American Originals – Plant Developments America Shared with the World

On Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m., Barbara Melera of Harvesting History will speak at the Greater Milford Historical Association, North Main Street (St Rt 28), in Milford. Her talk, American Originals, will focus on native plants and the extraordinary plant developments that America has shared with the world. Little research has been done to organize and detail the important contributions America has made to the horticultural splendor of our planet. 

 

The event is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by the Greater Milford Historical Association and the Otsego Master Gardeners. The evening includes the reopening of the David Sayre House garden, fiddle music, and refreshments in the Sayre House. If you love history and have an interest in or passion for gardening/horticulture, this is an evening not to miss.

 

Since Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, the American continents have been introducing the world to some of the most dramatic, beautiful, and delicious plants – flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs – the world has ever known. The European explorers may have come looking for gold and precious gems, but what they discovered was horticultural gold and the gems of the plant kingdom that would forever enrich the lives of every living thing on this planet.

 

In this talk you will learn: (i) a few of the indigenous American plant species that have become important horticultural assets in the gardens around the world; (ii) three of the most significant American plant developments affecting the lives and/or gardens of all the people of this planet; and (iii) the little-known story of the unique role that American horticulture played in the founding of the United States of America.

 

Barbara Plantholt Melera is president of Harvesting History, a new horticultural company founded in 2016 specializing in horticultural and agricultural products featuring largely heirloom and open-pollinated varieties. For 13 years, Ms. Melera was president and CEO of The D. Landreth Seed Company, the oldest seedhouse in America, established in 1784, and the fourth oldest US corporation. Prior to that, she was a Director of more than twenty firms in the software, computer, telecommunication, environmental, healthcare, biotech, and agri-science industries. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from M.I.T.

 

For further information, call 607-547-2536 (x0), or e-mail otsego@cornell.edu. Visit our website at http://cceschoharie-otsego.org, or find us at www.facebook.com/CCESchoharieOtsegoMG.

 

Master Gardener Volunteers serve as a link between residents and the nation’s cooperative extension system, an outreach of land grant universities. For further information, call the Master Gardener Volunteer office at 607-547-2536 x 228 or visit http://cceschoharie-otsego.org/gardening. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. Accommodations for persons with special needs may be requested by contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties prior to the program.