BARKER – The lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park, known as the Thirty Mile Point Light, was built in 1875, less than a mile west of the Orleans County line. Is it pictured Sunday evening during sunset.
Photos by Kristina Gabalski These 15 chicks were gathered up from their temporary quarters on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Monday and transported to state Department of Environmental Conservation property in the swamps of northern Genesee County. Here they await their journey in a carrier.
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County 4-H’ers successfully raise and release pheasants as part of a program through the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Fifteen young pheasants were released into the wild Monday afternoon by members of the Outback Orleans 4-H Club. The club participated for the first time this year in the DEC’s Cooperative Day-old Pheasant Chick Program.
Club leader Adam Hazel says the club received the chicks the first week of June and the young birds were cared for by 4-Hers and 4-H staff on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
“At first they had to be incubated with a heat lamp,” Hazel says. As the birds grew, “we had to build cages and stalls.”
The birds began flying by June 15 and most recently were kept in a large stall in the Knight’s Building on the fairgrounds. Hazel and club members gathered the 15, eight-week old chicks Monday evening and transported them to the DEC’s Wildlife Management Area on Albion Road in Oakfield, where they were released into the wild.
Hazel says the program helps to build the pheasant population. The young birds will eat insects now that they are in the wild. They were fed a high-protein chicken feed while being cared for by Outback Orleans.
According to the DEC, about 60,000 day-old chicks are hatched and distributed to cooperators through the chick program each year, including 30 Cooperative Extension 4-H programs. The birds must be released on lands open to public hunting.
Orleans County 4-H Outback Orleans club leader Adam Hazel removes the pheasant carrier from his vehicle just prior to release while club members look on.
Members of the Outback Orleans 4-H club released the young pheasants in a meadow area near woods on DEC property.
The pheasants were slow to leave the security of their carrier. Most walked into the tall grass while a few of the birds took flight upon leaving the carrier.
The area where the pheasant chicks were released is off Albion Road in Oakfield is part of a DEC Wildlife Management Area.
Photo by Tom Rivers Even the Courthouse Lawn in Albion, one of the most recognizable front yards in Orleans County, hasn’t escaped the effects of too little rain. The grass has turned yellow.
Press Release, DEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today issued a drought watch for the entire state of New York following consultation with the State Drought Management Task Force and Federal partner agencies.
“While most public water supplies are still generally normal throughout the state, below normal precipitation over the last 9 months, low stream flows, and reduced groundwater levels have prompted the need for this action,” Commissioner Seggos said. “We are encouraging residents throughout the state to conserve water whenever possible during the coming months.”
A watch is the first of four levels of state drought advisories (“watch,” “warning,” “emergency” and “disaster”). There are no statewide mandatory water use restrictions in place under a drought watch.
However, local public water suppliers may require such measures depending upon local needs and conditions. The last drought watch in New York State was issued in 2002.
The drought watch is triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects precipitation levels, reservoir/lake levels, and stream flow and groundwater levels in nine designated drought regions throughout New York. Each of these indicators is assigned a weighted value based on its significance to various uses in a region.
Observed precipitation has been less than normal with shortfalls of 4 to 8 inches common over the last 90 days. The dry weather dates back to the Oct. 1 start of the “water year” and is beginning to significantly affect other water metrics. Stream flows and groundwater levels are well below normal throughout much of the state.
Groundwater levels were seasonally worse in June compared to May and they are not expected to improve in the immediate future due to the existing precipitation deficit.
The following are some conservation tips that homeowners can take to voluntarily reduce their water usage:
• Fix dripping and leaking faucets and toilets. A faucet leaking 30 drops per minute wastes 54 gallons a month.
• Raise your lawn mower cutting height. Longer grass needs less water.
• If your community allows watering, water lawns and gardens on alternate mornings instead of every day. Less frequent watering will develop grass with deeper roots, and early morning watering minimizes evaporation.
• When using automatic lawn watering systems, override the system in wet weather or use a rain gauge to control when and how much water to use. A fixed watering schedule wastes water. Irrigate only when needed.
• Sweep sidewalks and steps rather than hosing them. Eliminating a weekly 5-minute pavement hose-down could save between 625 and 2500 gallons of water per year depending on the flow rate.
