Native Garden Tour, Naples, NY

 Native Garden Tour

Naples, New York, Saturday, August 26, 2003, 10:00 AM

This tour is at the home of the Sullivan Family. Maura Sullivan and Jun Liu, who designed the gardens for the Sullivans, will show off their creation and explain the “how” and “why” of native plant gardening. This includes conversations about gardening for biodiversity, native plants, ecosystem health, and more.
 Maura is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation and Horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC). Her specialties are: botany, invasive species, wetlands and resource assessment, among others.  Jun Liu is a part-time garden designer and gardener. She has a doctorate degree in mineralogy from Germany, is a Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional by NYS Nursery and Landscape Association and earned her Horticulture Certificate at FLCC. She has a great love and passion for nature and gardening. Her gaden designs focus on low maintenance, sustainability, and aesthetic harmony by carefully selecting plants suitable for each specific site and using high density planting combinations.

We will carpool from the Ontario County Courthouse parking lot on Sly Street - meet at 9 AM.  If you are driving yourself you may meet us at  171 N Main St, Naples NY 14512.

WOW!  What a wonderful visit to the Sullivan gardens on a sunny Saturday morning.  

Maura and Jun shared their vision and plans of developing the gardens.  Jun explained about soil testing and a goal to use low water and fertilizers.  They explained the benefits of using native plants which reduces the need for commercial mulch as natives push out weeds.  They also discussed considerations of plant needs and growth heights to allow the plants to shape the gardens.  They desired plants to provide interest and structure throughout the four seasons.  Maura explained that she often selects plants based on what excites her from her past and what she sees in natural settings.  Maura claims to be a "lazy" gardener who prefers not to weed or water.  She believes that our landscapes should also support our ethics.  We had a discussion about native/introduced/invasive/nuisance/desirable/undesirable/etc.  Sean printed out plant lists and we made our way around the gardens with Maura and Jun.

Anise Hyssop

Jun explains early planning stages

Maura's Mom, Maryellen, who baked delicious cookies for us!

Jun shares sketches and garden plans

North side garden with challenges.  goatsbeard is happy here

maple-leaved viburnum

Taller plants are hoary mountain mint

sea oats

pearly everlasting

Shooting star (past bloom)

echnicae

bottlebrush grass

small oak volunteer to be moved out in the yard when it's bigger

areas for future gardens, including a slope and a wall

plans to paint the wall, allow cascading plants (Virginia Creeper) and shade lovers

box elder

lots of wooded property with plenty of invasives and 40 new native trees

The tall yellow cup plants are very happy here. 

blue lobelia and orange coneflower

Redbud tree

petty spurge

oak gall with stones and leaves

silverweed

vegetable garden

touch me not / jewelweed

American burnweed

showy tickclover

wild sweet William and Rudbeckia fulgide

 The list Jun and Maura shared with us can be shared via email.  It will be sent to all on our email list by Sunday, September 10, 2023.  Please let us know if you did not receive the attachment or would like us to send it to you (we'll need your email address).

We were invited back for future visits and would be sure to find plenty of delightful differences depending on the time of year we visit.  We are working to gift Maura and Jun with some Anemone virginiana (tall thimbleweed) plants in appreciation for touring us through their gardens.   

 Native plants for local planting can be found at 

AMANDA'S GARDEN

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

and WHITE OAK NURSERY

Thanks to Emily for these images!