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| 2008 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.
| April 27 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Canaan - Robbins Swamp | ||
| Botanize this large calcareous wetland and join in the hunt for Cardamine douglassii. Be prepared for a lot of poison sumac and expect wet feet. | ||
| Directions: | Follow Route 7 to junction with Route 44. Head west on Rte. 44. We will meet at the McDonalds on Rte. 44 and carpool from there.
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| Leader: | Ken Metzler, DEP Botanist.
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| May 3 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Redding - Colin P. Huntington State Park | ||
| This park features wide trails, beautiful woodlands, and a large lake. Parking area graced by two wildlife sculptures by Anna Hyatt Huntington, whose home this was. | ||
| Directions: | From Merritt Parkway, take exit 45 to CT 58 (Blackrock Turnpike). Follow Ct 58 for 10.9 miles. Turn right onto Sunset Hill Road. Continue 0.8 miles to the entrance on the right. Drive in and park on the grass.
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| Leader: | Carol Levine
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| May 4 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Barkhamsted - Peoples Forest | ||
| We will botanize in Peoples Forest covering a beaver marsh and upland habitat. Be prepared for damp areas and some inclines. | ||
| Directions: | Traveling Route 44 E (from Winsted) or W (from New Hartford): Turn at blinking light onto Route 318 E (Pleasant Valley) descending a hill to a 4-way stop with the Pleasant Valley General Store on the right. Continue over the Farmington River's steel bridge taking an immediate left onto East River Rd. Continue 1.0 m turning right onto Greenwoods Rd. Pass the Peoples Forest Nature Center, continue up Greenwoods 1.4 miles to Charles Pack Trail (yellow/blue blaze). Roadside parking.
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| Leader: | Steve Messier, CBS Botanist
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| May 10 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Branford/North Branford Saltonstall Mountain Property | ||
| Explore Salstonstall Mountain, a trap rock ridge property acquired for open space in 2004. There should be nice displays of spring ephemerals and who knows what else? | ||
| Directions: | From I-95, take Exit 55. Go north on Rte 1, turn left immediately onto Rte. 139. Shortly after Rose Orchards, go left onto Twin Lakes Road, left on Summit Dr, right on Lantern Hill Rd. Park at end of road. From I-91, take Exit 8 to Rte. 80 east. Just past jct. of Rte 22, go right on Twin Lakes Rd, right on Summit, proceed as above.
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| Leader: | Lauren Brown, CBS Botanist
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| May 18 (Sunday 9:00 a.m.) Prospect - Prospect Reservoir | ||
| This location has a variety of habitats within a relatively small area. They include fields maintained as early successional habitat, lakeshore, hardwood and softwood forest stands, wetlands, and talus slopes. We will see how many we can get to this morning. | ||
| Directions: | Meet at the intersection of Tress Rd. and Cornwall Ave. in Prospect. From Route 68: If coming from the west, take right onto Chatfield Rd. (about 1.5 miles from the center of Prospect). Take a right onto Tress Rd. If coming from the east, take left onto Tress Rd. (about 1/4 miles from where Rt. 68 splits from Rt. 70 in Cheshire - "The Notch"). Follow up the hill until the end of Tress Rd. which is the meeting location (intersection with Cornwall Ave - turn in the road).
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| Leaders: | John Triana and Sam Saulys
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| May 31 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Stratford - Beardsley Zoo/Stratford Bioblitz | ||
| We will join with other scientists from all disciplines (plants, insects, fish, mammals, etc.) and survey the habitats assigned to us in order to find as many plant species as possible in one day. Habitats include the 250 acre Roosevelt Park, Great Marsh Meadows, Short Beach, a 25 acre woodland, a pond and cranberry bog. Lunch will be provided. | ||
| Directions: | Meet at Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport at the Hanson Exploration Station which will be our homebase. From New Haven: Take Exit 52 off the Merritt Parkway (South to Bridgeport) to Rt 8 & 25. Proceed to Exit 5 (Boston Ave). At the end of the ramp, bear right and go to the 5th traffic light. Turn left onto Noble Avenue and proceed to the Beardsley Park entrance on the left. Follow the signs to the Zoo entrance on right. From New York, take Exit 49S (Bridgeport) to Rt 25. Proceed to Exit 5 and follow as above. From I-95 (CT Turnpike) Take Exit 27A to Rt 8 & 25. Proceed to Exit 5 (Boston Ave). At the traffic light at the end of the ramp, go left to the 4th traffic light. Turn left onto Noble Avenue and proceed to the Beardsley Park entrance on the left. Follow signs to the Zoo entrance on right.