“Conserving water is important all year long, but particularly during extended dry periods,” Commissioner Seggos said. “By voluntarily reducing water usage, and being extra careful with fire and outdoor flames, New Yorkers can help conserve our natural resources during these dry days of summer.”
Photo courtesy of Paul Salmons
YATES – A juvenile bald eagle was photographed this morning by Paul Salmons from his home at the end of North Lyndonville Road on Wescott Lane, an area near the Shadigee by Lake Ontario.
Photo courtesy of Paul Salmons
Salmons said many of his neighbors have spotted the eagle in recent months dining on fish from the lake.
Photo courtesy of Paul Salmons
“Such a beautiful bird,” Salmons wrote in an email.
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Turtle mingles with the crowd in Albion during last month’s Strawberry Festival. Albion has an Amazing Turtle Race during the festival, featuring about 1,000 toy turtles on the Erie Canal.
Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt
State Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) thanked Governor Andrew Cuomo and local organizations for their efforts to preserve the traditions and benefits of events like charitable duck derby races.
Ortt recently introduced legislation that would allow games of chance, including raffles, to be conducted on state-owned property. The New York State Gaming Commission recently interpreted such games to be a violation of state law. The Governor on Tuesday announced a waiver approval process to allow organizations to hold charitable gaming fundraisers on the state-owned Erie Canal.
“I applaud the Governor for listening to local officials and organizations on this important issue,” said Senator Ortt. “This was an example of an antiquated and illogical law that had been on the books for years but was scarcely enforced. Events like the duck derbies were raising money for good causes, not malice, and organizations were about to suddenly be penalized for that solely because those events are being held on state property. I’m thankful that a commitment to common sense and charity won the day.”
Ortt, along with local officials, reacted to the cancellation of a duck derby fundraiser in Brockport after state Gaming Commission officials said it violated gaming laws and regulations. The derby, which has been a summer staple for the Brockport Arts Festival for years, consists of raffled toy ducks floating down the Erie Canal, which is state property.
Under the recent interpretation of state law, organizations could only hold games of chance or raffle events on their own property or on municipal-owned property, not state property. Cuomo on Tuesday indicated that the state would not follow that interpretation and enforce violations, allowing the raffles to continue.
File photo by Tom Rivers Turtles “race” in the Erie Canal in this photo from June last year in Albion. The Amazing Turtle Race usually includes about 1,000 turtles. The five fastest turtles earn their owners prize money. The race is a fund-raiser with proceeds going towards the annual Albion Strawberry Festival.
Turtles are dumped in the Erie Canal in Albion in this photo from June 2015. Pictured from left include: County Legislators John DeFilipps and Lynne Johnson, Jarred Saj (the top turtle ticket seller with 206), Village Trustee Stan Farone is next to Saj but obscured in this photo, The Turtle, Michael Bonnewell, then Sheriff Scott Hess and Strawberry Festival King Chase Froman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that the state wants to support fund-raising traditions with plastic and rubber ducks and turtles, where organizations hold races to generate funds for community festivals and projects.
The Erie Canal is a popular venue for such races, including “The Amazing Turtle Race” during the Albion Strawberry Festival the second Saturday in June.
Some organizations have cancelled the races after being told the events are not allowed because they involve gambling on state property. Brockport cancelled its recent duck race because of the issue.
Cuomo is in Niagara County today to announce a new hotel project in Niagara Falls. He also put out a news release that the duck race put on Community Missions of Niagara Frontier could go on as planned.
“Each year, Community Missions’ charitable duck race raises thousands of dollars to support the organization’s important work for the city’s most vulnerable populations,” Cuomo said in a statement today. “After discussions with the New York State Gaming Commission, we’ve determined a lawful pathway for this popular event to take place on the Erie Canal this year and in the years ahead. The Commission has reached out to city officials and Community Missions to ensure the proper steps are taken so that the raffle may be legally conducted.”
The duck race will be Saturday, July 23, at Canal Fest.
Cuomo said other organizations holding similar races as fund-raisers on the canal will be contacted by the state and given the rules for compliance.
“I have requested that the Commission proactively contact similarly situated Western New York charitable organizations seeking to hold fundraisers on the Canal to advise them on how they too can proceed legally to raise funds,” Cuomo said. “I am pleased that with this administrative fix, these important traditions will be able to continue for the entire Western New York community.”
