Talk

The unique flora at Malloryville has been appreciated for many, many decades.  It's glacial kettles and eskers and diverse wetlands are a treat for hikers. But the background of Malloryville includes gravel mine plans, long environmental reviews, land deals and finally safety as a Nature Conservancy preserve. Bob Beck will relate his very personal story at Malloryville, where he is now the preserve Steward, having been deeply involved at every step.

Show a few slides, read a poem, ask a burning question, explain your latest plant-related theory or discovery.  This night is for those who have a short story to tell, even if the slides are so-so, and even if they are stunning.  We hope for an eclectic evening of plant pursuits.

"Members' Night" in January Needs YOU!

 Understanding the geological history of our region enhances the study of our native flora.  Many of the unique aspects of our flora arise from the varied topography left by glaciers (e.g. eskers, kettle holes).  These glacial landforms were deposited during the Ice Ages, a time of profound climatic and environmental change, when a continental ice sheet extended southwards from Canada into New York on multiple occasions and substantially altered the landscape of the Finger Lakes region.

Renee has been studying at Chameaux Barrens, and similar sites in the area.

Nancy Slack teaches bryophyte ecology at the Humboldt Field Research Institute (ME) and is Professor of Biology Emerita at the Sage Colleges, Troy, NY. Nancy has done a lot of research on bogs and fens, forest and bryophyte ecology and alpine flora. Recently she has been investigating the flora of Mt. Washington in connection with climate change.  She will give an overview of the alpine flora communities, and discuss some of her findings.

Since 2000, hundreds of volunteer naturalists, both amateur and professional, have contributed thousands of hours to inventorying the biodiversity of living species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The project is called the All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) and has been guided and funded by a not-for-profit organization, Discover Life in America. A bit larger than 500,000 acres, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the United States, with more than 9 million visitors each year.

Akiva Silver explores some of the most magnetic trees for people and wildlife. The different ways these trees can be used in our lives from living bird feeders, to reforestation, and to changing the face of modern agriculture. We can be an extremely positive force on this planet, and the use of 'giving trees' is one of the best ways.

Botanist David Brandenburg has traveled circuitous routes across North America--- either by himself or with kindred spirits--- looking for fascinating plants. He sometimes finds these species with advance knowledge of their general locations, other times by serendipity. He will spend an evening with the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society reliving some of the highlights from these botanical adventures, where most days ended in a pup tent on the side of the road or in $20-a-night lodgings.

Plants have evolved remarkable defensive traits that protect them against insect attack, and Anurag will present patterns of plant defense and insect counter-defense using three different local systems including milkweeds, viburnums, and evening primroses.  The talk will feature natural history as well as current and classic conceptual issues in plant ecology and entomology.