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Our Newest Garden Grows at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

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Joanne Pentangelo

Joanne Pentangelo

On Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. volunteers under the expert guidance of the Native Plant Society of Staten Island (NPSSI) installed a beautiful and inspiring garden on the grounds of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Davis Avenue in Staten Island.

From L to R, front row: Lenny Librizzi, NPSSI; the Reverend Sylvester Ekunwe, St. Mary’s; Joanne Pentangelo, President NPSSI; Diane Arneth, Rotary; Jody Stoll, St. Mary’s; Karen Lurker & Philip Sutantio, NPSSI volunteers. From L to R, rear row: Kevin Moriarty, NPSSI, Robert Davis, Rotary, Todd Zimmerman and daughter Angelica, NPSSI.

The garden, which is open to the public to enjoy, is filled with all native pollinator perennials including Blue Lobelia, Red Columbine, Yellow Wild Indigo, Purple Coneflower, Sneezeweed, Dense Blazing Star, Wild Bergamot, Slender Mountain Mint, Gray Goldenrod, Common Yarrow and Eastern Swamp Milkweed. These plants will provide nectar, pollen and habitat for pollinator insects including Monarch Butterflies from Spring through Fall.

The garden will further the mission of the NPSSI to educate the public about native plants and the mission of the Episcopal Church, Creation Care to protect earth’s natural resources.

The North Shore Rotary Club, Staten Island, generously donated funds to allow for the purchase of all the plants being installed.

Volunteers from the Native Plant Society of Staten Island, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and the North Shore Rotary Club, cultivated and planted the spacious 44 x 15 foot garden under the direction of NPSSI board members Lenny Librizzi and Kevin Moriarty, who designed the garden.

Diane Arneth, past president of North Shore Rotary said, “As Rotarians, we follow the Motto ‘Service Above Self’ and lead by example through volunteering and raising funds for causes close to us. Helping to create a lasting native plant garden which will benefit the environment and our native pollinators as well as inspire visitors is a natural way to help create lasting change in our community.”

Joanne Pentangelo is the Treasurer and Acting President of the Native Plant Society of Staten Island.

 

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    On Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. volunteers under the expert guidance of the Native Plant Society of Staten Island (NPSSI) installed a beautiful and inspiring garden on the grounds of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Davis Avenue in Staten Island.