Cuomo, in his news release today, advised how organizations can operate the fund-raisers legally. He used Community Missions as an example.
Technical Details of How Organizations Can Hold Legal Duck Races on Erie Canal:
Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. can conduct their event, so long as appropriate laws and regulations are followed.
Because Community Missions is domiciled in Niagara Falls and the intended raffle is to occur in North Tonawanda, a variety of procedural approvals must be sought and given:
1. Community Missions must obtain consent from North Tonawanda to conduct the raffle in its jurisdiction by seeking a hardship exemption pursuant to 9E NYCRR § 4603.11(a)(1) and file a Verified Statement for Raffle Ticket Operations (GCVS1) (if a Category 2 raffle).
2. North Tonawanda must identify the Canal as the premises for the conduct of the raffle.
3. North Tonawanda and the Commission must accept the Letter of Consent.
4. Upon acceptance, the Commission will issue a temporary Games of Chance Identification Number to be used for the conduct of the event.
5. If desired, Community Missions must obtain consent to sell raffle tickets in jurisdictions beyond Niagara Falls (where they are domiciled). These are obtained through the Filing of a Raffle Consent Form (GC-RCF) with every municipality where the raffle tickets are to be sold.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – More than 700 cyclists passed through Orleans County on the 18th annual “Cycle the Erie Canal” ride. The 8-day trip started Sunday in Buffalo and ends 400 miles later in Albany.
The group started in Medina this morning and headed east to Rochester. The top photo shows cyclists looking over granola bars and other snacks and drinks provided for free by the Albion Merchants Association. many community members donated to the bounty to make the cyclists feel welcome on a hot day.
After riding about 10 miles this morning, cyclists take a break in Albion. Many of the riders ventured up down Main Street to visit some of the historical sites in Albion, including the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, which was open early for tours.
Mike Kennedy of Troy (pictured) is riding in the canal trek for the 14th time. About a third of the cyclists are repeat riders in Cycling the Erie Canal.
“I’m hooked,” Kennedy said about the annual trip. “After this many years I have a great many friends.”
Kennedy works as a sous chef for the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy. He said training for the annual cycling trip provides motivation to exercise.
Deborah Fortune of Troy was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. After fighting the disease for a year, “I decided to do things I always wanted to do.”
That included climbing the fire towers in the Adirondack and Catskills mountains. She decided to do the long canal ride. She is using the ambitious trip to also raise funds for Make-A-Wish. Click here to see her fund-raising page.
Patricia Fahy, a member of the State Assembly from Albany, is making the canal trip with her daughter Eileen Bequette. Fahy is also on Assembly committees for the environment and tourism. She is using the 400 mile-trip to experience the canal communities and brainstorm ways to better promote the canal and the communities along the historic waterway.
“This is a great way to learn about New York,” she said in Albion this morning.
Some of the cyclists stop in Albion for a break and also to take photos of the lift bridge and some of Albion’s historic downtown buildings.
It was a calm morning to be out riding along the canal.
This rider heads east in Albion.
After staying overnight in Medina, the cyclists rode to Rochester today. They stopped in Holley which is an official hospitality stop on the trip.
Holley had a sampling of baked goods, fruits, coffee, water and other snacks and beverages.
Greg Francese, assistant director of the ride for Parks and Trails (organizer of Cycling the Erie Canal), said the strong reception in the canal communities makes a big impression on the cyclists.
“it speaks to the generous spirit of the communities,” Francese said in Holley.
These cyclists cross the lift bridge in Holley after visiting Holley’s Canal Park.
These two cyclists met on Cycling the Erie Canal last year. They have become friends and they promote dancing each day on the canal.
Linda Ranslow of Pittsford, left, rode the bike trip last year for a big achievement the year she turned 60. Dennis Doyle of Camillus took the ride after retiring. They both said they wanted to meet new friends and ended up meeting each other the first day. They have stayed close ever since.
Ranslow is blogging about the bike ride. Click here to see her blog.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Old Hippies perform a concert from on top of a house boat on Sunday evening in Albion. The band, which is calling itself itself “The Traveling Towpath Troubadours” for the canal concert series, played in Medina earlier in the day. It also performed in Lockport Friday and Saturday, and Middleport on Saturday evening before arriving in Medina on Sunday.
