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| 2012 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 5 (Saturday 9:00 a.m.) Chase Reservoir, Killingly | |||
| We will botanize this preserve which includes an upland forest with rich, moist soils and greenstone ledges. Three small brooks descend Chestnut Hill and merge among towering Sugar Maples. We should see Blue Cohosh, Purple Trillium, Blood-root, Round-lobed Hepatica and Downy Yellow Violets. We will be mostly off-trail, but other than some hills walking should not be difficult. | |||
| Directions: | From Rt 395 north or south take exit 93 onto Rt 101 east. Go 1.8 miles and turn left onto Pratt Rd. Go .3 miles to the intersection with Pettingill Rd. Park in the lot on the northeast corner of the intersection. We will meet up and car pool 1.3 miles to the preserve on Chestnut Hill Rd as parking is limited
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| Leader: | Doug McGrady. 401-935-5367
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| Info: | Killingly Conservation Commission
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| May 13 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Smith Hill Road, Colebrook | |||
| We will botanize some private land and approach the Algonquin State Forest from the Smith Hill Road side. | |||
| Directions: | Park along the road near the entrance to the South Cemetery on Smith Hill Road in Colebrook (a bit east of the Colebrook Consolidated School). There will be a CBS sign posted along the road to mark the spot.
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| Leader: | Joyce Hemingson
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| May 20 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Sandy Brook Natural Area Preserve, Colebrook | |||
| Expect rich northern flora in this preserve which is adjacent to the Kitchel Wilderness and Algonquin State Forest. | |||
| Directions: | Note the update! Follow Rte 8 in Winsted (North Main Street which turns into Colebrook River Road)
for about 5 miles to Sandy Brook Road on the left (west) side. Meet on Sandy Brook Road at the first bridge (head west off Colebrook River Road, Rte. 8, for 0.4 miles).
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| Leader: | John P. Anderson, Aton Forest. 860-542-5125.
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| May 26 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Bradley-Buchanan Woods, Mansfield | |||
| This Joshua's Trust property has been formed by glacial activity. This area is marked by kettle holes, small ponds, swamps, and an old cranberry bog. Expect rich spring flora. | |||
| Directions: | Bradley-Buchanan woods are directly behind the Buchanan Center (which houses the Mansfield Library) on Rt 89 about 0.5 miles north of its intersection with Rt 195. Park in the large parking area just south of the building.
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| Leader: | Karen Sexton. 860-228-4647
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| June 2 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Northwest Park, Windsor | |||
| This 473-acre park bordering the Rainbow Reservoir offers a variety of habitats including meadow, acid bog, conifer woods, and beaver pond. | |||
| Directions: | I 91 to exit 38. North on Route 75
(Poquonock Ave.)
After about 1.5 mile, turn left on Prospect Hill Rd. At rotary take first right onto Lang Rd.
The Northwest Park parking lot is on the left.
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| Leader: | David Yih. 860 246-2077; 860 995-8669 (cell)
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| June 10 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Killingworth Cranberry Bog, Killingworth | |||
| We will botanize this wonderful cranberry bog looking for some unique plant species. The bog is owned by the Killingworth Land Trust and contains many species of interest. Plan for wet feet! We will botanize until noon or thereabouts. | |||
| Directions: | If traveling from Rte. 9: Take Rte. 81 south ą 3.6 miles to Hidden Lake Road. Go about 1 mile to Pond Meadow Road (stay straight) follow to bog and parking area on right. If traveling from south, take Rte 81 north 0.8 mi. past intersection of Rtes 148 and 81. Go left on Pond Meadow Road. At next intersection, take right fork. Bog will be on the right, 1.6 mi. from Rte 81.
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| Leader: | Carol Lemmon, CBS Member and past-President, 203-488-7813
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| June 16 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Mt Toby, Sunderland, MA | |||
| Mt Toby is a premier fern destination known for its fern diversity. Walk the Cranberry Pond and Roaring Brook Falls areas. No summit ascent. ID about 20 taxa (32 recorded) including Cystopteris bulbifera (Bulblet Fern), Asplenium rhizophyllum (Walking Fern), and Dryopteris goldiana (Goldies Fern). Optional side trip to Amherst for Lygodium palmatum (Hartford Fern). | |||
| Directions: | Rt 91 north to Exit 19 (Northampton-Amherst). Right at bottom of exit ramp onto Rt 9 east. Four miles to Trader Joe's parking lot on right (diagonally across from Home Depot and just before McDonalds).
