Tickets are $25 for all 9 Gardens
Arboretum Members 20% off at $20!
To purchase tickets in advance, call the Landis Arboretum at 518 875 6935.
Tickets also available at Hewitt’s Garden Center, Charlton Rd & Rt.50, Scotia, NY
Map, directions and detailed descriptions will be provided with your ticket.
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Tagged: Burnt Hills, Charelton, Schenectady, Scotia
WASHINGTON, DC (06/23/2009)(readMedia)– The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today that 907 museums, libraries, and archives have been selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the IMLS, made the announcement during her opening remarks at the fourth and concluding Connecting to Collections forum, Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action in Buffalo, NY. This is the third and final installment of the Bookshelf program, which has distributed 2,751 sets of books, online resources, and a user’s guide to institutions in every part of the country. To see the list of recipients, click here.
Speaking on behalf of Landis, New York State’s Capital Region Arboretum, Landis Board President Anne Donnelly welcomed the news. “We already know that the richness of experience and insight represented by the Bookshelf will be especially helpful in ensuring the sustainability of our noteworthy Collections. We are as honored to have been selected to receive this invaluable resource as we are with our association with the IMLS.”
“When IMLS and our partners began the journey to help save America’s collections three years ago, we knew that money and appropriate resources would prove major barriers between many of our nation’s collecting institutions and proper collections care,” said Dr. Radice. “With the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf initiative, we were able to offer these institutions tools to help them preserve and conserve their treasures for future generations. We commend them for answering this call to action.”
The Bookshelf comprises resources for collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries’ special collections, with an added selection of texts for living collections. It is a component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a strategic initiative by IMLS to address the challenges described in A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections, an IMLS-funded study conducted by Heritage Preservation.
Most recipients have small budgets and staff, and have demonstrated an urgent need for this permanent resource. History museums, historic houses, and academic libraries with special collections are especially well represented among the recipients, as are zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, and nature centers.
The IMLS Bookshelf was made possible by a cooperative agreement with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) with support from the Getty Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
“Given the Getty’s longstanding commitment to the care of museum and archival collections, we are pleased to partner with IMLS and other foundations to provide key conservation resources to the institutions that most need them,” said Getty Foundation Director Deborah Marrow.
“We are delighted to help make this important material reach so many institutions around the country,” said Ellen Holtzman, Program Director for American Art at the Henry Luce Foundation.
“The Kress Foundation is delighted to be working with IMLS to ensure the broadest possible access to this important reference resource,” said Max Marmor, President of the Kress Foundation.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
About the American Association for State and Local History The American Association for State and Local History is a non-profit membership organization comprising individuals, agencies, and organizations acting in the public trust, engaged in the practice of history, and representing a variety of disciplines and professions. It provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans. To learn more, visit www.aaslh.org.
About the Getty Foundation The Getty Foundation provides support to institutions and individuals throughout the world, funding a diverse range of projects that promote the understanding and conservation of the visual arts. The Foundation is part of the J. Paul Getty Trust which also includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, and the Getty Conservation Institute. To learn more, visit www.getty.edu/foundation.
About the Henry Luce Foundation The Henry Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by the late Henry R. Luce, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc. With assets of approximately $750 million, the Luce Foundation supports American art, higher education, Asian affairs, theology, and women in science and engineering. To learn more, visit www.hluce.org.
About the Samuel H. Kress Foundation The Samuel H. Kress Foundation was created in 1929 and devotes its resources to advancing the scholarship, conservation and enjoyment of works of European art. The Kress Foundation’s programs focus on the preservation of significant monuments of European art and architecture, as well as the nurturing of professional expertise in art history and art conservation. To learn more, visit www.kressfoundation.org.
About the Landis Arboretum The Landis Arboretum is a multifaceted natural jewel. Long a destination of choice among Capital District gardeners, environmentalists, nature lovers, hikers, perambulists, and birders, the Landis Arboretum may be one of the best-kept secrets among Capital Region residents.
The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meetinghouse and parking field for sky-watching events
The Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions.
The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic designated Route 20 in Esperance, NY, a beautiful and easy drive from within the Capital Region. For more information, call 518-875-6935; www.LandisArboretum.org.
