Cornell University Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center

04/17/2026

Our Center's Ornamental Plant Pathologist, Margery Daughtrey was inducted into the Alpha Chapter of Pi Alpha Xi tonight in recognition of her lifetime achievements. Pictured left to right: Dr. Betsy Lamb, Dr. Mark Bridgen, Dr. Margery Daughtrey, and Dr. Neil Mattson.

03/21/2026

Congratulations to one of our staff members, Herb Strobel. Last night at the Long Island Farm Bureau awards dinner, Herb received the Amherst Davis Memorial Farm Citizen Award for his many, many years of commitment to Long Island farming, farmland preservation, and civic work. Congratulations Herb!!!

03/09/2026

Sad news. We lost our good friend Albie Schmitt this past weekend.

View Albert H Schmitt's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

03/06/2026

Spring is on the way when our witch hazel begins to open! Friday, March 20, is the first day of spring. And, don't forget to change your clocks this Saturday night.

02/12/2026

Date: February 24, 2026 @ 5pm Location: Van De Wetering Greenhouses, 5784 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY 11901 Map It Come join us for our Winter dinner meeting! Attendees will enjoy a chef’s dinner and cash bar. Our speaker for the night will be Samantha Willden (Assistant Professor at Cornell Universi...

01/10/2026

It's National Houseplant Appreciation Day!
Ways to celebrate:
Care: Water, fertilize, or repot your existing plants.
Learn: Discover new plant types or care tips.
Acquire: Buy a new plant or give one as a gift.
Decorate: Repot into decorative containers or create plant displays.
Connect: Share your plants on social media or swap cuttings with friends.

01/07/2026

Join Cornell University as we visit London’s most beautiful gardens and the world’s greatest flower show, the Chelsea Flower Show.

The 2026 Gardens of London and Chelsea Flower Show tour is specifically designed for gardeners and their friends/family who love gardening, growing plants, and beautiful gardens. The tour will be held from May 17-23, 2026. This year, a very special treat is in store; we have “Members Only” tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show. This means that we can visit the show on Tuesday before it is open to the public. Crowds will be much less on a “Members Only” day.

The details of the trip are on the link, but the all-encompassing tour includes:

• Five days in London, plus 2 travel days; at all times you will be accompanied by an experienced guide and horticultural professional
• Roundtrip airfare to/from JFK Airport in New York and London Heathrow Airport
• First-class hotel accommodation at the Courthouse Hotel Soho - centrally located hotel in downtown London (www.courthouse-hotel.com)
• Meals: 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners (gratuities are included)
• A guided tour of London on the day of arrival
• Entry fees and guided tours of 3 classic public gardens, plus free time to explore on your own at Kew Botanic Garden, Hampton Court Palace & Garden, & RHS Wisley Garden
• Admission to the Chelsea Flower Show on a members-only day
• Complete bus transportation and shuttle service in London (gratuities included)

Everyone is welcome on this garden tour! The cost of the trip includes airfare out of JFK Airport in NYCity. To reserve a seat on this trip, a deposit is due by February 15, 2026. The balance of payments is due by April 2, 2026.

The registration form and more information about the tours can be found at www.agrotours.com website.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact your guide, Dr. Mark Bridgen, at [email protected].

12/17/2025

Check out how Cornell IPM & CCE are supporting 'greener' Christmas trees:

Christmas tree farming is more than a holiday tradition in New York; it’s a vital part of the state’s economy. Spanning more than 22,000 acres and generating up to $22 million in annual sales, the industry delivers festive cheer while sustaining family livelihoods across the region. To keep this...

11/23/2025

Are you interested in growing cut flowers? If so, plan to listen to the 2026 CCE-Capital Area Cut Flower Webinar Series
Tuesdays, 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2026
Please contact Jingjing Yin at [email protected] for more information.
Registration link:
https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2026CutFlowerWebinarSeries_201,

11/23/2025

Congratulations Dr. and Mrs. Bridgen

The Award of Merit is the highest honor that IPPS can award to its members for outstanding contributions to the organization and to plant propagation and production. The 2025 Awards of Merit were presented to Margot Bridgen and Dr. Mark Bridgen during the Annual Conference in Louisville, KY. The awards honor their decades of shared dedication to the IPPS Eastern Region and to the advancement of horticultural science and education.

Margot Bridgen served as the IPPS-ER Executive Secretary/Treasurer for 26 years, guiding the organization with integrity, loyalty and deep personal commitment. Upon her retirement in 2020, the IPPS Foundation established the Margot Bridgen Scholarship to honor her enduring impact and devotion to the Society.

Dr. Mark Bridgen, Professor of Horticulture at Cornell University has been an IPPS-ER member since 1981. His contributions as educator, researcher, and long-time volunteer on multiple committees as well as the ER Foundation Board have advanced both the science and community of plant propagation. An IPPSER Fellow and current First Vice President of the Eastern Region, Mark's behind-the-scenes support, technical expertise and steadfast commitment of over 44 years have been invaluable to the organization's success.

Together, Margot and Mark exemplify the heart of IPPS: dedication, service and shared passion for plants and people. Congratulations!
pictured with Matt Palmieri, Recognition Committee Chair and Past President