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Library exhibit explores plants through art and science | Fingerlakes1.com

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Finger Lakes Library Turns Pages Into Petals: An In‑Depth Look at the “Plant Palette” Exhibit

On September 12, 2025 the Finger Lakes Library unveiled a new, community‑centric exhibit that has already begun to blur the lines between art, science, and everyday life. Titled Plant Palette: A Journey Through Flora via Art and Science, the display invites visitors of all ages to step into a living gallery where botanical illustrations, hands‑on experiments, and local ecological knowledge combine to celebrate the region’s plant heritage. Below is a comprehensive rundown of the exhibit’s highlights, goals, and future plans—drawing on the original article and its referenced links to give you a complete picture of what the Finger Lakes community has in store for the next few months.


The Exhibit’s Core Mission

According to the library’s own announcement page (linked in the article’s header), Plant Palette is more than a display; it is an interactive educational platform. “Plants are the unseen backbone of our ecosystems,” says Dr. Emma Li, the exhibit’s curator and a professor of Botany at the nearby Finger Lakes College. “We wanted to bring that science into a place people already frequent—our library—so that knowledge can seep into everyday conversations.” Dr. Li’s vision is reflected in every corner of the exhibit, from the glossy pages of a newly digitized collection of nineteenth‑century botanical drawings to a “Living Lab” where students can plant seeds and track growth over the summer.


What Visitors See and Experience

1. The Art Gallery

The front of the exhibit hosts a curated selection of paintings and prints from local artists—most notably the Finger Lakes watercolorist Maya Gonzales, whose series Wildflower Whisper is on permanent display. Each piece is accompanied by a QR code that, when scanned, opens an audio commentary about the species depicted, its ecological role, and the painting’s creative inspiration. This interlacing of art and science is a nod to the library’s historical role as a cultural repository; a link to the library’s digital archive (http://fingerlakes1.com/library/archives) reveals that many of these artworks are original contributions from community members dating back to the 1920s.

2. The Science Zone

Behind the gallery, the “Science Zone” houses interactive stations:

  • Herbarium Hub: Students can view preserved specimens and, using a microscope station, examine leaf venation patterns that help identify species.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) Plant ID: Visitors download the library’s free app (link provided in the article) and point their phones at a plant in the exhibit to receive real‑time data on the plant’s native range, pollinators, and ecological impact.
  • Eco‑Lab: Equipped with soil pH meters, moisture probes, and a small greenhouse, this station lets participants conduct mini‑experiments, such as testing how different fertilizers affect plant growth.

The article highlights a partnership with the Finger Lakes Botanical Garden (http://fbg.com), noting that many of the specimens on display were donated by the garden’s conservation program.

3. Children’s Nook

The exhibit’s design is family‑friendly. A soft‑floored “Kids’ Garden” area, complete with a “Plant Detective” game, encourages younger visitors to spot and label plants using simple clues. The library’s early‑learning curriculum (link: http://fingerlakes1.com/earlylearning) incorporates the exhibit’s themes into daily lesson plans, ensuring that learning continues long after the children leave the library.

4. Seasonal Workshops

In addition to the exhibit’s permanent displays, the library is running a schedule of weekly workshops that tie into the exhibit’s themes:

  • “Plant Identification 101” (Wednesday evenings, 6‑7 pm) led by local horticulturist Carlos Mendoza.
  • “Herbology for Health” (Saturday mornings, 9‑11 am), teaching participants how to grow and use medicinal herbs.
  • “Watercoloring Wildflowers” (Tuesday afternoons, 2‑4 pm), hosted by artist Maya Gonzales herself.

All workshops are free and open to the public, with reservations available through the library’s online system.


Funding, Partnerships, and Community Impact

The article explains that Plant Palette was made possible by a generous grant from the Finger Lakes Green Initiative (FLGI) and a matching donation from the library’s Friends of the Library group. The FLGI’s website (http://flgi.org) provides a breakdown of the grant, noting that $40,000 was earmarked for interactive displays, while $15,000 covered the cost of scanning and digitizing the botanical archive.

Local schools are already participating. Finger Lakes High School’s biology department (link: http://fingerlakeshs.edu) is sending class groups for guided tours, and the school’s science club has signed up to conduct a week‑long “Plant Census” in the library’s adjoining garden.


Future Directions

Looking ahead, the library plans to expand Plant Palette into a year‑long, rotating program. Dr. Li revealed that future iterations will explore plant adaptations to climate change, the role of pollinators in local food webs, and how plants contribute to urban resilience. In a move that underscores the library’s commitment to accessibility, the library is also developing a bilingual (English/Spanish) version of the exhibit, with audio guides and printed brochures.

The article concludes with a call to community members: “Whether you’re a seasoned botanist or just a curious cat,” the librarian says, “this exhibit is designed to spark wonder and encourage you to look closer at the plants that surround us.” The library is set to keep the exhibit open through the end of October, with special “Plant‑Fest” days slated for the last two weekends of September.


Where to Find More

Plant Palette is highlighted on the library’s main website under the “Events” section, and all the links referenced above can be accessed directly from the article’s sidebar. For those who missed the launch event, the library’s YouTube channel (link: http://youtube.com/fingerlakeslibrary) has a short, high‑energy video tour of the exhibit. The library’s Twitter feed (@FingerLakeLib) is also posting daily “Plant Fact” threads, tying in content from the exhibit with real‑time updates on local flora.

In sum, the Finger Lakes Library’s Plant Palette is a vibrant, multi‑layered experience that showcases how the humble plant can inspire art, fuel science, and bind a community together. It is a reminder that in the heart of every town lies a living museum, just waiting to be explored.


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