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| Maya at the Muller Field Station in 2008 |
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| Maya's vasculum - once used to collect botanical specimans. |
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| Many members were unable to attend the bench dedication - but now have a place to enjoy a rest year round. Several can credit Maya as their introduction to the Canandaigua Botanical Society |
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| Jeffery reading plaque inscription |
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| Thomas, one of Maya's youngest recruits, stands by her bench* |
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| Maya's daughter Hilda shared how important the Canandaigua Botanical Society was to Maya - including the impact that being the president had on Maya as a woman from Germany in her "new" community. |
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| Dr. Bruce Gilman spoke of Maya, the Botanical Society's Herbarium (to be seen in November). Peggy Kane remembered Maya and Lillian Boda in many roles for the Botanical Society and told how they used to call one another after a field trip to share notes of the species each of them recorded. Lauralee Maas told us about how generous Maya was with her own collection of species growing in her yard - and still appreciates the gooseneck plants that Maya shared with her. Ron Ouimette shared his love of Maya and her perspective lawn dandelions. |
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| Bruce photographing Hilda, Peter, and Sylvia sitting on the bench. (Eric was at the Palmyra Atoll) |
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Members of Maya's family in attendance. 
We completed our memorial bench dedication with Maya’s
favorite sugar cookies in celebration of the 90th anniversary of
Maya’s birth. Along with the bench we dedicated the Ginkgo tree to Maya’s
husband, Samuel Hobday. Sam was never
much into plants (which he referred to as weeds) but he did enjoy the study of
rocks. Bruce Gilman explained that the
Ginkgo Biloba with the leaf notch is a living fossil dating back 10 million
years in geologic records. This
particular Gingko is a male as the female Ginkgo trees bear fruits that become
very smelly when ripened. The holes in
the bark were made by yellow bellied sap sucker birds. The holes create sap, attracting insects,
which the birds then eat.
 
A TOUR OF THE FLCC ARBORETUM:
Back in 1977 the Arboretum was a goldenrod field. Bruce gained permission to clear the field
with his lawn mower and then sent requests out to friends and colleagues to consider
donating trees for the Arboretum. Thanks
to the foresight of Dr. Bruce Gilman, the FLCC community has enjoyed this
collection of trees for nearly 40 years. There is a wooded area to the south of the Arboretum where we have enjoyed botanical walks in the past. This area is called Purple Woods after Peter Purple.
(please note: I was unable to caption photos underneath for the remainder of this post - so notes are above the pictures) Eastern White Pine
Tree of Peace in the Seneca Nations, 5 needles in clusters representing
5 tribes.
Makes a tasty tea.
Trees are unisex with male cones low and female high.
Abundant soft wood coveted by the King of England
          with a Arborvitae (Tree of Life) behind and center     - deciduous, bare in January and February               Tri-colored European Beech copper colored beech - purple comes from sunlight Peter Hobday shared a German quote about Beech and Oak trees - stating beech trees won't attract lightning and oak trees do attract lightning.
“Vor den Eichen, Sie sollten sich zurückzuziehen,
Vor Tannen, du solltest zu fliehen,
Aber Sie sollten suchen die Buchen "
Loosely translates to: "Before the oaks you ought to back off, Before firs you ought to flee, But you should seek out the beeches”
Having done a bit of research it seems that oak trees will live longer over water veins and therefore be more of a draw for lightning.*see references at end*
         Sunburst Honey Locust across the street          used for field posts, now invasive - multiply by roots and seeds   raised bark - fruit tastes like a date favorite food of passenger pigeons (now extinct)        * Prairie Folklore * |