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| 2013 Schedule |
Field Trips arranged by Penelope C. Sharp, CBS Field Trip Chair
Field trips are a long-standing tradition of the Connecticut Botanical Society. They provide an opportunity to learn about Connecticut's plants and habitats from some of the area's most knowldegeable botanists -- and an opportunity to share your own knowledge with others. The trips also add to knowledge of the state's flora. On each field trip, we make a list of all plant species we have identified, and this list becomes part of the Society's records.
For the field trips, wear sturdy footwear and bring a lunch. Sunscreen and insect repellant are also recommended. For plant identification, you may want to bring field guide(s), a hand lens, and a small notebook. Familiarity with plant taxonomy is helpful, but not required.
Non-members are welcome to join our field trips. No registration is required, unless otherwise stated in the trip description.
Field trip to Soapstone Mountain, September 8, 2001.
| May 11 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Kathan Woods, Prospect | |||
| This tract was recently donated to the Prospect Land Trust. It is a mixed hardwood forest with little wetlands. There are some steep slopes, so be prepared with proper footwear. | |||
| Directions: | From Rte. 68 in Prospect, turn north onto Plank Road. Take your first left onto Boardman Drive. We will meet at the end of the cul-de-sac where the trail head is.
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| Leader: | Leader: John Triana, Prospect land Trust, 203 758-7203
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| May 19 (Sunday 12:00 noon) Ragged Mountain, Southington (Note later start time) | |||
| CBS members will inventory the plant community on a private nature preserve on the lower slopes of Ragged Mountain, belonging to the Brierely family (Berlin Land Trust board members). We expect to find assorted spring wildflowers of mineral-rich soil derived from traprock, including Dutchman's breeches, dwarf saxifrage, and anemonella. The site also includes a vernal pool, that could hold Jefferson salamanders. | |||
| Directions: | Take Exit 5 off I-691 onto Chamberlain Highway (Route 71). Head north about 4.4 miles just past the intersection with Rte 71A, and turn left (west) on Reservoir Road. Drive 1.5 miles, crossing Harts Pond. The steep flank of Ragged Mountain will be on your right. After entering Southington, road becomes Carey Road. Turn right on private road (No. 150) with a yellow sign "Private Nature Preserve." If you reach Andrews Street, you have gone too far.
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| Leader: | Sigrun Gadwa, MS, CBS Plant Ecologist
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| May 25 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, New York | |||
| Joint trip with the Torrey Botanical Society. Marshlands has an interesting combination of habitats — forest, large field, and salt marsh on Long Island Sound. Be prepared for some wet walking. | |||
| Directions: | Take I-95 south and take exit for Playland in Rye, NY. Take first exit off Playland Parkway and turn left. At T-turn, go right. At traffic light go straight (right) onto Route 1. Continue along and look for Rye Golf Course on left. Entrance to Marshlands is just beyond the golf club on the left. Look for sign. Go down the driveway and park at the end.
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| Leader: | Carol Levine, CBS member 203 322-2051
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| June 1 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Marlborough, Hartford County 4-H Outdoor Center. | |||
| The Outdoor Center covers about 100 acres adjacent to the Salmon River State forest. There are mixed hardwoods, a woodland swamp, wet meadows, pond and a floodplain area along the Black Ledge River. The area was last visited in 2003. Be prepared for wet areas. | |||
| Directions: | From Route 2 traveling east take Exit 13 to Route 66. Go right at the end of the exit ramp. At the traffic light in the center of Marlborough go south on South Main Street. After ~ 0.7 miles take the right fork and follow South Road for ~2.3 miles to the 4-H center. Center is on your left, watch for large sign.
