Basic Botanical Identifying Techniques For Wildflowers

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When: May 1, from 1 pm to 3 pm
Where: Francis Carter Preserve, Charlestown
Cost: Walk is free and open to the public
Registration: Preregistration is required
Who: This walk is organized by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

Hone your observation skills and improve your ability to identify wildflowers.

Nathan Lambstrom will lead a walk through the Nature Conservancy’s Francis C. Carter Preserve, focusing on taking the guesswork out of wildflower identification for the nature lover with no formal botanical training.

Nathan will have some copies of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide that will walk you through a simple but precise logical key system. Bring your own copy if you have one.

Nathan Lambstrom is a lecturer in the College of Environment and Life Sciences at URI. A garden ecologist, Nathan also runs his own business designing and planting gardens that support wildlife, conserve water, and enrich home environments. Nathan holds a MS in plant biology and conservation from Northwestern University.

The walk is approximately 3 miles on an easy to moderate trail.

General Walk Guidelines

  • Dogs are not permitted.
  • Wear clothing and sturdy footwear appropriate for the weather conditions and for protection against sun exposure, ticks and other insects, briers, tree root etc.
  • Bring a sufficient supply of water and nourishment for your needs.
  • Cancellations: Should you need to cancel, contact communications@riwps.org
  • The walk will proceed in light rain or shine. In case of cancellations due to poor weather conditions, you will receive an email. The organizers tend to wait until the day before the walk to make this call as weather forecasts can be changeable.

Registration Is Required

  • The number of participants is limited to maximize the ability for everyone to observe the plants and participate in the conversation.
  • Note: Only one person can register at a time. To register a second person, just repeat the process.
  • More specifics about the location provided upon registration.

This walk is free, but donations are welcome to support the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society walks and other programs.

Banner image is a photo of Allegheny monkey flower, cardinal flower, and swamp milkweed in Charlestown shared with us by the photographer Doug McGrady.