Last summer I had to leave early from Mashomack Preserve聽 on Shelter Island for a field trip to Long Island.聽 While I waited for the South Ferry I decided to explore the marsh to the west where a friend had told me there were some interesting plants. He was right.

There are pictures of last year’s walk on the . View the pdf of the Flora Walk at the Stroh’s. This year they are hoping it won’t be so rainy.聽 They would appreciate all the botanical help they can get so they can assemble a good native and invasive plant list of the area.

A pot luck picnic is planned for 4 PM.

For more information contact Leslie Stroh at lstroh@exporter.com.

for more photos of the beautiful Butternut Valley.

ITHACA, NY (February 21, 2011) — Do you love spending time in the forests, meadows and other natural areas of the Finger Lakes region?聽聽Do you care about preserving the integrity of the natural world and do you want to share this love with others?聽聽If so, consider joining Plantations’ Natural Areas Academy.

The year-long Natural Areas Academy (NAA) consists of dozens of expert-led workshops, field trips, and directed stewardship opportunities designed to provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to support efforts in preserving our treasured natural resources.聽Utilizing Plantations’ Natural Areas as outdoor classrooms, the NAA aims to foster the conservation of natural areas and rare and declining species and their habitats by demonstrating essential stewardship methods, cultivating environmental literacy, and encouraging interactive experience with the natural world.

“With their newly gained expertise, the Natural Areas Academy participants will also help to mentor the next generation of scientists, teachers, environmental stewards, and leaders, thereby fulfilling a vital role in the long-term preservation of our natural heritage, our world, and ultimately, our place in it,” stated Todd Bittner, director of the Cornell Plantations Natural Areas,

Participants in the NAA are expected to work towards the program’s goals over the course of a year.聽聽After the completion of at least eight of the workshops and field trips, plus 40 hours of participation in directed stewardship activities, academy members will receive their Natural Areas Mentor certification and may continue to participate in the NAA as a mentor for no cost. The first NAA workshop will be for a mandatory orientation, and will be held on Saturday, March 12, beginning at 9:30 AM.

Participation in the NAA requires a non-refundable $100 application fee.聽聽To learn more or to enroll online, please visit us at聽.聽聽Enrollment closes at midnight on March 11, 2011.

Cornell Plantations is the botanical gardens, arboretum, and natural areas of Cornell University, and is a member of Ithaca’s Discovery Trail partnership. Plantations is open to the public year-round, free of charge, during daylight hours. The Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am to 4pm.聽 For more information call 607-255-2400, visit cornellplantations.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/cornellplantations.

Intermediate Bryology will be offered by Dr. David Wagner on the University of Oregon campus on March 21-23. The objective of this workshop will be a fairly intensive practice using the contemporary keys pertinent to the area. Most of the time will be spent in the teaching lab, with an afternoon excursion on the first day for field experience. Time will be available for participants who bring personal collections to work on them under expert supervision. Tuition is $300. Contact Dr. Wagner for more information (541-344-3327 / davidwagner@mac.com).

The 16th Annual SO BE FREE foray will be held in the lower elevations of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Quincy, California on March 23-26.聽 The area offers great sites for montane coniferous, mixed coniferous-hardwood forests; canyon oak forests; rocky outcrops; and chaparral, all in the steep North Fork of the Feather River canyon.聽 There will be flat trails and roadside areas to visit for easy access.聽 Bryophyte diversity will span from California’s spring ephemerals, bryophytes of springs, streamlets, and rivers to the great diversity found on rocky outcrops.聽 Beginning bryologists are welcome, and they are planning some special activities for beginners, as well as serious fieldtrips聽 that will be exciting for the hard-core. for more info.

An Introduction to Bryophytes will be offered by Dr. Stephen Timme in the botany lab on the Pittsburg (Kansas) State University campus on April 2-3. It is designed to provide an introduction to basic characteristics and techniques for identification of some of the more common species found in the prairie, oak/hickory forests, and rock outcrops in the central U.S.聽 Techniques will include the proper use of the microscope, free-hand sections, terminology, and making semi-permanent mounts. The workshop will be topped off with a field trip. Contact Dr. Timme for more information (417-658-5473 / slt@pittstate.edu).

Editor’s Message – Where Did the Year Go?

Review of the November Grassland and Meadows Preserves Meeting

Heartful Thanks to the Boy and Girl Scouts

Girl Scout Gold Award Project

Eagle Scout Project at the Hempstead Plains

Review of the Annual Fall Hempstead Plains Poetry Writing and Painting Workshop

“Walk the Plains” Event Hosted by Friends of Hempstead Plains and Nassau County

Information on Biotrays, Biodegradable Trays Filled with Clean Soil and Appropriate Seeds

Upcoming Programs

Afternoon Walks Fridays at 3:30 PM: April 29, May 13, May 20, June 3, June 17, July 8

Weekend Volunteer Community Workdays Saturdays 9 to 12: April 30, May 14, May 21, June 4, June 18, July 9

For more information and to join the Friends go to their website. .