NYFA Field Trips and Workshops for 2013

5 May (Sunday), 10 am to 3 pm.  Annual NYFA Meeting and walk, Nelson Swamp, (Madison County) led by Sara Scanga

Rain or shine. We will meet near Nelson Swamp in Madison County and explore this beautiful white cedar swamp with Sara Scanga, assistant professor of biology at Utica College, and learn about her research on the rare spreading globeflower, Trollius laxus. After the field trip we will meet at Ed Frantz’s house in nearby Cazenovia for a delicious lunch, a business meeting, and some fun botanical challenges. Join us for a day of learning, lunch and leisure. To register for the event so we know how many to plan for and for field trip details, email Steve Young -  nisky912 [at]gmail.com or call him at 518-588-8360.

10-12 May (Friday-Sunday) – Amelanchier (shadbush) workshop based out of Plattsburgh (Clinton County) led by Michael Burgess

What: Commonly called shadbushes or serviceberries, the genus Amelanchier (Rosaceae) contains attractive shrubs to small trees that are closely related to apple, pear, hawthorn, cotoneaster, and mountain ash. The taxonomy of Amelanchier has long perplexed botanists, as expressed by Fernald (1946), who stated that “no genus in North America, except of course Rubus and Crataegus, has offered so much perplexity and has such contradictory treatment as Amelanchier”.  Polyploidy, which is coincident with asexual reproduction, and frequent hybridization, create significant taxonomic confusion in Amelanchier. Despite this complexity, recent research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of Amelanchier and has revealed numerous diploid species that are morphologically, ecogeographically, and genetically distinct taxa.  

This workshop will review current research on the systematics and evolution of Amelanchier and provide hands-on field / lab experience identifying diploid and polyploid Amelanchier.  Field excursions will take us from the tame--identification of diploid A. arborea, A. humilis, and A bartramiana--to the unadulterated wild side of the genus--polyploid hybrid swarms.  Lab time will be devoted to learning morphological characters used in field identification, determining ploidy level of our collections using a flow cytometer, and consoling each other as we explore polyploid diversity.  It is expected participants will gain an appreciation and knowledge of evolutionary forces driving taxonomic complexity, and learn the hard skills necessary for classifying Amelanchier.  

Who: Michael B. Burgess is currently a faculty member in the Biological Science Department at SUNY Plattsburgh.  Prior to this appointment, Michael was a research fellow in the Botany Department at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.  Michael received his PhD at the University of Maine, where he studied the systematics and evolution of Amelanchier in the Christopher Campbell Lab.             

When and Where: This workshop will take place from Friday May 10^th at 7 pm to Sunday May 12^th in the afternoon. It will be based out of SUNY Plattsburgh (Clinton Co.) and we will travel to various sites for field work.

Cost: The cost for the workshop includes the entire weekend instructional program, lab space, and perhaps vans. Meals and housing are not included. The workshop fee is $115 for NYFA members and students; $145 for non-members. Participants are encouraged to become NYFA members (see the NYFA website www.nyflora.org).

Registration: Participation is limited so please sign up early. To register send an email with contact information (name, address, affiliation, email and best phone)  to Anne Johnson, ritzko[at]northnet.org and a check for the full amount with the name of the workshop in the memo line made out to the New York Flora Association / PO Box 122 / Albany, NY 12201-0122 or to pay immediately by Paypal, please use the dropdown box at the bottom of this page.

Inquiries: For questions you can contact Anne Johnson (315) 322-4058 or ritzko [at]northnet.org

17-19 May (Friday-Sunday) – Ethnobotany workshop based out of the Ithaca area (Tompkins County) led by Arthur Haines

This workshop is full. Please contact David Werier (607) 273-1765 or Nakita[at]lightlink.com to get on the waiting list.

What: Plants have been and continue to be immensely important to people.  They provide food, medicine, materials for shelter, fuel for heating dwellings and cooking food, fibers for cordage and clothing, wood for tools and hunting weapons, etc.  Aboriginal people knew which plants could be used for various purposes, where to find them, and how to process them.  They possessed an intimate relationship with plants that began with learning how to identify them and deepened as they learned their smell, their taste, the quality of their fibers, the timing of their flowers, and so on. Contemporary people still rely heavily on plants, but, unfortunately, most people in developed countries are no longer able to find, collect, and process the materials they need to sustain their lives.  Not only has this led to populaces that are entirely dependent on agribusiness and manufacturers, but it has also removed people from direct participation in the circle of life.  This, in turn, has created populations who do not know the functions and values of wild places (both large and small) and has led to apathy for protecting these open spaces.  This class is designed to offer a broad range of ethnobotany topics to the participants, focusing primarily on food, wildcrafted medicine, fiber arts, and friction fire.  The weekend will begin with a thought-provoking lecture on wild vs. agricultural food, and progress with hands-on time spent in the field interacting with wild plants.  Safety, nutrition, phytochemistry, and sustainable harvesting will be common themes as we discuss, harvest, and sample wild foods.  Throughout the weekend, we will celebrate the union of indigenous knowledge and modern research.  Participants should come prepared for the elements and uneven ground.

