NATH7137E, 1.5 CEUs
Class night and time: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm 
Class meetings: August 5, 12, 19, 26, September 2
Lectures via zoom
Field trip dates: Saturday, August 9 (9-11:30am) at Woodend Nature Sanctuary; Saturday, August 16 (8:30-11:30 am) at TBD; Saturday, September 6 (8:30-11:30 am) at Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract
Instructor: Dr. Clare Walker
Members $240, nonmembers $290
Discover the beauty and diversity of the largest flowering family in North America—named after the familiar asters. You might be surprised to know that this family contains plants as diverse as lettuce, artichokes and even a common local shrub. The Asters include many familiar favorites from coneflowers and sunflowers to black-eyed Susan and blazing stars but also many notorious weeds and invasives.  Suitable for beginners and immediate students, this class will guide you in the identification of these tricky flowers. We will also look at the ecological roles of these important flowers that support specialist bees, many butterfly and moth species, galls and more. 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