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| Leader: | Malcolm Meltzer, CBS member. 413-549-6447
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| June 24 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Fisher Farm, Avon | |||
| Explore this property with its mix of habitats, including pond, meadows, wetlands, and woods. | |||
| Directions: | From Farmington Center, go north on Rte. 10 for 2.6 miles. Turn at traffic light onto Old Farms Road. In 0.3 miles turn right into parking lot for Fisher Meadow Park. From Avon at junction of Rtes 10 and 44 at Nod Road, go south on Rte 10 for 2.4 miles to traffic light at Old Farms Road and follow as above.
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| Leader: | Pat LeBeau, CBS Botanist. (860) 747-1439.
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| June 30 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Hanging Hills, Meriden | |||
| Join this trip to explore the summits and upper slopes of the Hanging Hills, with easy trails: glades, outcrops, bear oak thickets - and fabulous views. Expect characteristic plants of traprock habitats: smooth rock cress, harebells, bottlebrush grass, and lichens- maybe rare Carex and Dicanthelium species. | |||
| Directions: | From I-91, take 691 west to the exit for Southington/Route 322. At the end of the ramp, go left on West Main Street Hubbard Park is on the left about 1 mile from the highway exit. From I-84, take 691 east to the West Main Street exit. Turn right onto West Main Street and proceed as above. Meet at far east end of Mirror Lake, by gate. We'll carpool for the drive up to the summit.
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| Leader: | Sigrun Gadwa, MS CBS Plant Ecologist
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| July 7 (Saturday 8:00 a.m.) Hopp Brook, Bethany (Note Early Start Time!) | |||
| Join members of the Connecticut Botanical Society as they search for plants in the woods along Hopp Brook. Meet at the intersection of Falls Rd. and Pole Hill Rd. | |||
| Directions: | From Rt. 63, go west on Falls Rd. Take a right onto Fairwood Rd. Take the next quick left onto Falls Rd. as it continues to the west. The jog onto Fairwood Rd. is only about 100'. The intersection with Pole Hill Rd. is about 0.3 miles on the left.
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| Leader: | John Triana Natural Resources Analyst, Regional Water Authority 203 758-7203
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| July 14 (Saturday 10 AM-3 PM) Workshop, Connecticut College, New London | |||
| This all day workshop will provide an introduction to mosses, including identification of some of the more common taxa; distinction between mosses, liverworts and potentially hornworts; some biology; terminology; and ecology. After a morning field session observing and collecting mosses in the Connecticut College Arboretum, and a lunch break, we will examine mosses more closely in the laboratory followed by a short slideshow and time for questions and discussion. Please bring your own lunch. Cost of this workshop is $20 for members and $25 for non-members and it is limited to 20 pre-registered participants. To register send a check made out to The Connecticut College Arboretum and mail to: Connecticut College Arboretum, 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320. Please note "moss workshop" on your check.
A recommended identification manual is any edition of Howard Crum's Mosses of the Great Lakes Forest. There are several old editions available used, and there is a new hardcover edition that can be ordered directly from the University of Michigan Herbarium for $40 plus shipping. | |||
| Directions: | Take exit 83 from I-95 north or Exit 84 N from I-95 south to Rt.32 north. Turn left at the second traffic light into the main college entrance. From I-395 south take left side exit 78 to connect with Rt. 32 south. The college is about 2.5 miles south. Turn right at the second traffic light after the overhead pedestrian bridge into the main entrance. At the gate house Olin Science Center is the building directly north (right). Meet in Olin Science Center Room 311.
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| Leader: | Keith Bowman is a botany graduate of Connecticut College and earned his Masteršs in botany from the University of Tennessee where his research focused bryophyte diversity and resulted in a floristic analysis of the 22,000 acre Fall Creek Falls State Park. Arboretum contact Glenn Dreyer 860 439-2144.
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| July 22 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Still River Preserve, Brookfield | |||
| Botanize this preserve owned by the Weantinogue Land Trust. Past trips have yielded many species of interest. Plan for wet feet. | |||
| Directions: | Travel north on Route 7 (Federal Road) approximately 1.5 miles north of Brookfield's "Four Corners" (junction of Rte 25 Whisconier Road and Federal Road). Look for Gallows Hill cemetery and Old Aldrich Road on east side of Route 7 and entrance to preserve.