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| Leader: | David Yih, CBS member. 860 246-2077; 860 995-8669 (cell)
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| June 9 (Sunday 9:00 a.m.) Horse Island, Branford (Note early start time) | |||
| Horse Island, owned by Yale University, is the largest of the Thimbles, a renowned group of largely private rocky islands off the coast of Branford. In 1986, Lauren Brown and Penni Sharp inventoried the vegetation of the island, but there have been some interesting changes since then, which we look forward to discussing with CBS'ers. Though the islands have yet to yield any rarities, they do have a distinct assemblage of species, probably due to various ecological factors. It can be cold on the islands, dress accordingly. Bring lunch; if you're too lazy to pack one, there is a sandwich shop at the dock. | |||
| Directions: | From I-95 northbound, take Exit 56. Go right about a mile to four-way STOP. Go straight onto Thimble Islands Rd. After passing town beach, at triangle with little water fountain, go right on Indian Point Rd (probably unmarked) to Town Dock. From I-95 southbound, take Exit 56, go left on frontage road past truck stop, left over highway, then proceed as above. Parking at dock can be difficult, allow time to park elsewhere and walk. The ferry will leave at 9:00 a.m. SHARP; if you miss it, the next one goes at 10. Ferries return more or less on the hour. Ferry ticket: $10 round-trip. To help the ferry captain with his scheduling, please email the leader if you are thinking of attending (not binding).
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| Leader: | Lauren Brown, CBS member, 203 481-0377; 203 215-0782 cell
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| Invitation to the 2013 Joint Field Meeting of the Botanical Society of America - Northeastern Section, Torrey Botanical Society, and Philadelphia Botanical Club June 9-13 (Sunday-Thursday), Adirondack Mountains, New York | |||
| CBS members are invited to attend the Joint Field Meeting. The 2013 meeting, exploring the unique botany of the Adirondacks, will be based in Warrensburg, New York.
We will be car pooling to close-by areas including the famous ice meadows which are the place to see the most native plant species in New York. Other trips will be to the State University Forestry Field Station with its unique forest and graminoid areas. Another trip is planned for Lake George, along the shore at Tongue Mt. This trail has limey areas with rich botany. There will be speakers for the four evening programs.
For further information: Download the invitation and registration form or contact the meeting chair, Ed Miller, 518-421-6677 or . The registration deadline is May 15. | |||
| June 15 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Field Park, Haddam | |||
| This trip will feature some of Connecticut's big trees. Trees were planted at the park in the late 1800s and eight trees in the park are significant additions to CT's big tree records. After our trip to Field Park, we will visit an estate on Walkley Hill Road. The property was once owned by James C. Walkley, the founder of the Valley RR. There are some VERY significant and old trees on this property too. | |||
| Directions: | Traveling south on Rte 9: Take Exit 10 (Aircraft Road). At end of ramp, turn right, south, on Rte 154. Go through the village of Higganum where there is a traffic light. Continue about 3 miles on 154. Pass a sign on the right for "Thankful Arnold House." A very short distance beyond, turn right on the entrance road for "Haddam Town Hall," marked by a fairly small white sign. At the fork in the road is a sign for Field Park. Stay right. Go to the top of the hill and park in designated area.
Coming from the south on Rte 9: Take Exit 7, Rte 82. Go 2 1/2 miles on the long access ramp to Rte 154. Turn left at the blinking light. Go 1/4 mi and pass a traffic light. Continue another 4-4 1/2 miles on 154. The Haddam Library is on the right. Almost directly across from the library, turn left at the entrance road to the Haddam Town Hall. Park at the top of the hill.
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| Leader: | Martha McLaud Tonucci and Ed Richardson
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| June 23 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Higby Mountain, Middletown | |||
| We will explore Higby Mountain, part of the Metacomet Range. The underlying basalt rock supports several uncommon plants. Expect some steep climbing and wear appropriate footwear for loose rocks etc. | |||
| Directions: | From the junction of Routes 66 and 147, follow Rte 66 west for about 0.5 miles. The trailhead is located just east of the intersection of Rte 66 and I-91. Parking limited, carpooling recommended. Additional parking is possible along Country Club Rd, about 0.3 miles east of the entrance to I-91
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| Leader: | Pat LeBeau, CBS Botanist, 860 747-1439.
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| July 6 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Jones Mountain, New Hartford | |||
| We will botanize this unfragmented, closed canopy forest, with wetlands, streams, and adjacent meadows, providing valuable wildlife habitat. | |||
| Directions: | We will meet at the trailhead which is located on Steele Rd, 8 tenths of a mile from the intersection of Steele Rd, Central Ave., and Rt. 219 in downtown New Hartford.
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| Leader: | Steve Messier, CBS Botanist.
