Join ecologist Ted Elliman for an exploration of native New England plant communities. A Thursday evening Zoom lecture will cover many of the forest, meadow and wetland habitats found in Berkshire County, discussing their physical and ecological features — topography, geology, soils, and moisture— as well as their characteristic plant associations, including both common and rare plants. The Saturday field trip will take us to a variety of forested, open and wetland habitats, and we will take a close look at the flora and features of each of them. Ted will also discuss the impacts of invasive species and possible changes to natural communities in response to climate change. Thursday, July 13, 6 to 8 p.m. online lecture. Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. field study.

We will travel in BBG’s passenger van. Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes (we will be walking nearly the entire day) and bring a bagged lunch if attending the Saturday field study. * Rain date for field day, Sunday, July 16.

Ted Elliman worked for many years for Native Plant Trust as a staff botanist, invasive species program manager and instructor of botany, ecology and conservation classes. His book, Wildflowers of New England, an identification guide to much of the region’s native flora, was published in 2016 by Timber Press. Ted founded and directed an environmental education and wilderness adventure center in the Berkshires. He periodically leads natural history tours to southwest China, where he worked for two years as a teacher and forest ecologist.

Order Wildflowers of New England from our online store.