Fall is a great time to discover plants. Trees and shrubs show their true colors. Late wildflowers are at their peak. Nuts and berries abound. Grasses spread their seeds. Ferns are showing much more than fronds.
We will begin with the basics of identifying late-season characteristics of common trees, shrubs, and wildflowers using fruits, leaves, and remnants of the growing season. Jim Kennedy will help us find the gestalt of our most common grasses - identifying them at a distance by where and how they are growing. Alice Schori will share her tricks of the trade for fall wildflowers, including the notorious goldenrods and asters.
Each class will be a field trip close to Hanover. We will explore local natural areas in September on leisurely walks through fields, forests, and wetlands. We will also discuss the maintenance of lawns, pastures, grasslands, meadows, and woodlands, and how to manage and protect these ecosystems. In addition to our field books, we will be supplying handouts and “cheat sheets” for plant identification.
Walking expected, rain or shine; no more than ½ mile per class session on relatively smooth trails.