Events

Calendar of Upcoming Curious By Nature Events

Date/Time                 Event

I hope you’ll join me for a variety of both in-person and online events throughout this year that will feature activities in each of our four seasons and will address foraging for wild edibles, viewing (and identification of) wildflowers, and forensic botanizing for fall fruits as well as winter plant identification.  Read on and please be sure to register for those events requiring you to do so to ensure your spot!

May 18 @ 1pm:  Foraging for Wild Edibles:  Not-your-store-bought Pickles (What to Forage in Middle to Late May) @ Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve

NOTE: If you wish to attend, you must RSVP to reserve your spot for this event. Only registered participants will receive a message the day before the event with a link for you to download my Foraging for Wild Edibles: Not-your-store-bought Pickles (What to Forage in Middle to Late May) digital guide for your personal use trailside during this foraging outing.

We will be looking for these targeted plants during our outing:

• Cattail shoots
• Grape leaves
• Japanese Knotweed young stems
• Thistle young stems

Learn more about how to forage, harvest and pickle each of these species from a prior post (Foraging for Not-Your-Store-Bought Pickles!) on my Curious By Nature blog.

Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve is located along the Mohawk River in the Town of Clifton Park at the intersection of Riverview and Van Vranken roads.  A parking lot adjoins the trailhead at that intersection, adjacent to the Whipple Bridge entrance into the preserve; we’ll meet at the kiosk next to the parking lot.  We’ll then walk along the Bird Watching Trail back to the parking lot (~1.5-mile loop).  Trail surface is either crushed stone or a dirt path with occasional holes and many exposed tree roots – please wear proper footwear.

We may encounter these native blooming beauties while we’re foraging:  Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Northern Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ssp. stewardsonii), and Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

Learn more about the following species from my past or forthcoming posts:

• Chokecherry (published 5/13/2023 as part of my weekly series entitled “What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?“)
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (“National Wildflower Week 2024 – Day 4” scheduled for 5/4/2024)

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

June 8 @ 1pm:  Spring Wildflower Walk #2

{Part 3 in Series of Seven Saturday Strolls through Four Seasons (winter – spring – summer – autumn) at Town Park}

Large Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)

The parking area is located at the north end of the park off NY Route 236 (~1/4+ mile south of its intersection with NY Route 146).  We’ll meet in the open-air picnic pavilion along the trail immediately across from the parking area.  We will stroll along both the north and south loops of the nature trail (~0.9 mile round trip).  Trail surface is crushed stone – please wear proper footwear if you intend to step off the trail to view plants up close.

Among others, we may encounter these native blooming beauties during our outing:  Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), Common Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis), Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), Large Blue Flag (Iris versicolor), and White Avens (Geum canadense).

Learn more about the following species from past or forthcoming posts that are part of my weekly series entitled “What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?”:

• Common Elderberry (post published 6/13/2020)
• Foxglove Beardtongue (post published 6/12/2021)
• Large Blue Flag (post published 6/11/2022)

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

June 26 @ 7pm:  Foraging for Wild Edibles:  Native Cherries (online event)

NOTE: If you wish to attend, you must RSVP to reserve your spot for this event. Only registered participants will receive a message the day before the event with specific logon instructions.

This presentation will feature Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), the first of which will soon be ready to harvest with the others ripening sequentially thereafter.  The online session will last ~40 minutes, including an interactive discussion period immediately following the information-packed presentation.

Why forage?  Foraging feeds us – literally and figuratively.  Foraging helps to fill our freezer and pantry without us planting seeds or spending dollars.  Foraging helps us to better understand the earth and more about our sense of place on it.  Foraging anchors us in the season – it helps us to be mindful of the now.

Please logon to this presentation to learn more about these easy-to-find and identify, tasty wild edibles that you can use to make savory sauces and adult beverages as well as delicious jams, jellies, and desserts!

For this online session, please be prompt and please understand that no more than 100 of us may participate.

“See” you then!

July 13 @ 1pm:  Summer Wildflower Walk #1

{Part 4 in Series of Seven Saturday Strolls through Four Seasons (winter – spring – summer – autumn) at Town Park}

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

The parking area is located at the north end of the park off NY Route 236 (~1/4+ mile south of its intersection with NY Route 146).  We’ll meet in the open-air picnic pavilion along the trail immediately across from the parking area.  We will stroll along the north loop of the nature trail (~0.4 mile round trip).  Trail surface is crushed stone – please wear proper footwear if you intend to step off the trail to view plants up close.

Among others, we may encounter these native blooming beauties during our outing:  Canada Lily (Lilium canadense), Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum).

Learn more about the following species from past or forthcoming posts that are part of my weekly series entitled “What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?“:

• Canada Lily (post published 7/10/2021)

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

July 20 @ 1pm:  Bog Walk @ Dyken Pond Environmental Center

Marsh Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)

NOTE: If you wish to attend, you must RSVP to reserve your spot for this event. Only registered participants will receive a message the day before the event with directions as to where we will meet along with a trail map for this unique outing, which will be ~1.25 miles total.

