Monthly Service Day - July

Through Month­ly Ser­vice Days, the Trust for Gov­er­nors Island’s hor­ti­cul­ture team and Friends of Gov­er­nors Island invite you to par­tic­i­pate in a sin­gle-day stew­ard­ship project focused on habi­tat restora­tion. During July's project, vol­un­teers will help plant common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in celebration of the on Governors Island.

Milkweed illustrates the close connection between native plants and wildlife—monarch butterfly caterpillars have evolved to feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. With their striking orange and black wings, Eastern monarchs are abundant on Governors Island during their migration in late summer and fall, but their populations have been experiencing significant decline throughout the United States over the past several years. Integrating this volume of milkweed plants into Governors Island’s green spaces will allow monarchs to safely complete their life cycles while increasing native plant habitats for all Island wildlife.

Monthly Service Days are free with registration. No gardening experience is necessary, though this project will involve bending, lifting, and other physical tasks. Instruction, gloves, and tools will be provided. Please dress for the weath­er, as Month­ly Ser­vice Days are held entire­ly out­doors.

Please take the 9:30am ferry from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan. On arrival, volunteers should gather at Soissons Landing where a staff member will be waiting. Ferry tickets are not included with this reservation and can be reserved separately at .

Can't make it for this month's project? Don't worry! Monthly Service Days take place the second Tuesday of every month. In addition, the Friends of Governors Island offers daily volunteer projects for individuals. Click here to learn more about our individual volunteer program and get involved today.

Volunteers planting milkweed into a newly created bed near Pier 101.

Host or Publisher The Trust for Governors Island