On Facebook there is the which has a lot of information and links.

Below are some other interesting websites:

That’s enough for now.  Explore the web for many more. Fun fact: 91ÖÆƬ³§ has more orchid species than Hawaii. – Steve Young

On Facebook there is the which has a lot of information and links.

Below are some other interesting websites:

That’s enough for now.  Explore the web for many more. Fun fact: 91ÖÆƬ³§ has more orchid species than Hawaii. – Steve Young

ITHACA, NY (February 21, 2011) — Do you love spending time in the forests, meadows and other natural areas of the Finger Lakes region?  Do you care about preserving the integrity of the natural world and do you want to share this love with others?  If so, consider joining Plantations’ Natural Areas Academy.

The year-long Natural Areas Academy (NAA) consists of dozens of expert-led workshops, field trips, and directed stewardship opportunities designed to provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to support efforts in preserving our treasured natural resources. Utilizing Plantations’ Natural Areas as outdoor classrooms, the NAA aims to foster the conservation of natural areas and rare and declining species and their habitats by demonstrating essential stewardship methods, cultivating environmental literacy, and encouraging interactive experience with the natural world.

“With their newly gained expertise, the Natural Areas Academy participants will also help to mentor the next generation of scientists, teachers, environmental stewards, and leaders, thereby fulfilling a vital role in the long-term preservation of our natural heritage, our world, and ultimately, our place in it,” stated Todd Bittner, director of the Cornell Plantations Natural Areas,

Participants in the NAA are expected to work towards the program’s goals over the course of a year.  After the completion of at least eight of the workshops and field trips, plus 40 hours of participation in directed stewardship activities, academy members will receive their Natural Areas Mentor certification and may continue to participate in the NAA as a mentor for no cost. The first NAA workshop will be for a mandatory orientation, and will be held on Saturday, March 12, beginning at 9:30 AM.

Participation in the NAA requires a non-refundable $100 application fee.  To learn more or to enroll online, please visit us at .  Enrollment closes at midnight on March 11, 2011.

Cornell Plantations is the botanical gardens, arboretum, and natural areas of Cornell University, and is a member of Ithaca’s Discovery Trail partnership. Plantations is open to the public year-round, free of charge, during daylight hours. The Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am to 4pm.  For more information call 607-255-2400, visit cornellplantations.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/cornellplantations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCEngXim6sg

Editor’s Message – Where Did the Year Go?

Review of the November Grassland and Meadows Preserves Meeting

Heartful Thanks to the Boy and Girl Scouts

Girl Scout Gold Award Project

Eagle Scout Project at the Hempstead Plains

Review of the Annual Fall Hempstead Plains Poetry Writing and Painting Workshop

“Walk the Plains” Event Hosted by Friends of Hempstead Plains and Nassau County

Information on Biotrays, Biodegradable Trays Filled with Clean Soil and Appropriate Seeds

Upcoming Programs

Afternoon Walks Fridays at 3:30 PM: April 29, May 13, May 20, June 3, June 17, July 8

Weekend Volunteer Community Workdays Saturdays 9 to 12: April 30, May 14, May 21, June 4, June 18, July 9

For more information and to join the Friends go to their website. .

Happy New Year!

Our long awaited news has arrived. The Rensselaer Plateau Forest Legacy Area has been approved by the US Forest Service.

The RPA is extremely pleased with the decision to designate the Rensselaer Plateau a forest legacy site, for it recognizes the unique and special character of this region. The Forest Legacy Program will add an important tool and resources for conservation in the region. The program provides opportunity to permanently conserve forest lands with conservation easements that maintain the traditional uses of the land while conserving it forever. The programs reliance upon private landowner rights and willing sellers, and respect for home rule make this a great addition to conservation tools available to landowners and towns in the region. We applaud the approval and appreciate the support of local people, towns and state government to support the designation, for it is the grassroots support for such programs that achieved this result.

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Thank you to all who helped us show local grassroots support for the Forest Legacy Area last spring. Without your support this may not have happened.

Thank you again and Happy New Year from all of us at the RPA.                

Canadensys is a Canada-wide effort to unlock the biodiversity information held in biological collections. The network currently includes biological collections from 11 participating universities, five botanical gardens, and two museums, covering insects, fungi and plants. The network is operated from the Biodiversity Centre, Université de Montréal.

The goal of VASCAN is to provide an up-to-date, documented source of the names of vascular plants in Canada, Greenland, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, both scientific and vernacular. For every species, subspecies and variety, VASCAN provides the accepted scientific name (Latin), the accepted French and English vernacular names, and their synonyms/alternatives in Canada. The distribution status (native, introduced, etc.) of the plant for each province or territory, and the habit (tree, shrub, herb or vine) of the plant in Canada are given. Maps at the provincial/territorial level are provided with an indication of status. For reported hybrids (nothotaxa or hybrid formulas), the parents also are provided. A source is given for each name, classification and distribution information (still being completed).
All taxa are linked to a classification. The following were used: Smith et al. (2006) for ferns, APG III (2009) for flowering plants, and Chase and Reveal (2009) for the higher taxonomy.

It is possible to generate lists in VASCAN using the Checklist builder tool. Data can be downloaded from VASCAN under the Creative Commons (BY-NC) license.

Bailey’s Sedge, Carex baileyi, A New Addition to the Flora of Tompkins County – David Werier

Name That Plant Contest.

Ithaca’s Third Annual Designing with Native Plants Symposium

Native Plant Garden Photos

Beaver Meadow State Forest Takes Unprecedented Steps to Improve Its Forest’s Health via Deer Management – David Werier

Status of Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum) on South Hill at Ithaca College – Amber Zadrozny

2010 Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Eradication Efforts at Six Mile Creek, Ithaca, NY – D. Werier and Krissy Faust

Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) New to Seneca County and Report on Control Efforts – David Werier

Borers and Beetles (Emerald Ash Borer) – Rosemarie Parker

Upcoming Programs
December 16 – Annual Solstice Celebration

January 19 – Bird Friendly Gardening-the Lazy Way – Marie Read

February 16 – Origins of American ethnobotanical medicine – Elroy Rodriguez

March 16 – Native Lawn Establishment – Krissy Boys Faust

May 18 – Night Jewels and Day Marauders: An Insight Into Exotic Life Styles of Moths on Native Plants – Meena Haribal.

To join the Society and obtain more details go to: