Please join me for a wildflower walk in 2019. This year, I will be conducting several series of wildflower walks with each featuring a unique theme. Beginning on March 1 at Fox Preserve for the winter identification of invasive species, this variety of wildflower walks will continue until autumn, concluding on September 25 at 100 Acre Wood to view the last of the season’s woodland wildflowers in bloom. Please view the Events page for details about each scheduled walk.
Combined, the 20 different walks will occur at five different locations to address these themes:
- invasive species identification walks;
- ephemeral spring wildflowers; and
- woodland wildflowers.
Japanese Barberry
Invasive Species Identification Walks: Invasive species are non-native species that can cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health. Invasives com from all around the world and are one of the greatest threats to New York’s biodiversity. Invasive species may cause or contribute to:
- habitat degradation or loss;
- loss of native fish, wildlife and tree species;
- loss of recreational opportunities and income; or
- crop damage and diseases in humans and livestock.
This series of two walks (one in March and one in July) – both conducted at Fox Preserve – will focus on how to identify invasive species of plants.
Garlic Mustard
Dwarf Ginseng
Ephemeral Spring Wildflower Walks: Spring ephemeral wildflowers are native perennial woodland plants that sprout from the ground early each spring, quickly bloom and seed before the canopy trees overhead leaf out. Once the forest floor is deep in shade, the leaves wither away leaving just the roots, rhizomes and bulbs underground. It allows them to take advantage of the full sunlight levels reaching the forest floor during early spring. A separate series of three walks each will occur every two weeks beginning in early April at two different locations: Shenantaha Creek Park and Steinmetz Woods.
Yellow Trout Lily
Wake Robin (purple form)
Woodland Wildflower Walks: Deciduous forests cover much of the eastern United States. Our forests typically have several vertical layers of vegetation, including a dense, upper canopy of mature trees; a subcanopy of smaller or immature trees; and an understory of shrubs and low-growing herbaceous plants. Many woodland wildflowers, called spring ephemerals, bloom before the trees have leafed out; other species, which can tolerate partial or complete shade, flower later. A separate series of walks will occur at two different locations: five walks (between April and August) will be conducted at Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve and seven walks (between March and September) will be conducted at 100 Acre Wood.
Indian Pipe
I hope you’ll join me. Happy trails!
