This Month in the Garden: Autumn at Avalon Park & Preserve, Stony Brook, Long Island

Avalon Park And Preserve, Harbor Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA

Welcome to This Month in the Garden for November! The autumnal season here on Long Island brings forth comfortable walking temperatures and an opportunity to visit the local parks and preserves that are available to the public. One of these parks is Avalon Park & Preserve, a private park located on the north shore of Long Island, across from the Grist Mill on Harbor Road in the town of Stony Brook.

Avalon Park And Preserve-Paul Simons Foundation

The park and preserve was created to celebrate the life of Paul Simons, a native Long Islander, avid hiker and cyclist, who always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. After his life was prematurely taken away in 1996, the Paul Simons Foundation was formed, and an abandoned 7.5 acres of residential land was purchased to become the future site of Avalon Park. The goal was to celebrate the life of Paul Simon's and his love of nature by creating a natural habitat for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. While the park is managed privately, it is available to the public.

Avalon Park And Preserve, Harbor Rd, Stony Brook, NY 

Avalon Park And Preserve Map

Here is a brief history of how the park came to be. In 1997, an ecologically oriented landscape group, Andropogon Associates, proposed to transform the neglected property into an array of woodland gardens and hiking paths with focus on the native flora and fauna of Long Island. As the project commenced, several invasive species such as multiflora rose, oriental bittersweet vine and Russian olive shrubs were cleared and Avalon Park started to materialize with the addition of thousands of native trees, shrubs and perennials. A labyrinth was constructed and hiking paths added to allow access to the different sections of the park. The property continues to evolve with future plans for more trails and better access to the harbor, while it continues to serve as an outdoor classroom and learning experience for students and adults alike.

Park Wildlife-Swan

Avalon Park and Preserve is the home to numerous forms of wildlife including swans, ducks, squirrels, rabbits, red fox, box turtle, toads and many species of birds.

Crossing the Bridge

Woodland forests include several native plants including oaks, red maple, hickory, dogwoods, Sassafrass, American Birch, Black Birch, American Chestnut and American spicebush.

Mallard Enjoying the Pond

Cranberry Viburnum

The under-story is comprised of species of native ferns, shrubs and wildflowers including purple coneflower and butterfly weed, each an attraction to pollinators and an important food source for birds. Along the way are a series of blue-stone and boardwalk paths, stone steps and hiking trails, all making for a comfortable stroll through the natural habitat.

Path Leading to Labyrinth

One of the main focal points on the property is this slate labyrinth. Based on the Chartres design, the labyrinth is approximately 50 feet in diameter with a sculptural feature highlighting the overlooking rock. It conveys a feeling of tranquility and peace to its visitors.

Labyrinth Avalon Park & Preserve

The paths of the labyrinth lead to a central circle, symbolizing wholeness and eternity, no beginning or end. 

Labyrinth Avalon Park & Preserve

The sculpture at the top of the labyrinth speaks much symbolism. One interpretation of the missing pieces of the climber could be a life torn apart, while there could be various meanings left to the imagination.

Along the Walking Path

Leaving the labyrinth and further along the path is one of the ponds on the property.

Around to the other side of the Pond

The autumn scenery is beautiful.

Signs of Autumn

A Glance of the Bridge in the Distance

In the distance is a bridge that crosses over the main pond, while one can encounter smaller pond areas along the way. 

A Visit to the Toad Pond

Cartas Al Cielo-Letters to Heaven

Following the "red path" to the preserve on the other side of Rhododendron Road is Cartas Al Cielo, a stainless steel sculpture by artist Alicia Frami, which was introduced into the preserve in 2015. Next to a description of the sculpture are note cards and pencils for visitors to write letters.

Cartas Al Cielo-Letters to Heaven

The idea behind the giant sculpture is that visitors can insert letters containing their deepest thoughts into the mail slit on the front of the ball. The phrase Cartas Al Cielo is roughly translated as letters to the sky. There is something about this place that relays a feeling of tranquility and peace and encourages the imagination to wander.

Leaving Cartas Al Cielo

Friendly Swan

This Long Island visit ends as the trail meanders back to the beginning of the park by the Stony Brook Grist Mill. Long Island has a wealth of beautiful places and Avalon Park & Preserve is one to put onto your list. I hope you enjoyed the visit!

Avalon Park And Preserve, Harbor Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden for November. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. of each month for This Month in the Garden, as I share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! (Linking with: Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, Friday Photo Journal, Image-in-ing Weekly Photo Link-Up and Dishing It & Digging It.)

For more information visit Avalon Park & Preserve.

For more gardening information and tips...Visit My Author Page and See My Books:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations 

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

~As Always...Happy Gardening! ~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.