Press Contacts
202-653-4632: Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov; Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
518-875-6935: Thom O’Connor, director@landisarboretum.org
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Senator Seward, Assemblyman Lopez to be Honored
At Landis Arboretum Garden Party, June 20
A Night to Celebrate, Savor, and Remember
The Landis Arboretum will acknowledge two popular and respected New York State legislators at its annual Summer Solstice Soiree on June 20. This year’s summer fundraising event will honor New York State Senator James L. Seward and Assemblyman Peter Lopez – both of whom have been instrumental in supporting initiatives at the not-for-profit Arboretum, including on-going work to establish a universally accessible garden.
According to Senator Seward, “It is always a pleasure to visit Landis. Energized by volunteer effort, this once best-kept secret of the northern Catskills has gained international recognition for its notable northeast oak collection and nature programs. I’m proud that it is within my district.”
The gala evening will include:
Convivial laughter and the scent of flowers will fill the night air as Arboretum Trustees and volunteers work in tandem to heighten awareness of and raise funds for educational initiatives at Landis and its legacy Van Loveland and Quarry gardens.
It all takes place on Saturday, June 20, from 4:30 – 8:30 PM. Tickets are available ($40/person until June 10; $45 thereafter). Tables of eight, $320. To reserve, or for more information, contact the Arboretum at 518.875./6935 or info@landisarboretum.org.
Arboretum Board President Anne Donnelly (Lawyersville) makes no secret of her excitement about the event and its honorees, Senator Seward and Assemblyman Lopez. “Regardless of one’s political persuasion, both of these men continue to be supportive of our work at the Arboretum,” she says.
“Senator Seward has been a long time supporter of Landis – and without his help we would never have completed the critical electrical upgrades needed to continue operations at Landis.
“Assemblyman Lopez has championed our efforts to establish a handicapped accessible garden at Landis and his support has energized others to help as well. Indeed, it will be our honor to acknowledge them at the June 20 Soiree.”
About Guitarist William Simcoe
Classical Guitarist William Simcoe is International soloist, accompanist, ensemble leader and organizer, and recording artist from Albany, NY.
Mr. Simcoe has performed with guitarists from around the world including Argentine guitarist Jose Luis Merlin, Brazilian guitarist Marcos Vinicius, and French guitarist Thibault Cauvin. In 2006, he performed at the Ordu International Guitar Festival in Ordu, Turkey. In 2008, he performed for the Classical Guitar Academy of Milan. He has two recordings distributed by Eroica Classical Recordings, “Studies, Memories & Moons” and “Mis Suenos de Tango”.
In the Albany area he has performed in venues including Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Linda Norris Auditorium, Caffe Lena, The Hyde Collection, Red Square, 70 Beekman Street Art Gallery, and Kripalu Center. He has performed with cellist Lisa Nielson as Spiral Duo. He performs with flautist Elisabeth Williams as Spiral Tango. He is one of the founders of the Classical Guitar Society for Upstate New York, and is a past president of the Capital District Classical Guitar Society. He is the president of the Monday Musical Club of Albany. Learn more and hear for yourself: http://www.williamsimcoe.com/; http://cdbaby.com/cd/simcoe
Open Air Painters Donate Work to Garden Auction
Members of the Mohawk Region Chapter of the New York Plein-Air Painters sponsored a “Paint-Out” on the grounds of the Landis Arboretum in early May – and participating artists donated their work to support the Arboretum. These works will be offered in the auction portion of the Garden Party.
Plein-air painting refers to artwork, usually landscapes, created outdoors on site. Artists typically work in oils and create relatively small paintings that can be completed in a few hours using folding easels and lightweight, portable equipment. All materials are carried in and carried out by the artists with a careful respect of the environment.
On Saturday, September 12, the Mohawk Region Chapter of the New York Plein Air Painters will again sponsor a “Paint-Out” on the grounds of the Landis Arboretum as part of the 7th WORLDWIDE Artist Paint Out. This event is sponsored by the International Plein Air Painters organization each fall. Participants try to connect at the local level to showcase regional landscapes, endangered vistas and celebrate scenic outdoor views all over the globe.