Who: Arthur Haines grew up in the western mountains of Maine, a rural area that was home to swift streams known for their trout fishing.  He spent most of his childhood in the Sandy River Valley hiking, tracking, and foraging.  He began his academic studies at the University of Maine.  He graduated with a B.S. in Wildlife Management and a M.S. in Botany and Plant Pathology. Arthur lives in western Maine where he works as a plant taxonomist and teacher.  He has written several books and published many papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Arthur spends a great deal of his free time foraging for food, medicine, and other materials.  As a consequence, a significant portion of his calories comes from wild foods that are gathered locally.  Likewise, all of his medicines are produced from wild plants that are gathered in the northeast. Combining traditional methods with modern research helps Arthur create a compelling picture of the ways wild plants can nourish and heal our bodies.  Protecting the open spaces where wild food and medicines are gathered is important to insure the continued ability to harvest these products.  Therefore, changing people's attitudes about the landscape (in particular, the remaining open spaces) is one of the primary emphases of Arthur's teaching and writing.  Wild places (large and small) harbor nutrient-dense foods, potent medicines, and raw materials that can enrich the lives of people who choose to participate in local ecology.

When and Where: This workshop will take place from Friday May 17^th at 7 pm to Sunday May 19^th between 12 and 1pm. It will be held about 20 minutes south of Ithaca.

Cost: The cost for the workshop includes the entire weekend instructional program. Meals and housing are not included. The workshop fee is $115 for NYFA members and students; $145 for non-members. Participants are encouraged to become NYFA members (see the NYFA website www.nyflora.org).

Registration: Participation is limited to 12 so please sign up early. To register send an email with contact information (name, address, affiliation, email and best phone) to David Werier, Nakita[at]lightlink.com and a check for the full amount with the name of the workshop in the memo line made out to the New York Flora Association / PO Box 122 / Albany, NY 12201-0122 or to pay immediately by Paypal, please use the dropdown box at the bottom of this page.

Inquiries: For questions you can contact David Werier (607) 273-1765 or Nakita[at]lightlink.com.

9 June (Sunday), 9:30 am to 4 pm. Michigan Hollow Swamp (Tompkins County) led by David Werier

This walk is full. Please contact David Werier (607) 273-1765 or Nakita[at]lightlink.com to get on the waiting list.

Joint field trip of the New York Flora Association and the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society.

We will spend the day exploring Michigan Hollow Swamp, a large forested, headwater peatland in south-central New York. Some of our time will be in upland forests and the remainder in the marshes and swamps of the hollow. The area is rich botanically and will afford us the opportunity to see a large diversity of plants. Come prepared for uneven terrain, mucky and wet conditions, and generally challenging walking through the swamp.

Pre-registration is required and numbers are limited so register early. To register and for questions contact David Werier (Nakita[at]lightlink.com).

18 – 20 June (Tuesday – Thursday) Sedge workshop in Morrisville (Madison County) led by Tony Reznicek 

What:  The workshop will focus on sedges, but rushes and grasses will be discussed also.   Multiple field sites will be explored within a 60 mile radius that includes a wide range of habitats including some very unique habitats.  This workshop will be valuable for a wide range of experience and will benefit botanists, ecologists, wetland delineators, restoration ecologists, and more.  The workshop will include both lab and field exercises.   All participants are encouraged to bring plant material from their areas of interest for evening ID and discussions with Tony.   

Who:  Dr. Tony Reznicek (University of Michigan), the renowned Carex expert and author to various FNA Cyperaceae treatments, will lead the workshop. 

When and Where:  The workshop classroom portion will be held at the SUNY Morrisville State College Campus in Morrisville NY.  Approximately 45 minutes Southeast of Syracuse located on NYS Route 20. The workshop will be held on June 19th and June 20 with an optional evening session on June 18 for ID of your plants. 

Cost:   Workshop fee is $150 for NYFA members and students; $180 for non-members.  Cost does not include lodging or meals.  Further information, including meal and lodging options will be sent later to registrants closer to the time.  Participants are encouraged to become NYFA members (see the NYFA website http://www.nyflora.org/)

Registration: Participation is limited so please sign up early. To register send an email with contact information (name, address, affiliation, email and best phone) to Ed Frantz, Ed.Frantz[at]dot.ny.gov  and a check made out to the New York Flora Association for the full amount with the name of the workshop in the memo line, to the New York Flora Association / PO Box 122 / Albany, NY 12201-0122 or to pay immediately by Paypal, please use the dropdown box at the bottom of this page.

