Maryland Native Plant Society

Introductory field trips. Leader will make a point of explaining basic concepts of native plant communities and plant/animal relationships, and will use mainly common names.

• Irvine Nature Center (Saturday) – BEGINNER ONLY. Introduction to plant communities and plant/wildlife relationships.
• Patapsco Valley State Park (Saturday) – Primarily for BEGINNERS, may be of interest to others who want to get to know this park – unusually rugged terrain. Emphasis on plant/wildlife relationships.

Field trips to exceptionally fine natural areas. Leader will make a point of explaining basic concepts of native plant communities and habitat, and will use mainly common names.

• Robert E. Lee Memorial Park (Saturday) – Globally rare ecosystem: mainly serpentine forest, may see some grasses and rare plants.
• Gunpowder Falls State Park (Sunday) - Piedmont forest. Emphasis on plant communities.
• Marshy Point Nature Center (Sunday) – Canoe trip through estuarine marshes and open water, short walk through Coastal forest.
• North Point State Park (Sunday) – Marsh plants, butterfly and waterfowl habitat field trip.
• Severn Run Natural Environmental Area (Sunday) – Coastal Plain forest hike along the Scenic Severn River to a tidal (draw) marsh and shrub swamp. Excellent wildlife habitat and great views of the upper Severn.

These trips are appropriate for a wide range of people who have been on native plant field trips before.

• Baltimore City Parks: Stony Run and Druid Hill Park (Saturday) – Piedmont streamside and upland forests. Also listed under Managed Landscapes – emphasis will be on management.
• Oregon Ridge Park (Saturday) – Factors that affect the structure and species composition of plant communities; exploration of Mixed Oak Forest, Yellow Poplar Forest, right-of-way with mixed native and exotic plants.
• Mt. Pleasant (Saturday) – Emphasis will be on gardens and restoration sites, but participants can also walk to see spring, stream, and forest plant communities.
• Howard County Parks (Saturday) – Emphasis will be on restoration, but participants will see extensive wetland habitat.
• Piney Orchard Nature Preserve (Sunday) – Follow boardwalk through preserved natural wetland in suburban housing subdivision. Diverse plant community.

Highest quality natural areas; plant communities that used to be extensive in our area. Expect to discuss taxonomy, field botany, field ecology.

• Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area (Saturday) – Globally rare ecosystem: serpentine barrens, grassland, forest, and wetland. Uncommon and rare plants; state-rare fringed gentian may be in bloom.
• Caves Valley - Field Ecology (Sunday) – Discussion of the natural resources inventory and plant and animal database system created to keep track of flora and fauna and their dominance within various habitats. Over 400 species of plants and animals have been catalogued. Student research opportunities. Rare plants, some on a locally-rare wetland soil weathered from the Cockeysville marble formation.
• Patuxent River State Park (Sunday) – Exceptionally high quality Piedmont forest with diverse plant community, several rare plants.