Paint-outs are held this weekend in Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Italy, and the US. Artists of all abilities are welcome to come, bring a bag lunch, and paint on the Arboretum’s spectacular grounds. Participants can park at the Meeting House, up the hill from the main entrance and reconvene there at 3:30 for snacks and an informal “critique” to share the paintings done that day. For more information, contact Mohawk Region Chapter member Mary Beth Vought at 518-868-2807.
Conviviality in the Garden
“We hope that the Garden Party will be the gala event of the season – no matter where one lives or works,” says Arboretum Trustee Donna Vincent (Delanson), who is spearheading the event. She says that many of the corporate sponsors are using the event as a memorable way to thank outstanding employees, acknowledge the loyalty of clients, solicit prospects, and simply to spend a wonderful evening with special friends and associates under the star-studded, vast dark sky of the Arboretum, a favorite of area astronomers.
Conviviality in a garden setting has long attracted hosts and party-goers alike for centuries. In the early years of the 20th Century, Pierre S. du Pont made the garden party an American art form when he assumed an active role in Wilmington, Delaware, society. As early as 1906, he held the first garden-party picnic at what is now Longwood Gardens, an estate his family purchased as much to have a place to entertain guests as to preserve and extend its natural splendors.
Multifaceted Jewel
The Landis Arboretum is a multifaceted natural jewel. Long a destination of choice among Capital District gardeners, environmentalists, nature lovers, hikers, perambulists, and birders, the Landis Arboretum may be one of the best-kept secrets among Capital Region residents.
The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meetinghouse and parking field for sky-watching events
The Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions.
For more information about the Landis Arboretum:
http://www.catskillmtn.org/publications/articles/2008-05-spectacular-beauty-sustainable-fun.html
See where Mother Nature Hits Her High Notes!
The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic designated Route 20 in Esperance, NY, a beautiful and easy drive from within the Capital Region. For more information, call 518-875-6935; www.LandisArboretum.org.
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Tagged: Assemblyman Lopez, Garden Party, Guitarist William Simcoe, PleinAir Painters, Senator James Seward
SUNY Cobleskill Associate Professor of Natural Science
Barbara Brabetz received the
2009 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The award recognizes Brabetz for her consistently superior professional achievement and ongoing pursuit of excellence in keeping with the state university’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.
“Professor Barbara Brabetz is a talented scientist and an excellent teacher who represents the best in SUNY,” said SUNY Cobleskill Provost Dr. Anne 
Myers. “What is notable about these awards is that they are peer nominated and peer awarded, which is very high praise indeed.”
Barbara Brabetz has been a member of SUNY Cobleskill’s faculty since 1999. Throughout her tenure she has taught a variety of courses within the Natural Sciences Department, ranging from Biology to Anatomy & Physiology to Emergency Management Services and Water Chemistry. She supports fellow faculty members as chair of the Natural Sciences department and leads the department’s Assessment Committee.
She is also the faculty liaison for the Wheeler Hall Science Laboratory Renovation Committee and chairs the Assessment Committee for the Natural Sciences Department.
Brabetz was nominated by the campus community for this award, and reviewed by a panel that included faculty, staff and student representatives.
Barbara is a former Board President of the Landis Arboretum and continues her volunteer efforts there as Chief Financial Officer. An avid birder, Barbara and husband Steve Brabetz produced the Brabetz Bird Checklist for the Landis Arboretum.
Adapted from SUNY Cobleskill website: http://news.cobleskill.edu/brabetzchancelloraward.php
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Whatever the day or season, there’s always a reason to visit the Landis Arboretum. The month of June provides a case in point:
June 13, Saturday, 2 – 3:30 PM
WOODLAND TREE WALK
Enjoy a walk along the woodland trails of the Arboretum and learn how to identify our common trees. Donation, $5 per person.
Leader: George Steele, Science Educator. George Steele is a seasoned and award-winning environmental education consultant and a popular guide at Landis, the Capital Region’s Arboretum. Since 1992 he was worked with a wide range of programs for children’s summer camps, museums, nature centers, outdoor education centers, state agencies, libraries, and schools throughout the Northeast.
June 13, Saturday, 10 AM – 1 PM
EYE ON: NATURE THROUGH THE CAMERA’S LENS
A photography class for all levels of proficiency.
