2025 August 28: Guided Walk Through The Grove

Pictures from last year's Flower City Feeling Good Guided Tour

Brian Eshenaur, Senior Extension Associate, NYS Integrated Pest Management and board member of Friends of Washington Grove conducted our tour.

The Basics

• DATE: Thursday, August 28th

• TIME: 6:00 PM

• DURATION: One to two hours

• MEETING PLACE: We'll meet on the southeast side of Reservoir Road, atop Cobbs Hill Reservoir. (MAP LINK)

• TICKETS: None. Reservations in advance are not required. This tour is FREE and open to the public.

Description

Washington Grove, the easternmost extremity of Cobbs Hill Park, comprises about 26 acres of relatively undisturbed old growth forest within the bounds of the City of Rochester. Washington Grove is dominated by 100 to 200 year-old Red, White and Black Oaks. Other common trees are American Linden, several species of Hickory, White Ash, Eastern Yellow Poplar (Tuliptree), Sugar and Norway Maples, Cherry, Butternut and Sassafras. The most dominant native shrub is Mapleleaf Viburnum. The herbaceous layer is sparse or non-existent in many areas but large patches of Mayapple and Virginia Creeper exist throughout the Grove. Other herbaceous plants usually exist in small solitary clumps. In spite of the competition from invasive plants over 110 native plant species are found in the grove.

The Grove is the home to the full complement of urban wildlife, including wild turkey and enough occasional visits of White Tailed Deer for deer browse to be a concern. We see evidence of porcupines, and for a time the Grove was home to a fox. During spring and fall migration the Grove is a major feeding and nesting area for birds; 142 species of birds have been observed over one 18-year period. Sightings of Pileated Woodpeckers are common.

Important Notes

• Participants are reminded to dress for the weather and the time of year.

• There are no bathrooms in Washington Grove

This program is also listed on our Events & Meetings calendar. Click here to go to the official UMNA Events Calendar.