Are you eager to get to know your neighbors—that is, your neighbors in the plant kingdom? Would you like to hone your plant identification skills while watching the approach of spring?

This series of field trips will start at the Native Plant Trust’s Plainfield Sanctuary, a sheltered slope near the Connecticut River where spring usually arrives early. In subsequent weeks, we’ll visit Lebanon’s Boston Lot, Hanover’s Mink Brook Nature Preserve, and finally some higher elevations in Hanover or Lyme, depending on how the season is progressing. Exploring a variety of plant communities, we’ll become familiar with some of the common ferns and spring flowers of the Upper Valley.

Some discussion of phenology (the study of how living things time natural events) and recognition of invasive, non-native species will be included. During this four-week class, we will find and examine as many different plants as we can and practice using keys to identify them. Field trips will meet rain or shine, but may be rescheduled to avoid torrential downpours or thunderstorms. Excursions will be mostly on easy terrain, but will include some moderate hills and maybe a bit of bushwhacking. But never fear—we will always proceed at a botanist’s pace (=slow!).

NOTE: This course takes place in person at outdoor locations. Proper social distancing and safety guidelines will be observed.