The Troubadours will play in Holley today (Monday) at noon and also at 6 p.m. at the village’s canal park.
The Troubadours include Bill McDonald, Kay McDonald and Vinny Pastore. The band played the canal concert series for the first time last summer, and returned with an expanded schedule this year. The Old Hippies are pictured with the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in the back.
The boat is tied up between the two lift bridges in Albion for the Sunday evening concert.
Vinny Pastore plays the violin with the Orleans County Courthouse visible in back.
The band performed on a sunny evening with calm water on the canal.
Vinny Pastore, Kay McDonald and Bill McDonald entertain the crowd in Albion.
The band is trying to promote the historic Erie Canal as part of the concert series.
Bill and Kay McDonald are perched high on the house boat during their concert Sunday evening.
A local band – Crandall, Wood, and Main – opened for the Troubadours.
File photos by Tom Rivers – Toy turtles float down the Erie Canal in June 2015 during “The Amazing Turtle Race,” a fund-raiser that benefits the Albion Strawberry Festival.
Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt
State Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) today announced legislation he is introducing that would allow games of chance to be conducted on state-owned property. Games of chance include raffles like the popular duck derby races that many times are held on the state-owned canal – a violation of current state law.
“Some of the laws in New York State are antiquated and illogical; this general municipal law (189) is one of them,” said Senator Ortt. “Events like the duck derbies are raising money for good causes, not malice, and organizations should not be penalized for that just because those events are being held on state property. This law has been on the books for a long time, yet it’s scarcely enforced.”
Albion also has a popular fund-raiser on the Erie Canal, using turtles instead of ducks. Volunteers get ready to corral the turles in this photo from last month’s race. Nearly 1,000 of the turtles “race” every June in the fund-raiser that helps pay for the Strawberry Festival.
This legislation is in response to the cancellation of a duck derby fundraiser in Brockport after state Gaming Commission officials said it violated gaming laws and regulations. The derby, which has been a summer staple for the Brockport Arts Festival for years, consists of raffled toy ducks floating down the Erie Canal, which is state property.
Under current state law, organizations can only hold games of chance or raffle events on their own property or on municipal-owned property. Organizations conducting charitable gaming on state property can be charged with a misdemeanor.
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Brown Street Bridge in Albion has been closed to traffic for about four years. The bridge was closed on July 18, 2012 by the state Department of Transportation after an inspection showed serious deterioration of major elements of the steel truss floor system. It is one of several canal bridges in Orleans County that are either closed or have had the weight restrictions lowered. There is no timetable for working on the Brown Street Bridge.
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
ALBANY – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the availability of $200 million in enhanced assistance for local governments over the next two years to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts statewide.
This funding, provided through the Governor’s BRIDGE NY initiative, is being administered by the New York State Department of Transportation as part of its $21.1 billion five-year Capital Plan.
The BRIDGE NY program provides emphasis on projects that address poor structural conditions; mitigate weight restrictions or long detours; facilitate economic development or increase competitiveness; and/or reduce the risk of flooding.
“Modernizing and improving transportation infrastructure is a vital component of enhancing New York’s economic competitiveness,” Governor Cuomo said. “By helping local governments make investments to ensure the safety and reliability of their bridges, the BRIDGE NY program will literally strengthen our communities and bolster their viability.”
The $200 million in BRIDGE NY funding is available to all municipalities authorized to receive and administer State and federal transportation funding. Awards will be made through a competitive process and will support all phases of project development including design, right-of-way and construction. Evaluations will be based on the resiliency of the structure, the current bridge and culvert structural conditions, and the significance and importance of the bridge based on traffic volumes, detour considerations, the number and types of businesses served and the overall impact on commerce.
Applications for BRIDGE NY funding will be accepted through September 9, 2016. Applications may be found by clicking here.
Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said, “As a former mayor and councilor, I recognize that local bridges matter. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the State is taking the steps necessary to ensure that our diverse economic regions continue to grow and compete nationally and internationally.”
“Our association has been a strong advocate for an increased multi-year funding commitment from the state for the local transportation system, one that specifically includes culvert rehabilitation and replacement,” said Tracy J. Eldridge, president of the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association. “With these BRIDGE NY funds available, my colleagues and I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the Department of Transportation to improve the condition, safety and functionality of our aging and ailing local bridge and culvert infrastructure for the benefit of our communities and the traveling public.”