Among others, we may encounter these native blooming beauties during our outing:  Common Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), Marsh Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata), Small Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa), and Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

Learn more about the following species from past or forthcoming posts that are part of my weekly series entitled “What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?“:

• Common Arrowhead (post published 7/15/2023)
• Marsh Skullcap (to be published 7/20/2024)

Unless you are willing to have wet feet throughout this walk, you should at least wear rubber knee boots – but should seriously consider wearing rubber hip boots or rubber chest waders (which would enable you to sit down in the bog while observing the plants we encounter up close).

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

August 7 @ 7pm:  Foraging for Wild Edibles:  Elderberries (online event)

NOTE: If you wish to attend, you must RSVP to reserve your spot for this event. Only registered participants will receive a message the day before the event with specific logon instructions.

This presentation will feature Common Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis), which will soon be ready to harvest.  The online session will last ~40 minutes, including an interactive discussion period immediately following the information-packed presentation.

Why forage?  Foraging feeds us – literally and figuratively.  Foraging helps to fill our freezer and pantry without us planting seeds or spending dollars.  Foraging helps us to better understand the earth and more about our sense of place on it.  Foraging anchors us in the season – it helps us to be mindful of the now.

Please logon to this presentation to learn more about these easy-to-find and identify, tasty wild edibles that you can use to make savory sauces and condiments and adult beverages as well as delicious jams, jellies, and desserts!

For this online session, please be prompt and please understand that no more than 100 of us may participate.

“See” you then!

August 10 @ 1pm:  Summer Wildflower Walk #2

{Part 5 in Series of Seven Saturday Strolls through Four Seasons (winter – spring – summer – autumn) at Town Park}

Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)

The parking area is located at the north end of the park off NY Route 236 (~1/4+ mile south of its intersection with NY Route 146).  We’ll meet in the open-air picnic pavilion along the trail immediately across from the parking area.  We will stroll along the north loop of the nature trail (~0.4 mile round trip).  Trail surface is crushed stone – please wear proper footwear if you intend to step off the trail to view plants up close.

Among others, we may encounter these native blooming beauties during our outing:  Flat-topped Aster (Doellingeria umbellata var. umbellata), Hog Peanut (Amphicarpa bracteata), Purple-leaved Willow Herb (Epilobium coloratum), Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima), and Wrinkle-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa var. rugosa).

Learn more about the following species from past or forthcoming posts that are part of my weekly series entitled “What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?“:

• Hog Peanut (post published 8/8/2020)

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

September 14 @ 1pm:  Summer Wildflower Walk #3

{Part 6 in Series of Seven Saturday Strolls through Four Seasons (winter – spring – summer – autumn) at Town Park}

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

The parking area is located at the north end of the park off NY Route 236 (~1/4+ mile south of its intersection with NY Route 146).  We’ll meet in the open-air picnic pavilion along the trail immediately across from the parking area.  We will stroll along the north loop of the nature trail (~0.4 mile round trip).  Trail surface is crushed stone – please wear proper footwear if you intend to step off the trail to view plants up close.

Among others, we may encounter these particularly showy native blooming beauties during our outing:  New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), Nodding Bur Marigold (Bidens cernua), and Turtlehead (Chelone glabra).

Learn more about the following species from past or forthcoming posts that are part of my weekly series entitled “What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?“:

• New England Aster (post published 9/5/2020)
• Nodding Bur Marigold (post published 9/3/2022)
• Turtlehead (post published 9/4/2021)

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

September 28 @ 1pm:  Forensic Botanizing – Fall Fruits @ Garnsey Park

NOTE: If you wish to attend, you must RSVP to reserve your spot for this event. Only registered participants will receive a message the day before the event with a link for you to download my Forensic Botanizing – Fall Fruits digital guide for your personal use trailside during this unique outing.

Without flowers (and sometimes no leaves as well), it can be a challenge to identify plants – particularly forbs – in an autumn landscape.  The likely answer to the question, “What is that?”, is often revealed by observing any (and preferably more than one) of the following clues:

• the color, texture, hairiness, and thickness of certain plant parts;
• the plant’s branching or leaf pattern;
• the type of fruit present (and possibly its scent) such as nuts, berries, or seed pods; or
• the habitat in which the plant is growing.

The parking area is located along the north side of NY Route 146 (~1.1 miles west of its intersection with Waite Road and ~660ft east of its intersection with Nott Road).  We’ll meet at the trailhead kiosk next to the parking area.  We will stroll along a ~1-mile long loop throughout the more open portions of the park.  During our outing, participants will use my digital guide on their mobile device to identify selected plants as we find each numbered ribbon along the route.

Please wear proper footwear for muddy conditions.

Come along for a fun outing to search for and identify a variety of the fruits now on display.

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

October 12 @ 1pm:  Autumn Wildflower & Fall Colors Walk

{Finale of Series of Seven Saturday Strolls through Four Seasons (winter – spring – summer – autumn) at Town Park}

During this outing as we stroll along the nature trail, we will be observing the last of our native wildflowers still in bloom as well as a vibrant palette of fall colors of forbs now on display.

