A Power Point about the Canandaigua Botanical Society was put together for the Canandaigua Rotary in 2014. This is similar information presented to the Rotary group:
CANANDAIGUA
BOTANICAL SOCIETY
BOTANICAL SOCIETY
Celebrating 140 Years in 2014
Dedicated to advancing
knowledge and enjoyment
of plants found in the
Finger Lakes Region since 1874
The Canandaigua Botanical Society is the second oldest botanical society in continuous existence in the United States, dating back to 1874. The early group was composed of avid botanists who sought out and studied all types of plants growing in the local area. An extensive collection of pressed specimens was prepared by the club, many of which are currently housed in the Finger Lakes Herbarium at Finger Lakes Community College.
The oldest known botanical society is:
The Torrey Botanical Society near NYC, was inspired by Columbia College Professor John Torrey in 1867.
1874-1930: Dr. Harvey Jewett was the Canandaigua Botanical Society’s first president. Members were voted in and papers were read at monthly meetings held in private homes. Mrs. Charles W Marshall served as secretary from 1876-1909 when she met her tragic death in a house fire (along with 35 years of CBS records).
1930-1950: Members were serious botanists, many of them teachers or retired teachers. Specimens were collected for study. During the World War II years gas rationing curtailed the gatherings, but they resumed full force after the war. Field trips were made in the spring, summer, and fall months and meetings were held in the winter.
1950-1980: Membership opens up to “any interested person”. The pattern of winter meetings and summer field trips continued on with an annual meeting and potluck dinner held each April. Specimens continue to be collected. The 100th Anniversary was celebrated in April 1974 at the United Church which was written about in the May 3, 1974 edition of the Daily Messenger.
1980-2009: Membership remains open to all interested people. Field trips continue within Ontario County but also reach further to areas of botanical interest throughout the greater Finger Lakes Region. Specimen collection is limited due to DEC regulation of protected plants. Faculty of the FLCC Environmental Conservation and Horticulture department become an integral part of the Canandaigua Botanical Societyproviding leaders and expertise as well as housing the herbarium of specimens collected by members.
HISTORY
1930-1950: Members were serious botanists, many of them teachers or retired teachers. Specimens were collected for study. During the World War II years gas rationing curtailed the gatherings, but they resumed full force after the war. Field trips were made in the spring, summer, and fall months and meetings were held in the winter.
1950-1980: Membership opens up to “any interested person”. The pattern of winter meetings and summer field trips continued on with an annual meeting and potluck dinner held each April. Specimens continue to be collected. The 100th Anniversary was celebrated in April 1974 at the United Church which was written about in the May 3, 1974 edition of the Daily Messenger.
1980-2009: Membership remains open to all interested people. Field trips continue within Ontario County but also reach further to areas of botanical interest throughout the greater Finger Lakes Region. Specimen collection is limited due to DEC regulation of protected plants. Faculty of the FLCC Environmental Conservation and Horticulture department become an integral part of the Canandaigua Botanical Societyproviding leaders and expertise as well as housing the herbarium of specimens collected by members.
Since 2009: Canandaigua Botanical Society online
April: Annual potluck dinner / presentation / meeting
(dues collected and programs handed out)
Dues are $7 individual and $10 family/year
Our events are open ~ free to everyone
Dues buys you a printed program and membership listing
May-October: One or two field trips each month
November and March: indoor meetings (FLCC)
Today the society is made up of individuals who, while having a wide range of knowledge from novice to expert, share a love of nature. Interests include wildflowers, medicinal and edible plants, trees, ferns, mushrooms, water vegetation, viticulture, insects, birds, and more. Many of our members are active in related nature and conservation oriented organizations. Members enjoy leisurely paced walks which allow time to see what is underfoot, overhead, and all around us when we really look.
native / non-native
invasive / non-invasive
The Canandaigua Botanical Society offers:
Wealth of information from leaders and others
invasive / non-invasive
Wealth of information from leaders and others
Opportunity for learning (Just 1 thing)
Great antidote to Nature-Deficit Disorder *
Events open to everyone
* Richard Louv’s: Last Child in the Woods:
Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
Multi-Generational
Great antidote to Nature-Deficit Disorder *
Events open to everyone
* Richard Louv’s: Last Child in the Woods:
Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
Lagoon Park Restoration
Lagoon Park is a wildlife preserve of 34 acres of wetlands on Lakeshore Drive with walking paths, bridges, fishing platforms and other attractions. 2010 Tour of Lagoon Park with Dave DeMallie who talked about the native and invasive plant species. Jim Engel presented a proposal to the City of Canandaigua to have invasive plants removed from this forever wild flood plane and protected wetland. Due to funding shortages the project had not yet commenced. 2012 Jim Engel began restoring the park by removing invasive growth, primarily buckthorn. Canandaigua Botanical Society paired with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association to raise funds for the project. 2013 Jim Engel continued to remove invasive species. A Lagoon Park Restoration workday involved folks from FLCC, Canandaigua City, CLWA, and the Botanical Society to plant native species of trees, shrubs and plants. Scouts help afterwards with caging in young trees. CLWA, CNB, and Botanical Society efforts continued to provide funds. 2014 CBS toured Lagoon Park with Jim Engel. There is still buckthorn to be removed and plans are in place for a kiosk and benches to be added.
Lagoon Park is a wildlife preserve of 34 acres of wetlands on Lakeshore Drive with walking paths, bridges, fishing platforms and other attractions. 2010 Tour of Lagoon Park with Dave DeMallie who talked about the native and invasive plant species. Jim Engel presented a proposal to the City of Canandaigua to have invasive plants removed from this forever wild flood plane and protected wetland. Due to funding shortages the project had not yet commenced. 2012 Jim Engel began restoring the park by removing invasive growth, primarily buckthorn. Canandaigua Botanical Society paired with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association to raise funds for the project. 2013 Jim Engel continued to remove invasive species. A Lagoon Park Restoration workday involved folks from FLCC, Canandaigua City, CLWA, and the Botanical Society to plant native species of trees, shrubs and plants. Scouts help afterwards with caging in young trees. CLWA, CNB, and Botanical Society efforts continued to provide funds. 2014 CBS toured Lagoon Park with Jim Engel. There is still buckthorn to be removed and plans are in place for a kiosk and benches to be added.
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| Looking at a medium buckthorn that had not been taken down yet |
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| photo of a bald eagle taken by Karen Sorce at Lagoon Park summer 2014 |