The 548-acres Arboretum becomes a photographer’s paradise in this dynamic three-part exploration of nature as seen though the camera’s lens.
Led by nature photographer Bill Combs, Jr. and members of the Schoharie County Photographers Club, the informal three sessions are designed to engender excitement and a deeper appreciation of technique, patience and experience when nature is the dynamic subject of pursuit.
Each 3-hour segment includes:
Requirements: Enthusiasm; a digital camera, appropriate clothing (depending on season), and sensible shoes for the natural terrain of Landis. Bring a brown-bag lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage. Segments can be taken individually although participation in all three sessions will yield maximum satisfaction and learning. Cost: $25/session for members; $35/non-members.
Your Guides: Cobleskill resident Bill Combs Jr’s interest in photography began in high school. What began as a hobby developed into a privilege, taking him to places he never would have visited otherwise—from countless hours exploring the wildlife of the exotic Everglades National Park in Florida to photographing the buffalo round-up in South Dakota and elk and bighorn sheep in the Rockies. Bill and his family often can be seen exploring the trails and rich natural resources of the Arboretum.
For more than a decade, the Schoharie Photo Club has provided common ground for regional photographers — both amateur and professional. Members discuss their art, share techniques, display their images, and discuss their body of work. Members’ work is displayed at the Cobleskill Fair each August as well as in group showings at the TriCounty Arts Council Gallery in Cobleskill. The Club hosts presentations by guest speakers and knowledgeable members on various topics.
June 13, Saturday, 10 PM
PUBLIC STAR PARTY
THE ALBANY AREA AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS (AAAA) meet regularly by the Landis Arboretum under the leadership of Alan French. The public is invited and attendance and parking are free. Experience this event for yourself!
Alan French and his wife, Susan, have been sharing the night sky with people at star parties in the Capital District for close to 40 years. French is a telescope maker, but also enjoys naked-eye astronomy. He is Vice President of Dudley Observatory’s Board of Trustees and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers.
The AAAA owns an 18 inch telescope, and members bring a variety of other telescopes to these gatherings, and are happy to share the views of deep sky wonders or offer help to those new to the hobby. Programs such as The Walk Among the Stars include constellation tours, the myths, and stories associated with the constellations, and hints on enjoying the night sky.
Visitors to the Arboretum event should bring something to sit on, and dress according to the season. A sweater is always a good idea for late evenings at Landis. Programs are cancelled if the sky is cloudy. Participants are encouraged to register by calling 518-374-8460 so that they can be notified if cloudy skies force a cancellation. Those who do not pre-register can call to check about two hours before the start time.
Check if a particular star party is happening? Call 518-374-8460.
June 20, Saturday, 9 AM – noon (Rain date: June 21, Sunday, 9 AM – noon)
ALL ABOUT ROSES
Location: Rosman Gardens, 1136 Enid Road, Summit, NY 12175
This comprehensive three-hour course is packed with information, techniques, and tips that are designed to help insure successful rose culture in our cold North Country gardens. The setting for this educational experience is sure to please the senses as well. Participants will be surrounded by the sights and scents of over 200 roses within the two-acre perennial gardens. Rose varieties observed and discussed will range from the latest modern cold-hardy hybrids and English roses to the ancient and historic old garden roses and notable species varieties. A guided and narrated tour of the perennial gardens is included with the program. Complimentary beverage and light snack will be provided. The gardens have been featured in Woman’s Day and American Rose magazines.
Instructor: Joanne Rosman. . For additional course information and easy directions, phone 518-287-1701 or e-mail rosmans@midtel.net. Register by calling the Arboretum (518-875-6935) by June 14. $40/members; $45/non-members
June 20, Saturday, 4:30 – 8:30 PM
GARDEN PARTY
Twilight dinner. Live entertainment. Silent Auction. Cash bar. All under the Great Tent among the rolling hills of the sweeping Schoharie Valley countryside. $40/pp prepaid; $45 pp after June 10. To purchase tickets, call 518-875-6935. To donate to the silent auction, please call Donna Vincent at 518-469-1491. Always a night to celebrate and remember – especially with a table of friends!
