Winter Weeds, Galls, and Insect Identification

Ever wonder what that elliptical growth is that stands out in a scrubby old field, or how beautiful that spiky plant looks covered in fresh snow – what is it? How do insects you see in your garden during the growing season manage to survive the harsh winter? What are the song sparrows eking a living on as they scamper about like snow mice under the dried vegetation of a wet meadow? What is that downy woodpecker trying to get out of that cattail punk as it bounces from plant to plant?

All will be revealed in this three-hour presentation/ field walk as Blaine Rothauser, Senior Natural Resource Specialist with GZA, GeoEnvironmental pumps up your naturalistic tendencies, galvanizing you to take a closer look at the world in winter.

By the time the program is over you can expect to name the most common winter weeds amongst field and stream, meadow and wood, and come away with a deeper appreciation for the survival mechanisms of the fauna that rely on them during the most difficult period of their life histories.

Please dress for the weather! There will be a brief classroom session and most of the time will be spent outdoors. Bring a snack and water bottle.