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| Leader: | Carol Lemmon, CBS President
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| June 7 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Colebrook - Algonquin State Forest | ||
| We will botanize portions of Algonquin State Forest south of Sandy Brook in Colebrook. Expect rich flora in this northern state forest. Wear good walking shoes and bring insect repellent. | ||
| Directions: | Go north on Route 8 from the center of Winsted. At the intersection of Route 8 north and Deer Hill Road (the Hemlock Cemetery will be on your left), turn right and there will be enough room for us to gather before heading off to the location of the walk.
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| Leader: | Joyce Hemingson, CBS Botanist
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| June 15 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Norfolk - Dennis Hill State Park | ||
| We will botanize this 240 acre former estate. Rich flora and scenic vistas. Expect some climbing, so wear good footwear. Carry lunch. | ||
| Directions: | From the East - Hartford area: travel west on I-84, take Exit 39. Continue west on Route 4 onto Route 179 going north. From Route 179 get on Route 44. Take a left onto Route 272 south. The park will be on the left.
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| Leader: | Pat LeBeau, CBS Botanist
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| June 28 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Easton and Weston - Trout Brook Preserve | ||
| Jointly purchased by the Aspetuck Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, State of Connecticut, and Town of Weston, this preserve consists of over 1,000 acres and 20 miles of trails on former hydraulic company land. This walk will take us through or alongside meadows, wetlands, woodlands, and rocky hillsides, with the expected variations in soil and flora. Although the bulk of this open space lies in Easton, the entrance we will be using is on Bradley Road in Weston. | ||
| Directions: | Take Merritt Parkway to exit 42. Go north on Rte 57 to intersection with Lyons Plain Road (traffic light). Turn right onto Lyons Plain bearing left at fork to stay on Lyons Plain. Go approximately three miles to stop sign. There will be three roads in front of you. Take the center road, Valley Forge Road. One mile to Bradley Road on your right. Parking at end of road on left.
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| Leaders: | Ted Lockwood and Albert Paolini
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| July 12 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Killingworth - Chatfield Hollow State Park | ||
| Explore this State Park and look for Fraxinus nigra and Dirca palustris among other unusual plants. | ||
| Directions: | From the junction of Rtes. 79 and 80 in Madison, follow Route 80 east for approximately 3 miles. The park entrance is on the north side of Rte 80. (If coming from the east, follow Rte 80 from junction of Rtes 80 and 81 for just over a mile to entrance on right.
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| Leader: | Carol Lemmon
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| July 20 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) East Haddam - Sheepskin Hollow Preserve | ||
| We will visit Sheepskin Hollow Preserve which features a large swamp with active beaver colonies and hardwood forest habitat. | ||
| Directions: | From the junction of Routes 151 and 82 in East Haddam, proceed south a few 100 feet to first left on Mt. Parnassus Road. Follow for about 3.8 miles to Warner Road on right. Follow Warner for 0.5 miles to Ridgebury Road on right. Park on cul-de-sac.
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| Leader: | Ellen Pratt, CBS Botanist: (860) 633- 1468
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| July 27 (Sunday 10:00 a.m.) Guilford - Bluff Head Preserve | ||
| Enjoy a July walk to observe the flora in these rich woods and fields. | ||
| Directions: | Go south on Route 77 from the junction of Routes 17 and 77 in Durham for 3 miles, or north from Route 80 in Guilford for 5.1 miles, to the Braemore Preserve parking area on the east side of Route 77. The parking area is along the edge of a field.
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| Leaders: | Karen and John Sexton, CBS botanists
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| August 2 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Stonington - Manatuck Preserve | ||
| Join this trip to the Manatuck Preserve in Stonington- 200+ acres of woodland, wetland, meadow and pasture. It would be nice to get a plant list for this property. | ||
| Directions: | From 95 N or S, Exit 91 (North Main Street, Stonington) . From the North, take a left at end of ramp, from the south go right, onto route 234 then left onto North Main Street. Take first left onto Barnes Road. Park in lot behind the Pine Point School (about 1/2 mile up Barnes Rd, on the right).
