Links

GoBotany is an online flora for the New England states sponsored by the New England Wildflower Society and NSF. Most of the plants in upstate NY are included in the database.  There are photos, simple keys, full keys, ID help (presumably only for plants seen in New England), a glossary, maps and more.

The simple key is just that. The full key allows you to choose the characters for which you have data, and the program spits out possible matches. Very useful when you don't have key features (flowers!) but be careful to know the definitions of the features, and don't use more than you must.

Tom Stuart's Hardy Fern Library covers many species native to the Finger Lakes region, with identification clues, cultivation information, and very helpful photos and drawings. The site itself has been taken down, but an archived version remains on the Internet Archive. There are many versions archived there. To get to the most complete (May 2017), use the arrow key towards the top of the page to move back in time if necessary. Use the genus search at top, not bottom left.

Best source for determining native vs introduced status, current nomenclature, and habitat for New York.  Maintained by the NY Flora Association.

Specimens from the State Univ of NY at Cortland, some with photos. Approximately 5K vascular plants with a central NYS focus, 9.6K fungi, and 250 bryophytes. (Note that a large collection of marine algae is not yet included on the website.)

An updated list of the flora of the Cayuga quadrant, with indication of frequency and when introduced (if known).  A key resource for identifying "native" for at least the eastern Finger Lakes.  2008 F. Robert Wesley, Sana Gardescu, and Peter F. Marks.

A woody plant database with a dichotomous key, plant glossary, and "Plant selector". You can specify search criteria to determine which woody plants are best suited for your yard or garden.

Keys for all Asteraceae in the Finger Lakes region (plus subsets for Tompkins County asters & goldenrods) and violets.  Wonderfully detailed diagnostic photos and definitions of botanical terms used in the keys.  Material is constantly being added by creator Arieh Tal, a FLNPS member. Flora of Buttermilk Park, which used to reside on Botphoto, is now in FLNPS.org.

The Northern Forest Atlas project has created incredibly detailed images of woody plants, sedges, and mosses from  Maine to Minnesota, comprising the northern forest. Central NY adjoins that area & there is lots of overlap. Books, downloadable PDF images, charts, etc. 

The Canandaigua Botanical Society was founded in 1874. They have walks, publish a blog and a newsletter.

For the serious amateur or professional field botanist, NYFA provides in-depth workshops and outings.  They produce the most complete record of New York state  plants - the NY Flora Atlas.

Affiliated with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  An active group with many workshops, a plant sale, and a demonstration garden.  In Valhalla NY, a bit of a hike from the Finger Lakes region, but if you are heading that way....

Used to be the New England Wildflower Society. Maintains the wonderful Garden in the Woods in Wayland Massachusetts. Lots of classes & workshops, many on zoom/webinar format. 

Contains many horticultural terms in addition to botanical definitions. 

A very clear description of plant parts, their function, their growth and decline.  Intended to help "citizen scientists" monitor the timing of events (e.g. first bloom) for phenology databases.  Thus it is a great source for beginning plant lovers to learn both terminology and how/when to observe plants for fun, phenology, or identification. Lots of diagrams!!

Reference:

Guertin, P., Barnett, L., Denny, E.G., Schaffer, S.N. 2015.USA National Phenology Network Botany Primer. USA-NPN Education and Engagement Series 2015-001. www.usanpn.org.

Prepared by Cornell, this is a homeowners guide to the Asian Jumping Worms, with ID and ways to reduce their spread.

Criteria for meeting in-person during Covid times.

Basic info on spore propagation. 

A statement of source, condition, and type of plant that FLNPS will include in the spring plant sale. Please read prior to donating plants.

Seed collection date ranges for assorted species that ended up at Mundy WFG ~2019-2023.

Below is a list of nearby nurseries that focus on native plants and responsible propagation. Please read this background on questions to ask and how to be sure you are ethical in your purchases of native plants. To request inclusion on this list, please use the info contact.

Go Native! Perennials (GNP) started in 2020. The GNP team is growing their knowledge while building stock of forbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees.  Seeds are collected regionally and plants and seeds from FLNPS/Mundy Wildflower garden serve as "mother plants" for an extensive field propagation effort.  

This is a new nursery in Monroe County in Pittsford, not really open yet. Sarah has been growing and propagating for three years at White Oak Nursery and  realized there is a real need for native plant sources in the western FInger Lakes. There is also a need for ecotype evolved seed stock. Her yard is pollinator pathway certified by Monroe County CCE and most of her seeds are from established plants in her yard- or from plants from White Oak.  Her inventory will show which plants are local seed. Sarah does not think she will have a website up and running until spring; she is hoping to do pop-ups this fall and then really get things going in the spring. Spicebush Swallowtail will be a delivery only service; there will not be a physical address because the growing area is at her home.

Twisted Tree Farm is located back in the hills of Spencer, NY. Ecologically beneficial nut trees, fruit trees, berry bushes, and perennials are grown without any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. Most plants are raised and sold as high quality bare root, though there is a selection of potted plants. Twisted Tree Farm grows virtually all of their own plants and collects most of their seed from local sources. Roughly half of the plants are native. Creating food and habitat for people and wildlife is the primary focus.

Short list of must-think-about & not-to-be-forgotten steps for Pollinator or Meadow Gardening.

While most pollinator garden planting guides talk about generalist bees, such as honey bees, this new guide provides detailed information on gardening for the native, solitary bees that are critical to biological diversity and that depend on specific plants to raise their young. Published by the Pollinator Network @Cornell.

Larry Weaner Associates has designed and maintained wonderful landscapes throughout the East for many years. His thoughtful perspectives and explicit directives are always worth reviewing.

A small garden plan using easily available native plants ususally found at FLNPS spring plant sales. Can be easily scaled up.