The parking area is located at the north end of the park off NY Route 236 (~1/4+ mile south of its intersection with NY Route 146).  We’ll meet in the open-air picnic pavilion along the trail immediately across from the parking area.  We will stroll along both the north and south loops of the nature trail (~0.9 mile round trip).  Trail surface is crushed stone – please wear proper footwear if you intend to step off the trail to view plants up close.

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).

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If you missed it, here are some of my past events:

Forensic Botanizing:  Winter Plant ID (2/25/2023)

Foraging for Wild Edibles: Fern Fiddleheads (4/26/2022) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Foraging for Wild Edibles:  Blackberries (8/9/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Foraging for Wild Edibles:  American Black Currant (7/14/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Foraging for Wild Edibles: Our “Sichuan Peppercorn” (6/14/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Recognizing Invasive Species Amongst All the Greenery (6/9/2021)

Foraging for Wild Edibles: Herbal Teas (6/9/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Foraging for Wild Edibles: The Many Culinary Uses of Cattails (6/2/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Foraging for Wild Edibles: Salad Greens (5/10/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Foraging for Wild Edibles: Fern Fiddleheads (4/26/2021) – Please visit the Foraging for Wild Edibles page to download this presentation.

Forensic Botanizing:  Winter Plant ID – Invasive Species (2/22/2021) – Please visit the Winter Plant ID page to download this presentation as well as the self-guided hike info packet.

Forensic Botanizing:  Winter Plant ID – Vines and Forbs (1/27/2021) – Please visit the Winter Plant ID page to download this presentation as well as the self-guided hike info packet.

Forensic Botanizing:  Winter Plant ID – Trees and Shrubs (1/20/2021) – Please visit the Winter Plant ID page to download this presentation as well as the self-guided hike info packet.

Virtual Stewardship Hike – Veterans Memorial Park (9/11/2020)

Virtual Stewardship Hike – Garnsey Park (7/10/2020)

Virtual Stewardship Hike – Town Center Park (6/5/2020)

Late Spring Wildflowers (Ann Lee Pond Nature and Historic Preserve) (6/3/2020)

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (unnamed 41-acre property along Mohawk River) (5/6/2020)

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (Ballston Creek Preserve) (5/1/2020)

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve) (5/1/2020)

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (Ann Lee Pond Nature and Historic Preserve) (4/22/2020)

Forensic Botanizing:  Winter Plant ID (2/29/2020) – Anchor Diamond Park at Hawkwood

Woodland Wildflowers (9/25/2019) – 100 Acre Wood

Woodland Wildflowers (8/20/2019) – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve  (For a summary of what was observed on the previous walks of this series, view this slide show.)

Woodland Wildflowers (7/24/2019) – 100 Acre Wood

Woodland Wildflowers (7/16/2019) – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve

Invasive Species Walk (July 2019) – Fox Preserve

Woodland Wildflower Walk (June 2019) – 100 Acre Wood

Woodland Wildflower Walk (June 2019) – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve

Woodland Wildflower Walk (May 2019) – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (5/9/2019) – Steinmetz Woods

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (5/7/2019) – Shenantaha Creek Park

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (4/27/2019) – Steinmetz Woods

Woodland Wildflower Walk (4/24/2019) – 100 Acre Wood

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (4/23/2019) – Shenantaha Creek Park

Woodland Wildflower Walk (April 2019) – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (4/11/2019) – Steinmetz Woods

Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers (4/9/2019) – Shenantaha Creek Park

Woodland Wildflower Walk (March 2019) – 100 Acre Wood

Invasive Species Walk (March 2019) – Fox Preserve

Invasive Species Walk (July 2018) – Fox Preserve

Invasive Species Walk (July 2018) – Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve

Wildflower Walks along Historic Champlain Canalway Trail – A Trek Through Two Towns:  Part 1    Part 2

Wildflower Walk along Shenantaha Creek Park Nature Trail (May 2018)

Ephemeral Spring Wildflower Walks (April 2018) – Steinmetz Woods

Wildflower Walks along Zim Smith Trail – A Trek Through Four Towns:  Segment #4(Town of Clifton Park)

Wildflower Walks along Zim Smith Trail – A Trek Through Four Towns:  Segment #3 (Town of Malta)

Wildflower Ramble (part of 4th annual open space celebration) – Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve, Town of Clifton Park

Wildflower Walks along Zim Smith Trail – A Trek Through Four Towns:  Segment #1 (Town of Halfmoon)

Fall Colors…from a Different Perspective, Ann Lee Pond Nature and Historic Preserve, Town of Colonie.

Canada Lily: Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve, Town of Clifton Park

Wildflower Ramble (part of 3rd Annual Open Space Day), Town of Clifton Park

Wildflower Walk and Slide Presentation, Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

2nd Annual Open Space Day, Town of Clifton Park

1st Annual Open Space Day, Town of Clifton Park