June 20, Saturday, 9 AM – noon
PRUNING: THE BASICS . . . AND BEYOND
Join Landis’ Director of Horticulture and Operations Fred Breglia as he delves into the when, why, and how to prune trees and shrubs. Work and learn with an ISA certified arborist. All levels welcomed.
If possible, participants should bring their own pruning tools and gloves since there will be a hands-on component to the program. Some of the Arboretum’s pruning equipment will be available for use during the program. The Acorn Gift Shop at Landis has quality pruning tools for sale.
Register by June 25. Members $35, non-members $50.
June 27, Saturday, 2 – 3:30 PM
HERPETOLOGY HIKE
Enjoy a walk about the Arboretum’s fields, forests and ponds in search of amphibians and reptiles. We hope to see several salamanders, frogs, snakes and turtles as we learn about their habits and habitats. Donation, $5 per person.
Leader: George Steele, Science Educator. George Steele is a seasoned and award-winning environmental education consultant and a popular guide at Landis, the Capital Region’s Arboretum. Since 1992 he was worked with a wide range of programs for children’s summer camps, museums, nature centers, outdoor education centers, state agencies, libraries, and schools throughout the Northeast.
June 28, Sunday, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
NATIVE PLANTS AND BIODIVERSITY: A FIELD TRIP WITH ED AND ANNE
Bring a bag lunch and walk the Native Plant Trail with Ed Miller, curator, and Anne Donnelly, retired biology professor and Arboretum President. We’ll talk about native plants and how to key them out – and about biodiversity, evolution, and how native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens. Bring your field guides and we’ll help you use them, or use ours. Members $10, non-members $15.
Although formally trained to be an engineer, Ed Miller has always had an interest in nature. Following retirement nearly 25 years ago, he studied plants seriously with Ruth Schottman, Jerry Jenkins, Nan and Sue Williams, and others. He has twice served as the chair of the Northeastern section of the Botanical Society of America. Today, Mr. Miller ranks at the top of the Volunteers Who Know list at the Arboretum: he serves as curator to the Native Plant Collection, which he started at the Landis Arboretum in 1999.
Calling Children of All Ages
The Arboretum offers classes, workshops, guided and self-guided nature study. Workshop subjects include hawks, moths, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and arthropods. Horticultural interests are the focus of classes in pruning, tree identification, daylilies, roses, trillium, and plant propagation. Ancillary workshops have focused on photography, botanical illustration, and landscape painting.
The Arboretum is an ideal outdoor classroom for children. With more than 1,000 labeled species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world and two old growth forests with diverse wildlife habitats, children love the Arboretum and are eager to learn in this environment.
The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meeting house and parking field for sky-watching events
The Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions. The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off scenic Route 20 in historic Esperance, NY. There, with decades of history and the riveting beauty inherent in the Arboretum’s world-class, global collections, generations of extraordinary plantings continue to impart their secrets to its visitors.
The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic designated Route 20 in Esperance, NY, a beautiful and easy drive from within the Capital Region. For more information, call 518-875-6935; http://landisarboretum.org. Directions: http://landisarboretum.org/map.html
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Are you listening?
Be sure to listen in to the Arboretum’s ISA Certified Artborist Fred Breglia on WAMC’s Vox Pop Gardening Show this season.
Call in. Ask questions. In addition, when you contribute to the station’s fund drives, mention that you support the Landis Arboretum. The show air from 2–3 PM on April 3, May 1, June 5, August 7, September 4, and October 2.
The Arboretum’s Chief Financial Officer Barbara Brabetz (also chair of the National Sciences Department at SUNY Cobleskill) is also a frequent guest on WAMC’s Science Forum. Hear what makes Barbara such a valuable asset to everyone within the broadcast range of the show. Tune in on Thursdays: April 23, May 7, June 4, July 2, July 30, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 19, and December 17. Science Form also airs from 2–3 pm.
And when you contribute to the station’s fund drives, mention that you support the Landis Arboretum. An appreciative note to Alan Chartock, president and CEO, is always helpful. The station’s phone number is 518-465-5233; the e-mail address is mail@wamc.org.
