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Meadows

Upper Meadow

Waveny Park boasts fully mature meadows south of the mansion, to the evolving Jeniam Meadow beyond the pond, on the east side of the Park.

Immediately, south and west of the mansion lie an expanse of beautiful, mature meadows. They boast a healthy variety of native meadow plant species: NY Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), with their bright purple flowers that bloom from mid-summer to mid-fall and attract a range of pollinators; Goldenrod (Solidago), with intense yellow flowers; Swamp (Asclepias incarnata) and Common (Asclepias syriaca) milkweed plants that support the life cycle of monarch butterflies, who continue to be threatened by a number of challenges to their environment.

The Upper Meadow which lies to the immediate south of the house and Arbor sculpture benefits from just a single mowing each year. As a result, it encourages a longer blooming period, encourages new species to cultivate and ensures the meadow is a hive of activity for pollinators for as long as possible during each season.

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Jeniam Meadow

Beyond Anderson Pond is Jeniam Meadow. Originally a cornfield, the area has long been neglected until with the unwavering support of The Jeniam Foundation, the Conservancy began working to transition the area into another wildflower meadow. In spite of serious challenges from invasive phragmites (P. australis) and more recently, mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), a number of highly desirable native meadow plants have begun to appear and take hold.

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) have bright yellow flowers and bloom in spring and attract large numbers of butterflies and native bees. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is now present and also blooms in the spring with bright white, tubular flowers that attract pollinators including long-tongued bees and hummingbirds. Wild bergamot( Monarda fistulosa), also known as Bee Balm, has also begun to appear with its pink or lavender flowers that bloom in the summer and attract the full range of pollinator species. You will also see Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum sp) in the meadow with small whitish flowers and a wonderful fragrance that is reminiscent of spearmint.

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