the flowers by the seawall, are just better. They’re more drought tolerant. They’ve adapted to the area. Cold Spring Habor has a maritime climate. There’s a lot of moisture and salt. But because we have the water, there’s also so much biodiversity. We’re very lucky to see all this every day.”
