Canandaigua Botanical Society walk at Burroughs Audubon Nature Sanctuary

 Saturday, July 22, 2023; 10 AM,

301 Railroad Mills Road, Pittsford, NY.  

The Burroughs Audubon Nature Club (BANC) is an organization of hikers, birdwatchers, butterfly, wildflower, and nature lovers who are dedicated to promoting the natural sciences, ecology, and conservation through regular programs and field trips.

On Saturday, July 22 we will meet at the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club, adjacent to Irondequoit Creek, to enjoy a walk through the 30-acre nature sanctuary with trails and a clubhouse. Discover the flora and fauna of midsummer and connect with friends.  You may find yourself joining both organizations sharing similar interests and a wide variety of programs.

Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the walk and before heading out for the afternoon.

      Notes from our visit:

It was a lovely morning, not too hot, not too cool, and no precipitation when two dozen BANC and Botanical members met at the BANC Sanctuary on Railroad  Mills Road.

We met inside the BANC club house to begin our morning with Julie Clayton and Shirley Shaw giving us an introduction to the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club founded by William Hoot in 1913. They began as a book club enjoying the works of American Naturalist, John Burroughs.  Their first meetings were in Rochester public places before purchasing the Woolston farmhouse on Railroad Mills Road in 1926.  The original farmhouse burned down around 1975 and the current clubhouse was built with private organization dues.  

BANC has a full program schedule that you can see on their website:  bancny.org  During the pandemic they kept active with presentations and entertainment via zoom.  

In establishing the sanctuary, members donated lots of plants from their own properties, including many invasive species.  They have organized to remove much of the invasive plants including privet, garlic mustard, and bittersweet.  It's hopeful that nearby pale swallow-wort infestations will remain off the property.  There is a grant that is helping to afford much needed trail upgrades in the coming year.

BANC has two Eastern Wahoo trees near the clubhouse.  One is listed with the NEW YORK STATE BIG TREE REGISTER as burning bush, eastern in Ontario County.

A special thanks to Jutta for providing the refreshing lemonade!

Carol Hinkelman spoke about the gardens around the clubhouse and their efforts to control invasive species and encourage pollinators

Golden Alexandra

Pin cherry

walking the boardwalk

young angelica (wild celery)

last year's angelica

meadow rue

lots of bottle brush

more meadow rue

equestrian / horse tail

Irondequoit Creek

Joe Pye Weed

dames rocket (most has been removed)

Haploa moth (Leconte or Confused)

tunnel of spicebush

native spicebush - very nice aroma

hog peanut

another Haploa moth

New York fern

narrow ends - burning the candle at both ends = NY fern

yellow flag iris (blooms in spring, invasive)

May apple fruit

trumpet vine by parking lot