Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) got a generous spring refresh this March thanks to the local nonprofit, Long Island Arboricultural Association (LIAA). On March 15, dozens of arborists, plant health specialists, and landscape professionals from across Long Island volunteered their time and expertise to prune, selectively remove, and tend to trees across CSHL’s 120-acre campus. Some of these giants are over a century old. Every once in a while, they need a trim.
“I was honored when the LIAA approached me about hosting the Arbor Day event,” said CSHL Assistant Director of Buildings and Grounds Danny Miller. “The Grounds Department schedules tree maintenance regularly, but there is always more that can be done. We are thankful for the LIAA and all the members who volunteered their time.”
In addition to preserving the campus’s beauty, regular maintenance is needed to help remove potential hazards, such as dead trees or falling limbs, that come with any heavily wooded area. The spring refresh also allows healthy plants to thrive.
“The LIAA has been around for more than 50 years, and this event in particular dates back nearly to the beginning of the Association,” said LIAA President Joseph Patrone. “Giving back to the community and being able to highlight the abilities of the arboricultural industry is always of utmost importance to the Association and its members. Overall, the event was a great success.”
With over 100 acres that include a preserved shoreline, gardens, and historic trees, CSHL is a place of rich and abundant biodiversity. Home to more than 50 research labs and 600 research staffers—including plant biologists working to understand and conserve the natural world—the Laboratory takes its commitment to environmental stewardship quite seriously. This spring, that commitment was reinforced through the generosity of the LIAA, their talented volunteers, and CSHL’s Facilities team.
Written by: Caroline Cosgrove, Community Engagement Manager | cosgrov@cshl.edu | 516-367-8844