Band will play six concerts in four days
File photos by Tom Rivers – The Old Hippies play a concert from on top of a packet boat last July in Medina. The band is calling itself itself “The Traveling Towpath Troubadours” for the canal concert series.
MEDINA – When the canal was mostly drained in Orleans County last week for emergency repairs to a culvert in Hulberton, Bill McDonald worked on a backup plan for a series of concerts he had planned by boat.
McDonald and the other members of the Old Hippies were performing in Albion last Thursday for the village’s canal concert series. McDonald said the band could tell the canal was slowly refilling. The state Canal Corp. and its contractor made the fix in Hulberton.
McDonald and the band wouldn’t have to drive to concert sites after all. That was the back up plan. They will travel to the canal communities from a house boat and perform from the vessel.
Those concerts start Friday in Lockport and continue until Sunday with performances also in Middleport, Medina, Albion and Holley.
This is the second straight year McDonald, a Batavia resident, has organized the concert series. The Old Hippies will be the “The Traveling Towpath Troubadours” for the concert series, which this year has expanded to two performances in Lockport.
“The canal is so underutilized,” McDonald said today. “We want to promote it and try to get more utilization out of it.”
The Traveling Towpath Troubadours will be back performing in Medina’s Canal Basin on Sunday at 3 p.m. A grant through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is helping to fund the concerts.
The schedule starts on Friday with 6 p.m. concert at Lockport Historical Society, followed by another concert in Lockport at 11 a.m. Saturday for the Lockport Farmers Market. The music moves to Middleport for a concert by the canal at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The Troubadours first perform in Orleans County on Sunday with a concert in Medina’s Canal Basin at 2:30 p.m. The band then travels by house boat to Albion for a 6 p.m. concert on Sunday.
The music concludes on Monday with a concert in Holley at 6 p.m. at the village’s canal park.
McDonald said the concerts were popular last year, with Medina drawing the biggest crowd. The band received such good feedback and is back for another series along the canal, with an expanded slate of concerts including the two in Lockport.
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The trees on the lawn at the Hoag Library in Albion are surrounded by a lawn that has turned yellow and brown due to the lack of rain.Much of the county has only received about 20 to 30 percent of the rainfall the past four months compared to what is normal during that time frame, said Larry Meyer, director of the Farm Service Agency in Orleans County.
The area normally receives about 15 to 16 inches of rain during the previous four months, but 4 inches or less is more common this year for Orleans County, Meyer said. That has left many stunted crops.
Rain is in the forecast for later this week, and Meyer said it is desperately needed for farmers to have a chance at a viable crop for harvest season.
“If this continues we’re going to be in very bad shape,” Meyer said today. “We need rain and it needs to be soon.”
Many farmers have been irrigating which has helped some of the crops. Meyer praised the Canal Corp. for working to reopen the canal quickly after the repair of the culvert in Hulberton. About 25 farms have siphon permits for canal water between Brockport and Middleport.
The U.S. Drought Monitor last week declared that nearly all of Orleans County is suffering from “Moderate Drought” conditions. Meyer said he looked at agency records and the amount of rainfall the past four months is the least amount in about 40 years.
HULBERTON – The State Canal Corporation plans a bigger fix to a culvert in Hulberton after the canal boating season ends on Nov. 20, Canal Corporation officials said.
The Canal Corporation and contractor C.P. Ward of Scottsville made a temporary repair to a leaking culvert that allowed the canal to be reopened. A section was closed between Middleport and Brockport for about a week.
“For the temporary repairs that were completed this week, sheet piling was installed into the north and south embankments around the culvert to stabilize them and grout (cement) was pumped into the void areas, essentially plugging the leak,” Shane Mahar, Canal Corp. spokesman, said in an email, describing the work that was done.
The Canal Corp. had warned it could take several weeks to make the temporary fix during the height of the canal boating season.
“The full and complete repair is being designed by our engineers,” Mahar said. “We expect those repairs to be completed during the non-navigation season.”
Brian Stratton, the Canal Corp. director, said a “multi-agency response” allowed the canal to reopen ahead of the initial predictions.
File photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – A big crowd gathered to watch the fireworks last July 4 in Lyndonville. The show was 43 minutes long and this year’s fireworks will be a comparable show, said Wes Bradley, fireworks chairman in Lyndonville.
Bradley and other members of the Lyndonville Lions Club work throughout the year planning the Fourth of July festival in Lyndonville, which is capped by the fireworks show at 10 p.m.
Young Explosives will be back to set off the fireworks on Monday night in Lyndonville.
Organizers don’t know how many turn out for the fireworks, but Lyndonville is the hub of the county for the Fourth of July.
“You walk up (Route) 63 and there are cars for as far as you can see,” Bradley said. “People watch on the side roads. They’re all over the place watching the fireworks.”
This photo from July 4, 2014 shows the fireworks reflected over the Johnson Creek pond in front of the school.
Bradley said the community steps forward donating to the fireworks show. Residents, businesses and organizations are give to the annual spectacle in the sky.
“It’s everybody that makes this possible, even the people giving dimes and quarters,” Bradley said.
The fireworks will start at 10 p.m. They will follow a busy day in Lyndonville, including a parade at noon, arts and crafts show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., chicken barbecue from 1 to 5 p.m., a garden tractor pull from 1 to 4 p.m., the Hospice duck race at 3 p.m.
There is also live music and other entertainment including a bounce house for kids from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., concert by Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes & Drums at 1:30 p.m., and the Who Dats at 7 p.m.
There will be also be a basket raffle with about 200 baskets up for bid up until 3 p.m. Proceeds go to Ella Suhr and her family. Ella is about 7 months old and is battling a brain tumor.
Eileen Sorochty of Albion shows off the blooms on one of the clematis vines which grace her home garden in Albion. Her garden is one of six featured on this year’s Garden Path Tour on July 16.
Orleans County Master Gardeners will host their 2016 Garden Path Tour on July 16, featuring six gardens, mainly in Albion and Medina.
Master Gardner Eileen Sorochty is helping to organize the event and her garden in Albion is one of the six “Garden Stars” included on the tour.
Sorochty’s garden surrounding her home on East Avenue is a mix of relaxed borders and beds which feature spring bulbs, perennials, flowering shrubs, and garden art and ornaments. Additionally, Sorochty grows vegetables and has plantings devoted to attracting and hosting butterflies as well as other pollinators.
The house she lives in is her childhood home, and some of Sorochty’s mother’s plants – including iris and a clematis – are still part of the garden.
A bright red Monarda or Bee balm blossom in Eileen Sorochty’s garden welcomes pollinators.
She grows heirloom tomatoes which she calls, “different and tasty,” as well as vegetables completely new to her like bok choy.
The garden features a small patio pond and solar night features and Sorochty says she is working towards all organic gardening practices and a new composting system.
Other 2016 Garden Stars are Sharon Sugar, who is a neighbor of Sorochty’s. Her garden is child-friendly with play equipment, a pond garden, outdoor rooms and seating areas.
The mostly shaded garden of Sharon Sugar in Albion features several outdoor seating areas and a rose garden.
The English gardens of Brandi Zavitz on Center Street in Medina feature perennials and a pond; Ruth Shewan’s country garden on West Shelby Road in Medina includes perennial beds and a greenhouse. A memorial garden honors the Native American relics said to be buried on the property.
Ann and Stephen Bunch’s garden on Howell Parkway in Medina is a relaxed English garden that is bird-friendly. Additionally, the Bunch’s have many trees and a Pagoda garden.
Jeannette Riley has an eclectic garden at her home on Braley Street, by the canal in Albion. It is filled with re-purposed glass/metal/gates/doors/ knobs and more. Riley grows perennials and flowering shrubs and her garden features a mini guest house with a patio.
Eileen Sorochty uses an old wooden wagon bed for a fairy garden. She stores the elements indoors during the winter.
“You can start where ever you want, we will have a map of the gardens for you,” Sorochty says regarding the tour.
The Garden Path Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine on July 16. Tickets are are available at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – 12690 Rt. 31 in Knowlesville. Call 798-4265 for more information. Tickets are also available the day of the tour at any of the featured gardens. Sorochty requests that you bring correct change for tickets if purchasing day-of. Participants will receive a hand-stamp to show that they have paid and will have their names entered in a drawing for a gift certificate from Sara’s Garden Center in Brockport.
