NATH7149E, 1.5 CEUs
Class night and time: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm 
Class meetings: July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Lectures via zoom EXCEPT for July 8 – IN PERSON at Woodend
Field trip dates: Saturday, July 12 (8:30-11:30 am) at TBA; Saturday, July 26 (8:30-11:30 am) at McKee Beshers WMA
Instructor: Dr. Clare Walker
Members $210, nonmembers $260
Gain an appreciation of the varied summer wildflowers of our region from dazzling orchids to roadside ‘weeds’. Many are important pollinator plants from the distinctive milkweeds to lobelias and mountain mints. (The aster family is the focus of the Asters class in August and not included in this course).  Explore methods of field identification, from traditional field guides to the advantages/disadvantages of different apps, giving you the tools to go outside and hunt for flowers (recording flower observations in an optional iNaturalist class project). The class will also consider the ecological roles between the plants and their pollinators and how they support wildlife in different habitats of the Mid-Atlantic. Field trips, featuring some of the area’s best wildflower locations, will allow practice in recognizing identification characteristics and using guides/apps. A magnifier/hand lens is recommended. This class is aimed at beginner to intermediate levels. REGISTER

Required books & equipment:
* A magnifying glass or botany loupe (10x) – we will discuss options in the first class if you want to wait to make your purchase.

Required Textbook OR App (your choice)
*Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide: An Ingenious New Key System for Quick, Positive Field Identification of Wildflowers, Flowering Shrubs and Vines Paperback (ANY Edition)
OR
*If you prefer a digital flower identification guide, you can download the free Wildflower App for your state for IOS or Android; Maryland Wildflowers or Virginia Wildflowers.

Alternative/Highly Recommended Reference Textbooks
*Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, by Steven Clemants and Carol Gracie. Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780195150056