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Our Native Trees, Friends of the Robert C. Corby Arboretum

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Our Native Trees, Friends of the Robert C. Corby Arboretum

The group Friends of the Robert C. The group has weeded the newly planted this season has offered to adopt trees, provide signage and raise money.

This page is intended to compliment the mission of the Arboretum by highlighting information about native trees, plants and other issues of local environmental interest. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary has been formed by a group of interested Pittsford residents to assist in the development and growth of the Arboretum in compliance with the original vision. For information about the group c

ontact Sue Mohler Julien at [email protected]. Most people know little about the native ecosystems that function around us and which sustain all life. As pollution, invasive species, and climate change pose increasing challenges, there is a growing need to both understand and protect our natural ecosystems. In 2020 while I still served as mayor of the Village of Pittsford, the Village Board approved my proposal to designated 10 acres of land as a public arboretum of native trees and pollinator plants. The Arboretum is intended to be an educational tool demonstrating how a disturbed landscape may be restored, how invasive plants can be managed, and how native plants may be cultivated. Located next to the Erie Canal Nature Preserve together the two properties provide symbiotic wetland and upland wildlife habitats and constitute 30 acres of permanent wild open space located only a short walk from the center of Pittsford Village.

12/31/2025

THANK YOU!

The Friends of the Arboretum thanks all of our 2025 volunteers.

We also wish to thank Margot Fass and A Frog House for fundraising and orchestrating the construction of three vernal ponds and the permaculture garden. A special thanks goes to Laurie Broccolo for professional consultation with the Friends and the donation of plant materials. We are grateful to the members of the Pittsford Garden Club who applied for and received a grant providing some of the funding for the permaculture demonstration garden.

A special thanks to Dave Marshall, our Pittsford Village liason, and to the Village Board for funding the new entrance signs and continuing the mitigation of invasive species on the property. Last, but certainly not least thanks to Jason Cernis and the Village of Pittsford Department of Public Works for their continuing work on behalf of the arboretum project.

10/28/2025

LATE OCTOBER WALK THROUGH THE PITTSFORD VILLAGE ARBORETUM

10/06/2025

NATIVE PLANT GARDEN
INSTALLED IN THE
PITTSFORD VILLAGE ARBORETUM

A number of improvements have been completed in the arboretum this season. A Frog House President and Friends of the Arboretum member Dr. Margot Fass has initiated, funded, and managed two major projects.

Three new vernal ponds supporting amphibian breeding snd wildlife habitat were constructed in the spring. The ponds have been full of tadpoles and frogs all season.

Last week, Margot and community volunteers completed the site preparation, planting, and watering of a permaculture garden comprised of native plants. The garden is part of the Arboretum's mission to make the community aware of the importance of cultivating native trees, shrubs, and other pollinator plants. The garden is the latest example of the collaborative effort of the Friends of the Arboretum and other community groups to advance the development of the Village's largest park and facilitate environmental education. The garden was designed by native plant horticulturist Patty Love.

The Friends of the Arboretum Board of Officers wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Fass for her extraordinary efforts to enhance wildlife habitat within the arboretum. We also are grateful to Cathy Garrdner for funding the purchase of native plants, Laurie Broccolo for providing guidance and donating materials, and to the Pittsford Garden Club who provided additional funding through a grant. We also wish to recognize the dedicated work completed by all the volunteers who worked through last week, including Patricia Varland, Axel Baker, Payton Carroll, Steve Castronovo, Rob Kupka, Stan Spector, Frank Caccamise, Rob Corby, and John Walsh. Members of the Pittsford Garden Club included Jessica Berlet (co-president), Sandra Fedrizzi, Karen Hultz (and her husband John), JoAnne Shannon (co-president), and Judy White. The Friends once again thank the Pittsford Village Board and Department of Public Works for their continuing support of the Arboretum project.

