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 six-week course beginning Wednesday, July 30.
The Field Botany course will feature two in-person class sessions and four field trips, all held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. The course is open to plant enthusiasts of all skill levels. Sessions will examine a variety of topics, including:
- Basic botanical terminology
- See the forest for the trees (field trip to Kellogg Forest)
- Wetland plants of the Midwest (field trip to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute) ▪ History and distribution of Michigan’s native plant communities
- Prairies and savannas of Michigan (field trip to Chipman Preserve)
- Aquatic plants (field trip to KBS Lux Arbor Reserve)
View the full course schedule.
Registration
Register for the course at bit.ly/kbs-field-botany-2025 by 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 28; 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.