Inquiries: For questions please contact Ed Frantz at Ed.Frantz[at]dot.ny.gov, or by phone at (315) 793-2421.

June 29 (Saturday), 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Bonaparte Swamp and Fitzgerald Pond (Lewis County) led by Rich Ring and Anne Johnson

We will spend the day exploring Bonaparte Swamp and the nearby Fitzgerald Pond.  Both sites are peatlands influenced by limestone and contain various rich fen habitats with associated rarities. Pogonia ophioglossoides, Calopogon tuberosus, Cypripedium reginae, and several other orchid species may be in bloom, and rare sedges including Carex tenuiflora and Carex chordorrhiza are known from the sites as well. Fitzgerald Pond has a connected northern white-cedar swamp and an adjacent rich upland forest which we may also explore, time permitting.  Bring a lunch and come prepared for wet feet, occasional deep muck, and bugs.  Registration is required; please contact Rich Ring at richardmring[at]gmail.com or Anne Johnson at ritzko[at]northnet.org to register or for questions.

 13 – 14 July  (Saturday – Sunday) Little Rock City and Zoar Valley (Cattaraugus County) led by Joanne Schlegel

Joint field trip with Niagara Frontier Botanical Society.

 July 13: the Little Rock City area.  In this part of Cattaraugus County huge conglomerate beds of rock are separated by passages and caves.  This area is one of the few in NYS which remained unglaciated during the last glacial period, resulting in a unique flora today.

We expect to see Ilex montana, Plantanthera orbiculatus, Polypodium appalachianum, and abundant bryophytes.

If time and interest allow, we may go on to nearby Allenburg Bog, a large and pristine bog containing Xyris, Utricularia, Dalibarda, Decodon, etc, and what we believe to be the northernmost known population of Rhododendron maximum-should be in bloom on July 13.

 July 14: Zoar Valley, a 400-foot gorge created by Cattaraugus Creek along the northern border of Cattaraugus County, which contains one of the largest remaining old growth forests in the eastern U.S.  We will enjoy beautiful vistas along the rim as we visit the Knife Edge with its community of cliff-edge plants including Shepherdia canadensis, Cornus florida, Senecio obovatus, and Pedicularis canadensis (all rare for us).  If water levels allow, we will descend to hike along the creek to visit old growth forests which include 10 champion trees listed as the tallest of their species in NYS and a 128-foot basswood which is the tallest of its kind in the world. 

Pre-registration is required. To register and for questions please contact Joanne Schlegel at joanneschlegel[at]gmail.com or 716-835-6042

19-21 July 2013 (Friday-Sunday) – Grasses of New York workshop based out of the Bailey Hortorium, Ithaca (Tompkins County) led by David Werier

This workshop is full. Please contact David Werier (607) 273-1765 or Nakita[at]lightlink.com to get on the waiting list.

Workshop co-sponsored by NYFA and the Bailey Hortorium. 

What: Grasses are a large and significant part of the flora of New York, making up around 10% of the flora. They include highly invasive species as well as very rare natives. They grow in deep marshes, on dry rocky summits, and in cracks in sidewalks. Almost all habitats in New York contain at least a few species and often times many more. Yet because they often look superficially similar to each other and their flowers are small and relatively non-descript many people do not make the effort to identify them. Still, many grasses are relatively easy to identify and being able to identify them can enhance ones appreciation of what grows around them.

This workshop will focus on the identification and ecology of grasses that occur in New York. We will spend a lot of time in the field and have lab time as well, where access to dissecting microscopes will make examination of the small floral structures easier. This workshop is for all levels. There will be a review of basic grass parts and time for self or group study of specimens that will be supplied and/or that students bring.

Who: David Werier is a student of the flora of New York. His passion centers on understanding and becoming familiar with all the species that occur in the state and enjoys sharing that knowledge with those that are interested. He has taught numerous workshops on different taxonomic groups including grasses. His intention for the workshop is that participants will walk away with the knowledge and skills to readily identify the grasses they encounter in New York (and beyond).

When and Where: This workshop will take place from Friday July 19^th at 7 pm to Sunday July 21^th in the afternoon. It will be based out of the Bailey Hortorium Herbarium at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (Tompkins Co.) and we will travel to various sites in the Ithaca area for field work.

Cost: The cost for the workshop includes the entire weekend instructional program, lab space, and perhaps vans. Meals and housing are not included. The workshop fee is $115 for NYFA members and students; $145 for non-members. Participants are encouraged to become NYFA members (see the NYFA website www.nyflora.org).

