I joined Colin O’ Sullivan for a walk in a woodland located on the south shore on Nassau County. It is called Grant Park, a large recreation site. Colon has been interested in this open space and the possibility of introducing and enhancing native plant species.

From the edge, it looks like non-native species have had a field day. Most obvious is ragweed (also called mugwort). With this greeting, my instinct told me that I was about to encounter another place that looks like nothing compared to a century ago.

The major use of this park is sports. There are fields for tennis, soccer, baseball, track, swimming, and skateboarding. A trail runs through “Colon’s Preserve” ( my designation) which runners and bikers use. I don’t understand why this section of the park was left undeveloped. Colon has visited several times and has adopted it. He alone, wants to transform it, a daunting task. To remove the invasives and keep them out is herculean.

However, he has made progress. As we walked near Middle Bay, there was an opening in the phragmites so you could reach the shore edge. “I pulled out the roots sand cleared a path.” This alone means that Colin owns this place. He has undertaken a legacy project that will take a lifetime.

I took a virtual google fly-over to gain perspective. I quickly concluded that Colin’s “natural area” has important ecological value. The area is only rarely visited. It’s uses are for passive recreation…peace and quiet and maybe even nature study. The town of Hempsted does not promote passive recreation in Grant Park. Grant Park is for sports. For Colon and for me as well, this area qualifies as a David vs Goliath project. There are thousands of residents fairly close by that NEED natural areas of open space to breathe, to relax, and to put the passive in passive recreation.

We found many shriveled, white dried egg cases that were dug up by Raccoons. Diamond Backed Terrapins laid their eggs just above high tide to incubate and hatch. Raccoons, who have an excellent sense of smell, discovered the eggs, dug them up, and ate them. However sad this is, it does tell us that there are ecological connections here which are important. We spotted raccoon tracks on the sand confirming that they are here.

We were center court in an alien museum. Russian Olive bushes, Phagmites, European bittersweet, ragweed, a towering Ailanthus tree, and countless other non-native species that over power the natives. We discovered poplar trees (“are they native” Colin asked). These are pioneer plants that invade open space and grow readily in poor soil. I showed Colin one of the poplar tree adaptations. “Look at this leaf petiole.” It is thin allowing the leaf to flutter in strong wind. If it were not for this adaptation, the leaves would tatter and break off and the tree would eventually die.” Colin pointed out a native that he loves. “Look at these bayberry bushes, their shiny dark green leaves, how robust they are.” He said.

I love Colin’s energy, he 25, me 77. We both have gifts for each other youth, wisdom. And we share our love for native plants, and the chance to experience Long Island hundreds of years ago before plants from afar visited, gained footholds, reproduced and spread. It feels like we are visiting THE MUSEUM OF ALIEN PLANTS – bittersweet, Ailanthus, Russian olive bushes, Phragmites, on and on and on.

I kept noticing a yellow flower here and there that I didn’t recognize. Of course Colon asked “Is it native?” I didn’t know the name of the flower nor if it was alien. I took a sample and observed carefully “memorizing” everything I could so that when I returned home, immediately dived into my copy of the National Audubon Society Wildflower Identification Guide. Along with Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, page 366 nailed it. Camphorweed. I tweaked a blossom and sniffed camphor – used in mothballs. This relative of the sunflower family has responded to the current drought by growing nicely…and “yes it IS a native Colin.”

What is important about this “waste place” is the wetland habitat. We found cord grass, black grass, pickle weed, thick peat bog mats, milkweed, Cocklebur, Little Bluestem grass, beach grass, seaside goldenrod, and sea lavender.  Migrating birds could find this an oasis with native shrub plantings and trees such as Shadblow.

The surrounding population has a gold mine waiting to happen with habitat improvement of this site. Many visitors who come to Grant Park for sports recreation may have the opportunity to experience a different kind of sport while visiting. Bird watching, botonizing, photography, drawing, writing, or just enjoying views of Middle Bay. Let’s hope Colon O Sullivan continues to lead the way.

There is another grass habitat that is making progress trying to restore the natives and eliminate the aliens. Friends of the Hempsted Plains on the Campus of Nassau Community College are working to return 19 acres of grassland to just that.