Canada Lily in Oxford

Donald A. Windsor

A few vigorous plants of the uncommon red version of Canada Lily Lilium canadense were blooming along the railroad tracks in Oxford on 26-28 June 2011.  Some are taller than I am, over 6 feet.  The flowers hang down and the petals are recurved, but not back far enough to touch the bell, as they are in Turk's Cap Lily L. superbum.  No green is inside the bell, ruling out the Turk's Cap and the Michigan lily L. michiganense.

Although the colors and shape of the flowers may seem similar the Canada Lily is easily distinguished from the Tiger Lily L. tigrinum and the Day-Lily Hemerocallis fulva by its leaves.

My only previous encounter with the Canada Lily was on 11 July 2006 on the Adams Farm property of the Rogers Center in Sherburne.

Tarbell Farms in Smithville

Donald A. Windsor

I recently gave two public presentations about the Tarbell Farms in the Town of Smithville.  The first was at the Chenango County Historical Society's meeting on April 21 in the Baptist Church in Norwich.  I then led a field trip to the site on Saturday April 23.  The second presentation was in the Town of McDonough at the library.   Below are 3 photos of the Tarbell ruins taken on April 15, 2011.

 The parged concrete stantions.

 The northeast pedestal for the water tower.

The concrete apron for the barn south of Route 41.