How often do you notice a plant in your backyard or along a road, trail or stream, and wonder what it is? Take the guesswork out of identifying plants and broaden your knowledge of plant distribution by joining the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and local experts for a hybrid, six-week course beginning Wednesday, July 31.

 

The Field Botany course will feature in-person and online class sessions and four field trips, all held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Presenters are:

  • Dr. Tyler Bassett, Michigan Natural Features Inventory
  • Erik Elgin, Michigan State University Extension
  • Shawn Kelly, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Dr. Danielle Zoellner, Kalamazoo Conservation District

The course is open to plant enthusiasts of all skill levels. Sessions will examine a variety of topics, including:

  • Basic botanical terminology
  • Trees of Michigan’s forests
  • Wetland plants of the Midwest
  • History and distribution of Michigan’s native plant communities
  • Prairies and savannas of Michigan
  • Aquatic plants

View the full course schedule.

 

Registration

 Register for the course at https://bit.ly/kbs-field-botany-2024 by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 30; space is limited to 25 participants. The cost is $165 for Sanctuary members and $185 for non-members. The course qualifies for Master Gardener program credits, and advanced training recertification requirements for both the Michigan Conservation Stewards and MSU Extension Michigan Master Naturalist programs.

 

Past course participants appreciated the format of having a unique topic for each class as well as "learning the special features of the plants and interesting backstories of how plants have been used in history."

 For more information about the Sanctuary, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu. Direct questions to birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or (269) 671-2510.

Please consider supporting the Sanctuary by becoming a member.

W.K. Kellogg BIrd Sanctuary Prarie