06/20/2025

FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM BOARD

With Sue Mohler Julien , June Reeves , Jim Weick, Frank Caccamise

Absent Karen Hultz and Jeanne Powers

05/31/2025

HIGHLAND PARK CONSERVANCY
HORTICULTURAL TOUR
MAY 31, 2025

05/28/2025

INSIDE THE LOMB WOODS

The Lomb Woods is a 12-acre old-growth forest remnant located on the west edge of the Village of Pittsford. The bulk of the woods is part of the Sutherland High School campus. The woods is notable for its large ancient oak, beech, and sugar maple trees.

During the ninteenth century, the woods served as the woodlot for the Sutherland Farm. Woodlots were selectively harvested to provided timber and firewood. This practice often preserved trees that were a century or more in age. The farm, managed during most of this period by Isaac Sutherland, occupied much of the west side of Pittsford Village. After Sutherland's death, the farm was sold off for residential development. Larger parcels became the Pittsford Village School (Today the Spiegel Recreation Center), the Satterlee estate known as Hylgarth, and the Lomb estate.

Henry Lomb, one of the founders of Bausch & Lomb purchased 35 acres of the Sutherland Farm for a country estate. In 1907 Lomb completed construction of the fine Craftsman Style home that today sits beside Sutherland High School. Lomb died the following year however his wife and son continued to use the house as a summer retreat. Mrs. Lomb had both a fear of fire and a love for the woods resulting in the installation of fire hydrants in the woods.

After sitting abandoned for over a decade, the property was eventually acquired by the newly formed Pittsford Central School District for the site of a new high-school. Due to World War 2 steel shortages, the school was not completed until 1952. The original building has been expanded and the campus ha been improved several times since then. The campus is currently under construction this year with more improvements being made to athletic facilities.

The woods has been threatened several times but remains one of the community's important environmental assets today. Several ill advised past proposals to remove the woods were met with strong community opposition. In the past, the woods has often served as an outdoor classroom for biology classes and other students. Today as we face increasing environmental challenges from invasive species, climate change, and habitat loss, there is increasing understanding for the need to conserve resources like the Lomb Woods.

Cultivating what exists at the Lomb Woods is an important part of the environmental education mission of the Pittsford Village native tree arboretum.

05/23/2025

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT PITTSFORD VILLAGE ARBORETUM 🌳🌸🏞️💚🌿🎉👏

05/19/2025

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ASSISTED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW ARBORETUM ENTRANCE SIGNS

The Friends of the Arboretum Board of Directors thanks the following:

June Reeves for design and budgeting;
Pittsford Village Board for funding;
Jim Weick for communication with Village;
Frank Caccamise for project coordination and site preparation/mulching; and
Sign Language for production and installation.

04/24/2025

ARBORETUM VERNAL POND
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

Today, the project consultant, environmental engineer Tom Bibighauser, began working with Village DPW Superintendent Zach Bleier and Village and Town DPW staff to begin excavation of three new vernal ponds within the arboretum. Construction and landscaping is scheduled to take place over the next four days. Volunteers will be assisting with the final site preparation and planting of native plants.

Thanks to Margot Fass and A Frog House for initiating and fundraising for the project. Thanks to the Village of Pittsford and Town of Pittsford for their support including expertise, labor, and earth-moving equipment. Thanks to all of the project donors. And a special thanks to Village DPW Superintendent Zach Bleier for his continuing care and support of the Arboretum project.

04/23/2025

FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM CELEBRATE EARTH DAY BY BLAZING A NEW TRAIL

The Friends also participated in an Earth Day presentation to Pittsford Seniors and staffed a table at the Town of Pittsford's Earth Day celebration at the Spiegel Community Center.

04/18/2025

FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APRIL MEETING

Back row: Rob Corby, Frank Caccamise , Jim Weick

Front row: June Reeves, Sue Mohler Julien, Jeanne Powers, Karen Hultz

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Village Lane
Pittsford, NY
14534

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