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| Leader: | Maggie Jones, Botanist, Director of Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
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| August 17 (Sunday, 10:00 a.m.) Columbia - Szegda Farm Property | ||
| We will visit a town-owned parcel that contains a great diversity of habitats: riparian, red maple swamp, sedge marsh/wet meadow, power line corridors, scrub/shrub, pasture areas with about three years of growth, steep rocky slopes, and a variety of hardwood forests. | ||
| Directions: | From the intersection of Rt. 87 and Rt. 66 in the center of Columbia, take Rt. 87 heading SE toward Lebanon & Norwich. Go 0.2 miles and then take your first left, Szegda Rd. At the stop sign 0.1 miles along Szegda Rd, go left and continue on Szegda Road 0.4 miles. Turn into the farm road on your right and park on the edge of this dirt road.
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| Leader: | Joan Hill
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| September 13 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) East Haddam - Machimoodus State Park. | ||
| This relatively new state park contains several ponds, open meadows, wetlands, and rich forests. It includes the shores of the Salmon and Moodus Rivers and Mt. Tom with a view of the Salmon River Cove. | ||
| Directions: | The marked entrance to the parking lot is located on the west side of Rte 151, 1.3 miles south of the intersection of Rts 151 and 196 and just north of the intersection of 151 with 149.
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| Leader: | Casper Ultee
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| September 20 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Hamden - Lockwood Farm. "Aster" Identification Workshop. | ||
| We will work on any asters that were not readily identified on the Sept. 13 field trip and any others available. Save and bring your problem specimens. Wrapped in damp newsprint and stored in the fridge, they will last 3-4 weeks. Come with a hand lens or low power microscope. Please register so we can bring sufficient identification keys and hand outs for everyone. | ||
| Directions: | From Interstate 91: Take exit10. Follow the Route 40 connector for 3.1 miles. Take a right onto Whitney Ave (Route 10) and go north for 0.6 miles. Take a left onto Evergreen Avenue, go 0.1 mile and take a right onto Kenwood Avenue. The farm is on your left; take the second driveway and follow signs to the cottage.
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| Leader: | Casper Ultee
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| September 27th (Saturday 11:30am) Weston - Annual Picnic | ||
| Details are in the printed field trip schedule.
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| October 4 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Goshen - CTDEP Goshen Wildlife Mangement Area | ||
| This WMA is 967 acres in area. We shall botanize the long, rolling fields; and the bordering hedgerows and sugar maple- white ash forest. (We won't risk getting lost in the forest interior). In part due to soil pockets with limestone influence, wet meadow areas are botanically diverse, especially the composites and willows. Bring binoculars and be alert for uncommon grassland birds. | ||
| Directions: | Meet at the Goshen Town Hall parking lot. Town Hall is on the east side of Route 63, just past traffic circle junction with Rte. 4
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| Leaders: | Sigrun Gadwa, Botanist
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| October 25 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.). Pound Ridge, N.Y. - Halle Ravine | ||
| This trip will follow a path along a stream down over a series of bridges into a deep hemlock ravine and then out to a maple swamp. | ||
| Directions: | From center of Pound Ridge take route 137 north and then bear right onto route 124. Pass the Hiram Halle library and then take the first right onto Trinity Pass Road. Go 0.7 miles and then park by the side of the road in front of white fence in a stone wall.
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| Leaders: | Carol Levine
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| November 1 (Saturday 10:00 a.m.) Hamden - Lockwood Farm. Lichen Identification Workshop. | ||
| This will be a beginner workshop on lichens covering types and structures necessary for identification. We will use a lichen key and a few chemicals necessary for identification. If time permits we will take a short field trip to a cemetery or to Sleeping Giant State Park to identify lichens in the field. Please register (limit 8) so we can bring sufficient identification keys and hand outs for everyone. Come with a 15 x hand lens or low power microscope. Bring lunch and a beverage. A microwave and refrigerator are available. | ||
| Directions: | From Interstate 91: Take exit10. Follow the Route 40 connector for 3.1 miles. Take a right onto Whitney Ave (Route 10) and go north for 0.6 miles. Take a left onto Evergreen Avenue, go 0.1 mile and take a right onto Kenwood Avenue. The farm is on your left; take the second driveway and follow signs to the cottage.
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| Leader: | Carol Lemmon
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| An invitation to the 2008 annual Joint Field Meeting of the Botanical Society of America -- Northeastern Section, Torrey Botanical Society, and Philadelphia Botanical Club | ||
| Sunday, June 1 to Thursday, June 5, 2008: The New Jersey Pine Barrens, a Biosphere Preserve. (Registration Deadline: April 21, 2008) | ||
| The joint field meeting will be held at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education on 194 acres of woodland and diverse coastal habitat (including brackish and salt marsh) on Barnegat Bay in Waretown, Ocean County, NJ. Three all day field trips and evening programs included.
Further information is available from the Philadelphia Botanical Club.
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