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** Canandaigua Botanical Society's Newsletter: The Vasculum **
Beginning in 2024 Fred Haynes offered to edit a Canandaigua Botanical Society newsletter. The Vasculum is planned to be a quarterly newsletter distributed digitally. We will publish it here on our weblog and members will also receive it as a pdf file via email.
Fred would love to receive
input for future issues from any member who would like to
contribute either a full article, a short text item, or simply an image
or two. The success of any club newsletter is in the diversity of its
content and that is best accomplished with multiple contributors.
The current "Winter 2025" issue is
You are encouraged to submit material to fredmhaynes55@gmail.com.
Spring 2026 submissions should be to Fred by February 15, 2026.
Be sure to take a guess at our mystery plants!
We have printed copies of the Vasculum newsletters now available at the Wood (Canandaigua), FLCC, Geneva, Gorham, Naples, and Victor-Farmington libraries.
Here is a chronological listing of archived issues:
Winter 2024; Volume 1, Number 1
Spring 2024: Volume 1, Number 2
Summer 2024: Volume 1, Number 3
Spring 2025: Volume 2, Number 1
Summer 2025: Volume 2, Number 2
Winter 2025: Volume 2, Number 4
Our Plantman presents Plants With an Attitude
Thursday, February 19 from 6-7:15 PM at the Victor-Farmington Library
Plants With an Attitude
Learn about the carnivorous plants that can be found in our area. Join
Bruce Gilman for this fascinating look into our local fauna! Register here: https://victorfarmingtonlibrary.libcal.com/event/16013455 Winter Wonderland Walk at Zurich Bog
Saturday, February 21 at 10 AM
Have you ever wondered how plants and animals survive the winter?
Join the Bergen Swamp Preservation Society for their first event of the year- a guided winter walk through Zurich Bog, where you’ll explore the remarkable adaptations—and other fascinating winter phenomena—that allow life to persist in cold, snowy conditions in a bog! Along the way, you’ll look beyond trees and mammals to discover winter-active insects, birds, fungi, mosses, liverworts, and other often-overlooked signs of life in this fascinating habitat.This experience offers a deeper look into winter ecology and a chance to uncover the mystery and quiet resilience of nature.
Date: 2/21/26 Time: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Zurich Bog, 3809 Arcadia Zurich Norris Rd, Lyons, NY 14489
Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa on your walk!
Registration is being handled through the Bergen Swamp Preservation Society facebook page. If you wish to attend, but don't use facebook, please let us know at canandaiguabotanical@gmail.com.
Friday Morning Wonder and Wander Walks at Muller Field Station
"Wander & Wonder" walks take place at Muller Field Station at the south end of Honeoye Lake every Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. during FLCC's semesters. Free to attend. No registration required.
Every Friday during FLCC’s semesters, everyone is welcome to Muller Field Station for a Friday morning Wander & Wonder walk. Each week, MFS staff and friends take the same channel trail loop, noting seasonal changes with a fresh perspective of an ever-changing special guest.
The walk begins at 9 a.m. and departs from the Muller Field Station parking lot. We head south along the channel trail, up through old fields, and around back to our main driveway- measuring just under 1 mile. This walk takes 1-1.5 hours, depending on the observations made, both big and small.
No registration needed.
Kettle Ridge Farm Events
Aprés-Ski at Kettle Ridge Farm
Saturdays & Sundays 10:00-1:00pm (Thru 3/15)
Maple Weekends
March 21, 22, 28 and 29
(click on headings for more information)
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 online via zoom
CANANDAIGUA LAKE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
Native Alternatives to
Invasive Plants
Zoom Presentation
Join Emily DeBolt, Executive Director of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association, for a discussion on native alternatives to invasive plants for this zoom presentation. Emily will explain what makes a plant invasive, outline New York State regulations on invasive plant sales, and highlight beautiful, easy-to-grow native plants you can use instead.
Register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pYXkjUshTzOU3NSaDOQ2oQ
* Lesser Celandine Dig at Mertensia Park *
We are hoping the weather will cooperate on Thursday, March 26 from 1-3 PM for our annual Lesser Celandine Dig at Mertensia Park. Everyone is welcome.
All are welcome to join us to dig out the invasive lesser celandine before the blue bells bloom. We will flag the invasive plants and provide the black bags and wheelbarrow to remove the lesser celandine. Please bring garden/work gloves and hand tools (garden trowel, hori hori knife). Small buckets or bins are also handy to collect the lesser celandine to transport to the black bags. Community service credit certificates will also be available for students/scouts/etc.
Saturday, April 25, 2026: Sanctuary at Crowfield Farm
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10 AM
We stumbled upon this treasure of plants in 2025 and knew we needed a visit to see the trillium and other spring ephemerals this year. Located between Zurich Bog and Kraai Preserve, you'll find the Sanctuary at Crowfield Farm near 2488 Arcadia Zurich Norris Road. We will have a carpool leave from the Sly Street parking lot in Canandaigua at 9 AM on Saturday, April 25th and will post our CANANDAIGUA BOTANICAL SOCIETY signs at the entrance to the property.
The trillium grow along a large west facing hill. Bring your hiking poles if you have them.