Cheers,
Fred & Barb
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My wife Dannielle and I moved from South Florida to Upstate New York in 2006. We immediately started to look for a get-a-way to replace the Florida Everglades, where we spent almost every other weekend exploring the outdoors and photographing nature. We had heard of Landis Arboretum and wanted to see it. We fell in love with the gardens, hiking trails, wetlands, ponds, and woods — on our first visit. It was also a place that we have come to share with our grandchildren who often accompany us there.
The sun was shining, the weather warming, and I was ready to get out of the house and do some photography. I drove to Landis last Monday. I arrived about 9am and parked my jeep at the top of the hill next to the Meeting House. Immediately, I noticed new green growth on the trees, revealing many different textures and shades of green.
I spotted a male and female Bluebird sitting atop opposite nest boxes, going in and out of them trying to choose which one would be their home for this year’s new hatchlings. Leaving them to their house hunting, I walked down to the farm pond. I caught a Chipmunk peeking out of a gap in one of the old rock walls, no doubt checking to see if Spring had arrived — and if it were safe to come out and forage for food. I was so caught up in photographing him that it took a while for me to notice the Painted Turtle emerging from the leaf litter to bask in the morning sun. He had no doubt spent the long cold winter bromating at the bottom of the farm pond. Upon further investigation, I noticed that he was not alone: there were three more turtles sunning themselves on the edge of the pond.
I walked toward the garden area and was surprised to find Snow Drops, Luecojum vernum var carpathicum and Crocus Chrysanthus all starting to bloom, and little green shoots of unknown splendor popping up everywhere. After spending another 30 minutes photographing the new life that was all around me, I crossed the road and headed up the hill to the recently restored Quarry Garden to find Scilla in bloom and Winter Aconite springing up between the rocks. Moving on toward the Upper Ponds, I could hear the friendly chatter of Black Capped Chickadees at the edge of the Old Growth Forest. I spotted an Eastern Flycatcher standing on top of one of the cattails left over from last year. After nearly two hours walking, photographing and exploring the grounds at Landis, I headed back to the jeep. Living in South Florida for the past 34 years, I had forgotten how beautiful spring could be.
Just when I was about to leave I noticed something fluttering out of the corner of my eye. Much to my surprise it was a Painted Lady Butterfly. She had come out of hibernation where she had spent the winter in the Meeting House and was now sunning herself on an outside wall. Despite my many years photographing the beauty of nature, I was amazed that something so small and fragile could survive the long, harsh cold winter of upstate New York.
After spending an exhilarating morning at Landis, seeing the new growth springing out of the ground in anticipation of the seasons ahead, I know that I will return again and again alone and with my family. We appreciate the fact that this 548 acre public garden is open every day of the year from dawn to dusk. We invite anyone with the time and love of the environment to come see what is springing to life at the Landis Arboretum. Just go for a walk. Or sit. And listen. Enjoy Nature as she is reborn this Spring.
Mr. Combs has designed and executed a unique and arresting composite of images images that depict the rich diversity of wildlife at the 548-acre Landis Arboretum.
Printed on Kodak Professional Supra Endura VC Digital Paper (aka Traditional E-Surface Paper). Accurate color, realistic saturation, excellent neutral flesh reproduction and brighter colors are just a few of the attributes to describe E-Surface paper. The standard archival value is 100 years in home display and 200 years in dark storage
Support the Arboretum and purchase this and other original images from the Combs’ Landis Collection at
http://wcombsjr.ipower.com/Florida/store.html
This images in this story are the property of Bill Combs Jr/Florida Wildlife Photos and are protected by the U.S. copyright laws. They are not to be reproduced or used without the written permission of Bill Combs Jr.
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Thanks to all…
We enter a season in which the traditional focus on gratitude and appreciation will be hard-tested for many of us. Cultural Connection’s members — Landis Arboretum, Tri-County Arts Council, the Iroquois Indian Museum, the Old Stone Fort Museums Complex, and our Chamber of Commerce – already are financially challenged as never before.
