Severe damage was sustained throughout the CCE campus when a microburst event swept through a narrow swath of Broome County on July 3rd, 2025. Cutler Botanic Gardens happened to be in the path of that storm. 6 trees were completely lost with many others suffering from severely damaged crowns.
Blow downs included the Balsam Fir at the garden entrance, a large Norway Spruce in the Shade garden, and 2 European Lindens on the grass mound in the center of the garden. Two other trees behind the Farmers Market building also fell in the storm. Severely damaged trees were the Kentucky Coffee Tree in the Shade Garden, the iconic Weeping Willow that welcomed visitors entering down the path, the Freeman Maple on the mound as well as a couple of large sugar maples in the Perennials Garden.
Almost all plants in the collections had significant hail damage. Especially hard hit were the Hemerocallis (daylilies) which were just starting to bloom.
Due to safety concerns from hanging limbs, felled trees and debris on the grounds, the gardens were closed to the public for nearly 3 weeks. Fortunately, a crew from Broome County Highway Department was able to bring in equipment to clear up the damage.
Over the next few months the herbaceous plants recovered, additional pruning of damaged trees was completed, stumps were ground and plans for replacement trees have been made. Thanks to generous donations made by concerned patrons we will be able to restore our collections. We appreciate the continuous community support that keep Culter Botanic Garden growing and thriving.
If you wish to make a donation to Cutler Botanic Garden, please visit our Friends of the Garden web page: https://ccebroomecounty.com/gardening/friends-of-the-garden
