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Signs of Spring!
Laura checked out the Dutchman's Breeches near Clark Gully on Saturday, April 11, 2026
On Tuesday, April 14 these were some finds at Mertensia Park in Farmington:
** 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 "Spring 2026" issue is
You are encouraged to submit material to fredmhaynes55@gmail.com.
Summer 2026 submissions should be to Fred by May 10, 2026.
Be sure to let us know how you liked the Wildflower Word Scramble!
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
Spring 2026: Volume 3, Number 1
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.
Forest Bathing at Highland Park with Lilac Nature Connection
Thursday, Apr 23 from 12 pm to 1 pm
Spend your lunch break among the flowering trees.
This event is free, but you must reserve a spot.
Friday, April 24 at 1 PM: Canandaigua City Arbor Day Celebration
CITY OF CANANDAIGUA CELEBRATES 33RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR AS TREE CITY USA AND ANNOUNCES 2026 ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
Community members are invited to join City staff, the City Tree Advisory Board, and representatives of City Council for a ceremonial tree planting. This year’s event will feature the planting of a White Spruce, symbolizing growth, resilience, and the City’s enduring commitment to its urban forest.
* 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.
You are sure to be equally delighted in our leaders Carol and Dave Southby of the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club!
The trillium grow along a large west facing hill. Bring your hiking poles if you have them.
Please send an email to canandaiguabotanical@gmail.com by Friday, April 24 if you wish to carpool from the Sly St parking lot leaving at 9 AM.
* Sunday, April 26, 2026: Breese Park, Henrietta
Breese Park, Henrietta: Sunday, April 26, 2 PM
with Victor Hiking Trails
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| 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 Trail
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 beginning at 10 AM
We will meet in the parking area behind the Fishers Fire House at 7853 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!
We meet at the Notre Dame Retreat House; 5151 Foster Road in Canandaigua 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 (Please bring a dish to pass and serving utensils if needed. No need to bring your own place settings this year!). We will welcome Shelley Walker as our presenter after a brief annual meeting.
The Notre Dame Retreat House parking lot is located in front of the building. The trails meander around the east side of the building overlooking Canandaigua Lake. The dining area is on the south side of the building which requires some walking from the main entrance. Folks who require handicap parking are welcome to drive around the left side of the building to the chapel entrance (which is closer to the dinging area).
Here's our timeline:
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 PM – annual meeting
6:15 – 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!
Wildflower Walk at Gannett Hill; Sunday, May 17, 2026
Spring Wildflower Walk at Gannett Hill
Sunday, May 17, 2026: 10-11 AM
Leader: Emily DeBolt
Date and Time: Sun May 17 10 am -11 am
Limit: 20 (registration will be available through the New York Flora Association website - select Explore Field Trips and scroll to the May 17 event)
Difficulty: Easy. ADA accessible trail 0.3 miles loop.
Join
us for an easy walk to enjoy spring wildflowers along the trail. This
will be a level walk along an ADA loop trail with an overlook - offering
stunning views of Bristol Valley to the south and downtown Rochester to
the north on a clear day. Enjoy spring wildflowers along the path such
as fringed polygola (Polygaloides paucifolia), white trillium (Trillium
grandiflorum), mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), and more. The loop trail
is short - 0.3 miles. There are miles more of trails in the park - you
can stay and extend your hike on your own if you like. This is a joint
trip with the New York Fora Association.
This walk will begin at the parking area adjacent to the "jump off" on Gannett Hill Park Drive.
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| Meet in parking area marked by yellow |
* 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.
The trailhead is on the south side of the road between 7800 and 7818 Bean Station Road, Hammondsport, NY. Look for Canandaigua Botanical signs. Parking is along the north side of Bean Station Road. (42.47789, -77.24228)
* Saturday, June 6, 2026: National Trails Day
Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 10 AM
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We will be meeting at the Ontario Pathways parking area near the water tower in Orleans, NY to walk south and enjoy the Hemlock Grove loop trail. This walk is open to all who wish to celebrate National Trails Day along Ontario Pathways with us.
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