
Long Island Horticultural Society
Sunday, March 9 2024
In the Conference Center at Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, NY
Speaker: Ellen Federico, author, Butterfly Island
Topic: Butterfly Island

Ellen Federico is a writer and Monarch Butterfly Specialist teaching children and young adults about conservation and habitat planting. Ellen hosts summer programs on Fire Island, New York.
She is a writer, speaker, and certified Monarch Butterfly conservationist who maintains sustainable habitats on Fire Island, New York. Ellen has been featured on NBC's Today Show and The New Yorker magazine as The Butterfly Lady of Fire Island.

At our March 9 meeting we will be presenting the the check to our 2024 LI Horticultural Society Scholarship Winner, Marlaina Molinari.
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Selected from a pool of other very qualified, talented and passionate applicants, Marlaina Molinari truly stood out. Ms. Molinari mentioned in her application that she has always enjoyed a connection to nature and growing her own food, but has also shared that her decision to study Horticulture has given her a “clear direction for a career” and to positively impact her community. She is very
interested in public green spaces and garden management, and among other goals hopes to become an ISA-certified arborist and earn her Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, noting that trees are the “cornerstone of green spaces, providing shade, clean air, and habitat for wildlife”.
Ms. Molinari’s recommenders speak to her strong work ethic, curiosity and dedication to the world around her as well as her academics and work-study program, all while still finding time to take on both extra credit and volunteer tasks.
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The 2024 Horticultural Awards will be presented at the March meeting as well.
Dates for Upcoming Meetings: April 6, May 25, June 22, 2025