There is another side of the coin as well. At Landis, for instance, we welcome the holiday season relieved that critical electrical upgrades are at an end thanks to the concern, foresight, and support of Senator James Seward. In addition, we will have made incremental gains toward access and parking in conjunction with the planned Wanderland universally accessible garden at Landis — through the compassion and proactive intercession of Assemblyman Pete Lopez and the William Gundry Broughton Charitable Private Foundation. Esperance contractors Boyce Smitty and Tom Gage spearheaded the work knowing that our means — even in the best of times – often fall short of our needs on almost every project. Yet, they contributed time, labor, equipment, and materials to get the job done for an organization they know to be a good neighbor. Carver Sand and Gravel (Middleburgh) and Cobleskill Stone Products donated materials for both projects – despite the dire and uncertain economic realities.
The actions of these friends, neighbors, and supporters convey a positive message: when friends, neighbors, and even organizations join together in common cause, anything is possible.
The Arboretum is grateful to everyone for continued support. We are thankful, too, to this newspaper for enabling us to fulfill one of the requisites of our charter: to disseminate information to the public about our nationally recognized, noteworthy Collections for enjoyment, display, critical examination, and scientific study – all within the 548-acre site that straddles Schoharie and Montgomery counties.
Hard times are here. Harder times loom. But we are happy in our thanksgiving to everyone who continues to support the Capital Region’s Arboretum – right in our own back yard — in nearby Esperance.
As published in The Times Journal Letters to the Editor, November 25, 2009.
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Tagged: Albany area, Capital Region's Arboretum, Carver Sand & Gravel, Cobleskill, Cobleskill Stone Products, Esperance, handicapped assessible, Iroquois Indian Museum, Middleburgh, Old Stone Fort Museums Complex, Smitty Construction, teamwork, Tom Gage, universally accessible gardens, Wanderland accessible garden, William Gundry Broughton Charitable Trust
By TOM KEYSER, Staff writer
First published: Sunday, October 5, 2008
The branches of Breglia’s life run through this majestic tree — his youth, his love, his fervor for protecting the environment and saving the planet. Whether it’s his work here running the Landis Arboretum in Schoharie County, his campaign to save old forests, his art, his music or his rigorous explorations of mountains and caves, the Great Oak infuses every aspect of Breglia’s life.
It represents the giant trees at which he marveled as a boy exploring the hills around his family home in Richmondville, 30 miles to the west. It is the sacred spot that he and his wife chose for their marriage in July. And it stands with all the other old trees that Breglia works to preserve and the forests that lure him in for fun, research and nourishment.
“It’s more than just going out in the woods,” Breglia says. “It’s sort of like going to church.”
Lanky and bearded, a ball cap pulled tight on his head, Breglia, 34, preaches whenever he gets the chance. The gospel according to Breglia is that what’s happening to the environment is like the Titanic disaster.
“We’re heading toward an impending environmental crash of a magnitude that I don’t think most people have any idea of,” he says. “The amount of carbon that we put out every year is increasing exponentially. Yet the very mechanisms that we use to take that carbon out of the air — trees are nothing but big, giant carbon sponges — are going away at an alarming rate.
“The more we can do to slow it down, the more we can spread the awareness to the common folk, the more we can do to train our youth to become botanists and horticulturists, the more prepared we’ll be, and the less impact it will have.”
That’s why the Landis Arboretum and other arboretums are so important, Breglia says. “We’re bringing kids in, school groups,” he says. “It’s like me when I was a little kid, gazing up at the big trees. We bring countless kids up here to this Great Oak. They are amazed, especially the young ones. They look at that thing and go, ‘Wow.’ ”
Breglia grew up being amazed by the big trees, hiking and gardening with his parents and participating in Boy Scouts with his father. He mowed lawns and trimmed hedges and trees. He went to college to study environmentalism but ended up working for a landscaper who planted trees and shrubs with no regard as to where they would best grow; many were likely to die after their year’s guarantee. He also worked at a large production nursery that sprayed chemicals on plants that showed no sign of disease.
“I made a decision to get out of the commercial world and focus on something that, to me, was more meaningful,” he says. “The mission statement of the arboretum appealed to me: To foster the appreciation of trees and other plants and their importance in our environment.”
Breglia took a job there 10 years ago as director of horticulture and operations. When he started, the arboretum consisted of 97 neglected acres. He directed its revival and expansion to 548 acres through land donations and acquisitions. And he identified and mapped about 1,500 species of shrubs and trees, including 17 species of Northeast oaks.