Sunday, April 26, 2026: Breese Park, Henrietta
Breese Park, Henrietta: Sunday, April 26, 2 PM
with Victor Hiking Trails
 |
| Photo by Fred Haynes |
We will be joining the Victor Hiking Trails group for their educational hike at Breese Park in Henrietta. This location at 108 Westcombe Park, West Henrietta, NY 14586 was chosen for the Mertensia and Trillium which will be in bloom then.
A carpool will plan to leave by 1 PM from the Sly Street parking lot in Canandaigua. Please send an email to canandaiguabotanical@gmail.com by April 23 if you wish to carpool.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Domine Trail
SPRING EPHEMERALS along DOMINE, Fishers, NY
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 beginning at 10 AM
We will meet in the parking area behind the Fishers Fire House on Main Street Fishers at 10 AM to walk a short stretch of the Auburn Trail to the Domine bridge. We've scheduled this year's Domine walk a bit later in hopes of seeing more spring ephemeral blooms. Perhaps there will still be plenty of red cups to enjoy as well.
* Our Potluck dinner, 152nd Annual Meeting and Presentation: Friday, May 1, 2026
CELEBRATING 152 YEARS!
Details are still in the works but we hope to meet at the Notre Dame Retreat House on Foster Road on Friday, May 1, 2026. We are welcome to arrive early (3-5 PM) to enjoy the nature trails on the property. Our potluck dinner will be in the dining room (no need to bring your own place settings this year!). We will welcome Shelley Walker as our presenter after a brief annual meeting.
Here's the timeline we are hoping for:
3-5 PM – enjoy the trails and grounds
5-5:30 PM – meet in the dining area with pot luck meal items; membership dues can be collected here
5:30 PM – meal
~ 6 or 6:15 PM – annual meeting
6:30 – 7:30 PM – Presentation by Shelley Walker (open to public and those who can’t arrive earlier)
First week of MAY: Bluebells at MERTENSIA PARK
Plan to visit the first week of May:
Mertensia (bluebells) generally bloom the first week of May in time for Mother's Day. In the past several years the Mertensia have been blooming earlier and are often near the end of their bloom time by Mother's Day. With a colder winter, perhaps the Mertensia will bloom a bit later or stay in bloom longer. In any case, you'll want to plan a visit to Mertensia Park on Mertensia Road in Farmington the first week of May*. You'll find the bluebells along Mud Creek which can be accessed by paths on either side of the tennis courts. Be sure to keep your eyes open for the tree roots and other spring ephemerals as well!
*Because of the other spring ephemeral walks we have planned this year, we will not be meeting as a group to botanize at Mertensia Park.
PLANNING MEETING: Tuesday, May 5 at 5:30 PM
We will hold a brief planning meeting in the Hamlin Room B at Wood Library on Tuesday, May 5 at 5:30 PM. This has been scheduled in the same room as our evening program about Invasive Jumping Worms at 7 PM. Fred will welcome submissions for our Summer 2026 VASCULUM NEWSLETTER!
Please let us know if you have anything to share but are unable to attend this meeting: canandaiguabotanical@gmail.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2026: Invasive Jumping Worms
Join us for a presentation about
Invasive Jumping Worms
on Tuesday, May 5 at 7 PM
Wood Library in Canandaigua.
What are jumping worms and why are we concerned about them? Learn about the invasive Asian earthworm, Amynthas spp., and how you can prevent them from getting into your yard and gardens.
Ms. Sophie Pedzich will discuss the worms’ impact on native versus cultivar plants, how to get rid of them, their impacts on community mulch piles, and much more.
Ms. Pedzich is a graduated of Colgate University with extensive field studies on jumping worms. She spent a year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in the Czech Republic and most recently has been working with the International Crane Foundation in Alabama.
This event is free and everyone is welcome!
Saturday, May 30: HUCKLEBERRY BOG
Finger Lakes Trail: Huckleberry Bog
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On Saturday, May 30, 2026 we will make a trip to Huckleberry Bog on Bean Station Road south of Prattsburg, NY. This is an all day botanizing event. Here's some of what we hope to see:
There is a half mile uphill trail to get to the 3 mile loop trail around Huckleberry Bog - and then the decent on the same trail back to the vehicles on Bean Station Road. We will plan to meet at the trail head at 10 AM and will likely be walking until 2 or 3 PM. Please pack a lunch or substantial snacks and water. A hiking pole is also recommended.
If you wish to carpool from the Sly Street parking lot, please let us know via email by Thursday, May 28, 2026.
** Membership Donations **
The Canandaigua Botanical Society remains dedicated to advancing knowledge and enjoyment of plants found in the Finger Lakes Region and beyond.
Renew or become a Canandaigua Botanical Society member:
Benefits including:
Membership emails
Our Vasculum newsletters
Field trips and indoor presentations
(some for members only)
Learning about regional plants
Supporting the Finger Lakes Herbarium,
NYS FLORA Atlas and
local conservation projects
Enjoying the outdoors
Meeting people with similar interests
Payments of $10 per individual or $15 per family can be made in three ways:
1. By check to Canandaigua Botanical Society (send to our treasurer: Bill Bross, 31 Alpine Way, Victor, NY 14564)
2. By cash or check at Canandaigua Botanical Society events
3. Through the Canandaigua Botanical Society FLACE account at Canandaigua National Bank
You can expect an email receipt when funds are received and we update our membership list.
We look forward to seeing you in our 152nd year!
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