History of the Greater Rochester Perennial Society

Founded in 1997 by Don Lowry and Jerry Kral, the GRPS developed as an offshoot of the Master Gardener program of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Rochester, New York. Don Lowry served as the president for the first 9 years and saw the group grow to encompass gardeners from surrounding counties in the upstate New York region. Shown above is a photo of the Third Anniversary.

The GRPS has had an active supporting role in the many plant societies found in the Greater Rochester region.

The GRPS maintains a garden dedicated to Don Lowry on the grounds of the Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester, New York.

Today, as the GRPS has grown with a membership of over 120 perennial gardeners and continues to develop and expand with programs, lectures, tours and sales that encourage and promote perennial gardening.