The arboretum now participates in national programs to preserve species of plants and share data with some of the most prestigious arboretums in the country. The American Public Garden Association, which is international in scope, has recognized the arboretum as having one of the premier collections of Northeast oaks in the country.
“Because of Fred and the prominence that’s placed on our oak collection, we are now internationally known,” says Thom O’Connor, executive director of Landis Arboretum for the past three years. “I had heard of Fred before I came here, but what I didn’t really get was the depth of sincerity and passion that Fred has for what he does.
“He has a calmness that’s hard to describe. I don’t know what his spiritual beliefs are. But whatever they are, they keep him anchored.” Breglia says his spiritual beliefs are simple: “I like to say that God is nature. It’s all around you all the time.”
Multi-faceted and multi-talented, Breglia is a modern-day renaissance man, says David Yarrow, his partner in the New York Old Growth Forest Association. And yet, Yarrow says, “Fred’s just a country boy who cares for the land and is trying to live a simple life doing what’s right for the earth.” They co-founded the association in 2000 to protect the state’s biggest and oldest trees and to record and measure them for state and national “champion tree” (biggest tree) registers. As president of the association, Breglia worked hard for passage of a bill, signed into law last month by Gov. David Peterson, that will protect old forests on public land.
“It’s sort of like the old saying, ‘Respect your elders,’ ” Breglia says. “Trees are the largest and oldest living organisms on the earth. And to think an acorn or a little seedling can produce that mass of plant. They’ve witnessed countless storms, stood the test of time, and they are still here — and could still be here long after we’re gone.”
He tries to make sure of that. He urged his audiences to write letters supporting the old-growth-forest bill whenever his band, Controlled Chaos, played its blend of bluegrass, blues and jazz. Breglia plays the guitar, mandolin and harmonica.
He creates artwork with a message. A painting, titled “Global Warming,” depicts an oak tree burning in hell. A three-dimensional piece, “Stuck,” shows distressed faces cast in plaster.
“It’s me and my wife and other people, like-minded, who feel like we’re trapped in the system and have no easy way out of it,” he says. “I call it my tribute to Exxon: I’m totally against it, yet I’m still filling up my tank every week.”
And when he’s not spreading the gospel he’s living it — climbing mountains, mountain biking, skiing, exploring caves. After getting married under the Great Oak, he and his wife, Erin, spent their honeymoon at Glacier National Park, hiking more than 10 miles every day and sleeping in a tent.
“I know we’re not going to change the world single-handedly,” Breglia says. “But I feel really positive about being part of the solution. Taking that to bed at night is easy.”
Tom Keyser can be reached at 454-5448 or by e-mail at tkeyser@timesunion.com.
`Landis Arboretum
Fred’s Favorite Regional Old Growth Forest Hikes
1. Landis Arboretum, Esperance. Begin at the Meeting House and walk the woodland trail through Ancient Forest No. 1 on your way to the Great Oak. Take the Acorn Trail to the Ancient Forest Trail. This takes you on a lovely woodland walk to Ancient Forest No. 2 and you can loop back via the Acorn Trail and then the Willow Pond Trail, which offers a tour of all of New York state native woody plants.
2. The Long Path, Middleburgh. A favorite hike to some of the oldest red cedars in Northeast. The trails is accessed from Main Street by following the aqua blazes and heads up the mountain. At the top are some living bonsai trees (red cedars) that are upwards of 600 years old. Vroman’s Nose in Middleburgh is nice as well and has some old cedars, in the 250 plus years range. Visit http://www.nynjtc.org/trails/longpath/index.html for more information.
3. Lisha Kill Nature Preserve, Niskayuna. Visit http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Lisha_Kill_0160.asp for more information.
4. Old Maids Woods, Rotterdam. Features of some of the largest and oldest black oaks in the region. Access from Schermerhorn Road near Exit 2B off I-890.
FRED BREGLIA shortens his vigorous stride as he crests the hill that bears the Great Oak. He looks up with reverence at the twisted limbs and gnarled trunk that have lived for more than 400 years.
Used By Permission, Times Union, Albany, NY
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Tagged: ancient forests, environment., hiking, horticulture, old growth forest