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| Leader: | Steve Messier, CBS Botanist
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| August 4 (Saturday 12 p.m.) Dudley Farm, Guilford (Note Late Start Time!) | |||
| We will explore the trails at Dudley Farm (the Farm Market will be open in the morning). | |||
| Directions: | The farm is located on the east side of Durham Road, just north of the junction of Rte 77 and Rte. 80.
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| Leader: | John P. Anderson, Aton Forest. 860-542-5125.
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| August 18 (Saturday 11:00 am) Annual Picnic, East Haddam (Rain Date August 19) | |||
| Bring pot luck to share at this enjoyable annual gathering. Following lunch, we may botanize adjacent areas including old fields, adjacent woodlands and gravel pit. | |||
| Directions: | Take exit 7 off of Rte 9 (rte 82). At end of long 3-mi ramp, turn left at blinker, then right at traffic light. Continue east on Rte 82, cross the Ct River and continue another 1 1/2 miles on Rte 82 to a 3- way stop. Turn right, then an IMMEDIATE left on Mt Parnassus Rd to first house on right, # 16.
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| Leader: | Martha McLaud Tonucci Phone: 860 873-9187.
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| September 16 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Long Beach, Stratford | |||
| We will explore Long Beach, recently acquired by US Fish and Wildlife. There are several rarities to be found amongst the shallow dunes. | |||
| Directions: | From I-95 Southbound: Take exit 30 "Surf Ave." Turn left off exit. At first light, turn left onto CT-113/Lordship Blvd. Keep right at fork on CT-113/Lordship Blvd toward Sikorsky Airport. Follow to first Stop Sign at Oak Bluff Ave. Turn right onto Oak Bluff Ave, and follow to the end to the entrance to Long Beach West. From I-95 Northbound: Take exit 30, and bear right off exit following signs for CT-113/Lordship Blvd. Keep right at fork on CT-113/Lordship Blvd toward Sikorsky Airport. Follow as above.
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| Leaders: | Lauren Brown, CBS member, 203 481-0377 cell 203 215-0782, and Amanda Saul
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| September 22 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Wangunk Meadows, Portland | |||
| Join with the Mattabeseck Audubon Society (MAS) to explore Wangunk Meadows in Portland. Our goal is to begin a habitat assessment and botanical/natural history inventory. The site includes 647 acres of state wildlife management area and has been designated a focus area of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge. MAS owns 3 parcels in the meadows. Habitats include reverting and cultivated fields, marsh, some hardwoods. This area is greatly impacted by indiscriminate use of ATVs. Bring binoculars and be prepared for wet feet. | |||
| Directions: | Cross the CT River into Portland on Route 17/66. Continue straight through traffic light on Route 17A/Main St. Follow 17A through town to the Portland Fair grounds on the left (north).
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| Leaders: | Penni Sharp, CBS Botanist, 203 484-0134 and Alison Guinness, CBS member and MAS president, 860 873-9304
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| September 30 Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Bluff Point State Park, Groton | |||
| The Bluff Point State Park & Coastal Reserve is a unique 800-acre property which hosts a large tract of coastal forest in addition to areas of salt marshes and sand dunes. Species of interest could include Sickle-leaved golden aster (Pityopsis falcata), Yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum), and False beach-heather (Hudsonia tomentosa). | |||
| Directions: | Coming from I-95 North: Take exit 88. Turn right onto SR 117 South. Turn right at the end onto Route 1 South. Take a left at the first light onto Depot Road. Park entrance is at the end of the road. Coming from I-95 South: Take exit 88. Turn left onto SR 117 South. Turn right at the end onto Route 1 South. Take a left at the first light onto Depot Road. Park entrance is at the end of the road.
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| Leader: | Nelson DeBarros, CT DEEP Botanist/Plant Ecologist. 860-424-3585.
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Invitation to the 2012 Joint Field Meeting of the Botanical Society of America - Northeastern Section, Torrey Botanical Society, and Philadelphia Botanical Club June 10-14 (Sunday-Thursday), Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA | |||
| The 2012 Field Meeting will explore the botany of Western Pennsylvania near the Ohio border. Accommodations will be at Slippery Rock University. Field trips will include Presque Isle State Park where there is one of the best preserved wetlands in Pennslylvania, sand dunes and dry sand plains along with shoreline on Lake Erie to sub-climax forest systems. It is also considered a birding paradise. Another trip will be Jennings State Park Environmental Education Center, a unique 300-acre prairie and forest ecosystem.
For further information: Download the invitation and registration form or contact Nan Williams, 413-339-5598 or E-mail: nnwrowe@gmail.com. Mary Paoli and Nan Williams, co-chairs | |||