News
The Center for Plant Conservation highlights our efforts
The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) and their National Collection includes 780 species under the direct protection of CPC Participating Institutions, including Cornell Plantations. Our Natural Areas program dedicates much effort to the conservation of the American Globeflower, a rare herbaceous perennial herb. Our efforts were highlighted in the CPC's most recent newsletter. View the newsletter here. Explore how our Botanical Garden and Arboretum are used for Cornell Research
Cornell faculty and students use the Botanical Gardens and Arboretum to study many topics from Alzheimer’s disease and ancient botanicals to tolerance of urban environments. “Cornell Plantations’ Botanic Gardens and Arboretum are a community gateway to an engaged Cornell. As a living laboratory, we are an incredible asset to the students, faculty, Ithaca community, and beyond” says Rhoda Maurer, director of horticulture at Cornell Plantations. “In our gardens and arboretum, people can feel the human-plant connection and understand the importance of natural conservation and education.”
Click here to see what goes on in these beautiful outdoor classrooms.
Take the "Endangered Species Mystery Tour" on May 20
Join Cornell Plantations’ Director of Natural Areas, Todd Bittner, on a field trip to learn about efforts to conserve some of our region’s rarest flora on Endangered Species Day. Plantations protects 3,400 acres of natural areas, many of which contain locally, regionally, and globally rare plants. Conservation work and challenges to safeguard some of Plantations’ fifty-five rare plant species will be the focus of this trip, highlighting rare plants at a “surprise” Plantations Natural Area. The trip will proceed rain or shine. Terrain will be level except for a moderately steep hill. Pre-registration is required; group size will be limited.
Date/time: Friday, May 20, 1:00 - 4:30 PM.
Cost: $15; $10 for Plantations Members
Location: The field trip will depart by van from Plantations Nevin Welcome Center parking lot at 1:00 PM and will return by 4:30 PM.
Register here.
Fischer Old-Growth Forest: Dedication and Hike on May 18
Cornell Botanic Gardens recently expanded the Fischer Old-Growth Forest Natural Area in the Town of Newfield through a gift of over 17 acres named the Bandler Family Tract. The preserve now protects nearly 60 acres, with almost 30 acres of old-growth forest. This natural area is considered the best of the few remaining examples of pre-European settlement forest in the region. A brief dedication ceremony will be followed by a tour to explore the natural and cultural history of the Bandler Tract and Fischer preserve. Hike is approximately 1.5 miles and will be moderately strenuous.Date/time: Wednesday, May 18; 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free; Registration is not required
Hike Leader: Todd Bittner, Natural Areas Director
Location: Fischer Old-Growth Forest Natural Area, Newfield.
Click here for directions.
Learn more about the new property in the Tumblr article "Land Protection Expands Cornell Botanic Gardens Fischer Old-Growth Forest."
We're hiring!
We are accepting applications for our Director of Development and Department Business Administrator. Learn more here.
Cascadilla Gorge is open for the season!
The Cascadilla Gorge is now open following the construction of a new concrete staircase that stretches from the gorge up to the Collegetown entrance of the trail. Read what it took to complete this last step in the eight years of renovation work in the April 27 Ithaca Journal article.
On Display: "Weeds: Untamed Wonders"
A selection of the wild and weedy! In this exhibition, artists from the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators have painted some “favorite” weeds of the northeast. The show helps explain what makes a weed a weed, includes fun facts about native weeds, and provides helpful information about invasive plants which endanger local plant communities.Join us for an artist reception on Sunday, May 15 from 2 - 4 p.m. to meet the artists and hear their perspective on how they approached the subject matter for this exhibit. This event is free and open to the public and no pre-registration is required.
Celebrate Mother's Day at Cornell Plantations
In the Botanical Garden
Hundreds of daffodils are in bloom on Conifer Slope.
Many varieties of tulips are blooming in the Young Flower Garden.
The first of the rhododendrons are blooming on Comstock Knoll, including Rhododendron 'Mary Fleming,' planted last season (shown above). This is one of 12 varieties planted in the rhododendron collection that were bred by Guy Nearing, whom the Nearing Summerhouse was named in honor of.
In the F. R. Newman Arboretum
Magnolias, crabapples and cherries have just started blooming in the Flowering Tree Collection and Flowering Crabapple Collection.
In the Mundy Wildflower Garden
Now is the time to visit the Mundy Wildflower Garden to enjoy the delicate early-blooming woodand wildflowers. Trilliums, hepaticas, trout lilies (shown above), bellwort and dutchman's britches are just a few of the dozens of species growing there.
Register for the 5k fun run in memory of Elizabeth Garrett at the F. R. Newman Arboretum
The Elizabeth Garrett Memorial 5k: A Moment of Grace is a fun run open to all students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends. The 5k course will loop through the beautiful Cornell Plantations.Please preregister online by Friday, May 6th, 2016. Day of registration will be available for $25. The first 100 registrants will receive an event t-shirt. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Student Scholarships in memory of President Elizabeth Garrett and the President Elizabeth Garrett Fund for Colon Cancer Research. If you'd like to make an additional gift in memory of President Garrett, you can do so here.
Learn more here.
Arbor Day Tree Walk, Friday, April 29 at noon
Celebrate Arbor Day with a walk through the F. R. Newman Arboretum—Ithaca’s premiere collection of trees and shrubs. The arboretum’s diverse collections, including nut trees, crabapples, oaks, maples, shrubs, and urban trees, comprise a 100-acre pastoral setting with two large ponds, numerous foot paths, and scenic overlooks. Our arborist will introduce you to some outstanding specimens of native trees as well as species imported from similar climate zones around the world. Walk will be held rain or shine. Date/time: Friday, April 29; noon - 1:30 p.m.
