When you step into Rye Nature Center’s Museum this fall, you’ll be greeted not only by the beauty outside our windows but also by a collection that brings the forest indoors—our herbarium.

An herbarium is, in essence, a library of plants. Instead of books, its “pages” are pressed, dried, and carefully mounted specimens that capture the unique features of each plant. They serve as records of local biodiversity, teaching tools, and a way to appreciate the details of nature up close. Every vein in a leaf, every serrated edge, every subtle shade of green becomes easier to study and compare when preserved in this way.

Our herbarium highlights the rich variety of plants that call Rye home. Visitors can see the delicate lobes of a red oak leaf, the star-like shape of a sweetgum, the smooth edges of a beech, and the classic silhouette of a sugar maple. Together, these specimens create a portrait of the woodlands surrounding us—a reminder of the diversity tucked into every walk on our trails.

This collection is also a tribute to one of our most dedicated volunteers, Michael Penziner. Michael devoted countless hours to gathering and drying leaves for the herbarium, ensuring each one was preserved with care. He brought enthusiasm to every project and a knack for sparking curiosity. One of his favorite challenges to staff and visitors alike was: can you find a silver maple on the property? His playful spirit and passion for the natural world are pressed into every page of this collection.

Back in April of 2024, Michael became the recipient of the Going Green Award for dedicating over 15,000 volunteer hours to nature education. So many hours spent inspiring generations across several different locations such as Wildflower Island, the New York Botanical Garden, and of course for the Friends of Rye Nature Center, and beyond. Now, thanks to Michael’s efforts, pages from our herbarium are proudly displayed in the Visitor Center.

We invite you to stop by, flip through this living record, and take a closer look at the beauty of the flora that surround us. Who knows—you may even be inspired to search for your own silver maple next time you’re on the trails.

Want to hunt down some leaves of your own? You can join in on the fun by signing up here for our ‘The Great Leaf Hunt’ which begins October 1st. Throughout October, we will be looking for the largest leaf! The winning leaf will be displayed for all to see here at our museum. Gather leaves from the 47 acres or your own backyard!

If this article has you fixing to learn more about the trees that call our forest home, check out our past post: Our Con Edison Tree Trail: A Path for Aspiring Arborists.

A Living Library of Leaves: Our Herbarium

The Cutest Traffic Jam You’ll Ever See