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| August 17 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Barn Island, Stonington | |||
| We will explore the late summer flora of a variety of habitat types at Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, including open fields, forests and salt marshes. | |||
| Directions: | From Exit 91 on I-95 go east on Pequot Trail (which is directly south and parallel to I-95) for 0.3 miles and turn right on Farmholme Rd. for 1.8 miles. Turn right onto Rt-1 and then immediately left onto Green Haven Road. After 1.9 miles turn right onto Stewart Rd for about 0.3 miles. Take a right on the dirt road just past #74 and follow this to the parking area.
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| Leader: | Chad Jones, Assistant Professor Botany and Environmental Studies, Connecticut College. Cell phone: 860-326-8725
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| August 24 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Major Donnelly Land Preserve, South Windsor | |||
| This is a nice little area, with disturbed marsh, swamp and wet forest — along with an unusual fern species. No climbing involved and food is only a few hundred feet down the road. There are extensive boardwalks through the marsh. | |||
| Directions: | The address is 1165 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. Sullivan Avenue is Route 194. The parking lot is immediately south of a condo development called Strawberry Fields.
Major Donelly Land Preserve web site.
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| Leader: | Jonathan Schwartz, 860 670-1525.
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| September 8 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Algonquin State Forest, Winchester | |||
| We will explore part of the Algonquin State Forest. This area includes forest, open meadow, and streams. We may see Spiranthes in bloom. | |||
| Directions: | Meet at the parking area for the Algonquin State Forest off Rte. 44 in Winchester (not Colebrook), about 2.5 miles from the western end of Winsted. Driving west on Rte. 44 from Winsted, you will pass the Mad River dry dam on the left and the "super tree" cell tower on the right. I will post a CBS sign on Rte. 44 showing where to take a left hand turn down to the parking area.
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| Leader: | Joyce Hemingson, CBS Botanist. Cell phone: 860-309-0389
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| September 21 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Castle Craig, Hubbard Park, Meriden | |||
| In 2011 and 2012 we explored West Peak of the Hanging Hills; this year we'll visit East Peak. We shall car pool up the winding road to the summit, taking the left fork to Castle Craig and East Park. We'll proceed northerly along the Metacomet trail, botanizing on the traprock summit, a CTDEEP Critical Habitat, with views of the Meromere Reservoir about 200 feet below. Expect to see uncommon asters, goldenrods, and bush clovers on traprock soils; also summit shrub thickets with bear oak and Virginia rose. | |||
| Directions: | Take Exit 4 off I 691 and drive southeasterly 0.8 miles on West Main Street, and turn left into Hubbard Park. Drive along right side of the Mirror Lake, and park near the gate under the highway.
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| Leader: | Sigrun Gadwa, MS, CBS Plant Ecologist
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| October 6 (Sunday 12 NOON) CBS Annual Picnic, Branford | |||
| Bring your favorite food to share with other members at this pot luck lunch. Interesting coastal botanizing sites are located nearby. | |||
| Directions: | 35 Flying Point Road. From I-95, take Exit 56. From the East, go left off the exit onto a frontage road, past the truck stop, then left at the light onto Leete's Island road. From the West, go right onto Leete's Island Road. At first stop sign (antique shop and liquor store), go straight onto Thimble Islands Road. Follow Thimble Islands Road to the end. Flying Point Road goes right. Please park before the PRIVATE ROAD signs and walk the rest of the way to #35. Do not try to drive to the house and turn around; there is no space. If walking is a problem, please call (203) 481-0377 and arrangements can be made. Note that there are several steep steps into the house. Questions? Call above number.
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| Leader: | Lauren Brown
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| October 13, 2013 (Sunday 10:00AM) Waxman Conifer Collection, UConn, Storrs | |||
| This unique collection of plants was the working field laboratory of the late Dr. Sidney A. Waxman, UConn professor and plant researcher world-renown for his efforts in developing unique forms of many common conifers, often by propagating cuttings from witch's brooms, many of which resulted in dwarf forms popular in the nursery trade. We'll also walk through the woods to Fifty Foot, which overlooks Joshua's Tract Preserve. | |||
| Directions: | The collection is located at 986 Storrs Road (corner of Rte. 195 & East Road, look for the small red house) with parking on East Road. It is 2 miles south of the junction of North Eagleville Road and Rte. 195. We will have access to the former Waxman residence, which houses the library of the UConn Master Gardener Program and a small meeting room.
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| Contact: | Jude Hsiang
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