Garden club spotlight
The second oldest botanical club in the US: A brief history By Laura Ouimette TOP LEFT: Sign and vasculum TOP RIGHT: Elisabeth Socci and Maya Hobday among the Mertensia (blue bells) BOTTOM RIGHT: Soil and root study at Muller Field Station BOTTOM LEFT: Herbarium sample OPPOSITE: Dr. Bruce Gilman, aka. Plantman, membership spanning five decades, frequent leader and presenter, curator of the FLCC herbarium. 20 | MARCH-APRIL 2022
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edicated to advancing knowledge and enjoyment of plants found in the Finger Lakes Region since May 1874, the Canandaigua Botanical Society is the second oldest botanical club in the United States. (The more professional Torrey Botanical Society, near New York City, was incorporated in 1871.) That early group was composed of avid botanists who sought out and studied all types of plants growing in the local area. An extensive collection of pressed specimens was prepared by the club—many of which are currently housed in the Finger Lakes Herbarium at Finger Lakes Community College. From 1874 through 1930, Dr. Harvey Jewett was the Canandaigua Botanical Society’s first president. Members were voted in and papers were read at monthly meetings held in private homes. Mrs. Charles W. Marshall served as secretary from 1876–1909 when she met her tragic death in a house fire—along with thirty-five years of CBS records. During the next twenty years (1930–1950), members were serious botanists, with many of them being teachers
or retired teachers, and specimens were collected for study. During the World War II years, gas rationing curtailed the gatherings, but they resumed in full force after the war. Field trips were held in the spring, summer, and fall months with meetings held in the winter. From the fifties through to 1980, membership opened up to “any interested person” with winter meetings and summer field trips and an annual meeting/potluck dinner held each April. The club also continued specimen collection. The 100th Anniversary was celebrated in April 1974. From 1980 through the 2020, membership was open to all interested people. Field trips continued within Ontario County and throughout the greater Finger Lakes Region. Specimen collection was limited due to DEC regulation of protected plants and the faculty of the FLCC Environmental Conservation and Horticulture department became an integral part of the Canandaigua Botanical Society, providing leaders and expertise as well as housing the herbarium of specimens collected by members. Today the society is made up of individuals who,