Cost: Free, no registration required
Instructor: Daniel Weitoish, Staff Arborist
Location: Meet by the Sculpture Garden in the central portion of the Arboretum.
Evening Wildflower Walk, Wednesday, May 25
Tour the woodland pathways and plant habitats of the Mundy Wildflower Garden, an 8-acre natural area with naturalistic gardens. Early spring is the ideal season for learning the natural history and identification of wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches, trillium, bloodroot, and Solomon’s seal.Date/time: Wednesday, May 25; 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free, no registration required
Instructor: Krissy Boys, Staff Gardener
Location: Meet at the entrance to the Mundy Wildflower Garden located at the intersection of Caldwell Road and Forest Home Drive.
Explore how our Natural Areas are used for Cornell research
The Cornell Plantations' Natural Areas steward 3,400 acres of land, including 20 on-campus and 24 off-campus locations. Each area is maintained and protected to support academic research and conservation goals of the Cornell Plantations' Natural Areas staff. Eight of our natural areas are featured in Cornell Research's "Life in the Lab" blog.
Click here to see what goes on in these beautiful outdoor classrooms.
(Beebe Lake in fall shown left)
Article in "National Geographic" describes the Ecological Calendars and Climate Adapation in the Pamirs (ECCAP) project
A Cornell team led by Karim-Aly Kassam, Professor of Natural Resources, received $1.35 million from the Belmont Forum for a three-year study to work with scientists from China, Germany and Italy to help communities in the Pamir Mountains that span Afghanistan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan adapt their ecological calendars in the face of climate change to improve food and livelihood security. Following the research, the scientists hope to provide a
replicable model for similar initiatives in other mountain communities.The National Geographic article "Climate Change is Making Calendars Run Amok" describes how communities in the Pamir Mountains have been affected by climate change.
Happy Spring! Read below for current trail and road openings
The F. R. Newman Arboretum is now open to vehicles; Cascadilla Gorge Trail scheduled to open later this springWhen the calendar moves into spring, we begin preparations to open trails and other areas that are closed during the winter. Even though we experienced a mild winter, the Cascadilla Gorge Trail will remain closed until remaining gorge repairs are complete. We are replacing a wooden staircase and reinforcing four adjacent retaining walls to better stabilize the slope— the last of the comprehensive effort to restore trails and other infrastructure in Cascadilla Gorge, which began in 2009. We anticipate the Cascadilla Gorge trail will be opened by the end of April.
Nature Rx wants you to take it outside
An online article posted on Cornell's Slope Media
features the new program "Nature Rx," an intiative to connect students
with relaxing outdoor spaces for their mental and physical well-being. Projects to carry out this program include the development of the "CU in Nature" app to guide students to beautiful green spaces around campus, a one-credit class to explore what Cornell has to offer outdoors. Read more in the article "Nature Rx wants you to take it outside."
Presentation explores the impact of our Climate Change Garden
Sonja Skelly, Plantations Director of Education, presented "Creating a
Garden for Climate Change Education" for the Monday Seminar hosted by
Cornell's Department of Horticulture. In this 45-minute video, Sonja
provides a virtual tour of Plantations' Climate Change Garden and explains how it engages visitors to observe how plants are affected by changes in
temperature and other growing conditions. This interactive
experience helps visitors gain a deeper understanding of how future
changes in climate conditions projected for Central New York are likely to affect
the plants we cultivate and are integral parts of local ecosystems.Click here to view tihs 45-minute presentation.
Condolences from Director Christopher Dunn
We are all shocked and saddened by the passing of President Beth Garrett. In my few encounters with Beth, she showed an uncommon understanding of the value of Cornell Plantations to the university and the community. Her energy, intellect, and enthusiasm will be missed. We all extend our thoughts and prayers to her family and loved ones.- Christopher Dunn, PhD.
E. N. Wilds Director
Student artwork on display until the end of the month
View 15 prints inspired by culinary plants created by students of Cornell art professor Greg Page’s “Introduction to Print Media.” The prints are comprised of various media including lithography, relief, and screen prints, as well as a colophon page. For research and inspiration, the students visited the International Crop and Weed Garden in the F. R. Newman Arboretum and the Robison Herb Garden in the Botanical Garden.On display March – April.
More artwork by Greg Page’s students…
Greg Page’s “Introduction to Print Media” class has visited many areas of Plantations over the past several years. This semester, the class is drawing inspiration from the Mundy Wildflower Garden and the art from this class will be on display at the Johnson Museum of Art starting March 11.
Read more about the focus of this class on our Tumblr blog.
New partnership with The Cornell Store
We are happy to announce that we have partnered with The Cornell Store to operate Plantations’ Garden Gift Shop. The Cornell Store, a self-funded enterprise operated by Cornell University, is a nationally recognized top-tier collegiate retailer. We are excited to benefit from their expertise to enhance and grow our Gift Shop. This partnership will allow us to expand our offerings onsite and online. The Gift Shop will continue to offer the high quality mission-related merchandise that you’ve come to expect and our members will continue to receive their member discount. All purchases directly support the Cornell Plantations and other university programs. We look forward to this new opportunity and invite you to come visit the Garden Gift Shop, a Cornell Store soon! Get ready for spring gardening with these winter workshops
Gardener Krissy Boys will share proven techniques and step-by-step instructions for growing native plants from seed.
Click here to learn more and register.
Pruning Fundamentals, Saturday February 27
Arborists Lee Dean and Daniel Weitoish will share the basics of pruning plus some advanced techniques in this hands-on workshop.
Click here to learn more and register.