Registration: Participation is limited so please sign up early. To register send an email with contact information (name, address, affiliation, email and best phone) to David Werier, Nakita[at]lightlink.com and a check for the full amount with the name of the workshop in the memo line made out to the New York Flora Association / PO Box 122 / Albany, NY 12201-0122 or to pay by pay immediately by Paypal, please use the dropdown box at the bottom of this page.

Inquiries: For questions you can contact David Werier (607) 273-1765 or Nakita[at]lightlink.com

3 August (note new date)  (Saturday), 10 am to 1 pm. Whiteface Mountain Field Trip, (Essex County) led by Steve Young

Joint with Adirondack Botanical Society.

Join Steve Young for a walk from the summit of Whiteface Mountain down the Wilmington Trail and the Whiteface Highway to the Lake Placid turn of the highway.  We will look at the wide diversity of alpine and krummholz plants and see if we can add to the extensive checklist of plants for the summit and the roadside. This is an easy hike and will involve a trip up the Whiteface elevator and a walk down a rocky trail to the road. This is a joint trip with the Adirondack Botanical Society. Steve Young is Chief Botanist for the NY Natural Heritage Program and has helped to continue the checklist of plants for Whiteface started by Ed Ketchledge. The trip is open to anyone, but limited to 20, and will start at the entrance to the elevator walkway.

The Whiteface highway website is http://www.whiteface.com/summer/activities/hiway.php

It is $10 for car and driver and $6 for each additional passenger so you might want to make carpool arrangements. If you plan to attend let Steve know by contacting him at 518-588-8360 or nisky912 (at) gmail.com.

25 August (Sunday) Edgewood Preserve, 10 am. (Suffolk County) led by Mike Feder

Joint with Long Island Botanical Society.

The Edgewood Preserve is one of the largest remnant pitch-pine scrub oak habitats in New York and is the largest natural wildlife corridor in Western Suffolk County. We will be exploring a power line cut that runs through the preserve. Be prepared for possible wet walking. We can expect to see some uncommon plants and a wide variety of Cyperus species growing syntopically. Bring plenty of water, bug repellent and snacks.

 Directions: Please contact trip leader by e-mail, mdfeder2001 [at]yahoo.com , for meeting location and directions. Note that a permit is required from the DEC in order to access the preserve and rangers are sometimes present to check for them. The permit is free and easy to obtain through e-mail by visiting http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7815.html and clicking on the Region 1 State Land Access Permit link in the upper right hand corner.

7 September  (Saturday), 10 am to 2 pm. Joralemon Park Fern Hotspot Field Trip, (Albany County) led by Al Breisch and Mark Fitzsimmons.

Join Al Breisch and Mark Fitzsimmons for this walk to identify the scores of fern species that inhabit this beautiful limestone forest.  Al and Mark have spent years cataloging the ferns of Joralemon Park. It has resulted in one the highest number species for a site in the state.  This is a hike on mostly flat terrain and is limited to 15 participants.

If you plan to attend and for trip details, let Steve Young know by contacting him at 518-588-8360 or nisky912 (at) gmail.com.

21 September  (Saturday), 10 am to 4 pm. Cryptogamic Outing - Chaumont Region Alvar (Jefferson County) led by Jim Battaglia

A moss/lichen foray to either the TNC's Limerick Cedars Preserve or Three Mile Creek Preserve near Chaumont in Jefferson County; the specific location to be determined later or by the participants. A field trip to the similar Chaumont Barrens Preserve two years ago yielded some interesting finds. Pre-registration is necessary and the number of participants is limited: contact Jim Battaglia at jimbattaglia (at) roadrunner.com or at 716-626-1950, for information or to register.

26 October  (Saturday), 9 am to 1 pm, Albany Pine Bush. Bark: Get to Know Your Trees by Michael Wojtech, author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.

The traits typically used to describe trees—leaves, twigs, and buds— are often difficult to see or, in the case of leaves, absent more than half the year. Join Michael for an exploration of bark, which is always visible, in any season. You will learn about a system for distinguishing trees by their bark, and begin to discover why such a variety of bark characteristics exists. Why do some species have smooth bark, while on others it is thick and broken? Why does bark peel? We will begin with an indoor presentation and activity, and then, after a short break, head outside to discover bark’s functional and identifying features. Open to curious naturalists at all levels of experience.

The workshop will be limited to 25 participants and registration is required. It is important that participants be on time for the introductory lecture. Bring water, lunch, and insect repellent.

Cost for the workshop: $35 members, $65 non members. Join NYFA and save $10!

To register send an email with contact information (name, address, affiliation, email and best phone) to Steve Young, nisky912 [at] gmail.com and a check for the full amount with the name of the workshop in the memo line made out to the New York Flora Association / PO Box 122 / Albany, NY 12201-0122 or to pay immediately by Paypal, please use the dropdown box at the bottom of this page.

Signed copies of Michael’s book, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast will be available. For more information visit: www.knowyourtrees.com.