President

Volunteers Needed!! 

Japanese Stilt grass is a shade tolerant invasive grass species that if left uncontrolled can turn forests into fields. The plant was introduced to the United States in the 1930's as a packaging material from Japan. The short rhizomal roots are thought to be able to generate a new plant which makes it an invader that can easily travel on tire tread, shoes and off-road vehicles.  Japanese Stilt grass can easily be identified by its dense growth and silver streak down the middle of the leaves. Participants can easily pull this grass due to its short and loosely held root system. Unfortunately the seeds are barbed and buoyant and can remain dormant for up to a decade and maybe longer, so annual pulling is absolutely necessary to eradication. Last year our efforts at Burlingame State Park resulted in two new areas to be eradicated and no sign of growth this year. However there are many other areas that are literally swallowing a few meters of ground cover annually. We will easily pull, rake, and weed-wack areas of stilt grass and each method is dependant on the infected area. Participants need to bring bug spray, long pants, and gloves if you feel the need. Your efforts will be noticed and are appreciated by Rhode Islanders and visitors to our wonderful state.

 

TIME:  9:00 AM

 

LOCATION:  We will meet at Burlingame campground Check Station (parking lot before the gate)  I will arrange it so people will be able to drive in free of charge.

 

For more information contact:
Neil Anthes
USFWS Rhode Island NWR Complex
Kettle Pond Visitor Center
50 Bend Road
Charlestown, RI 02813
401-364-9124 Ext. 43
401-364-0170 Fax
Neil_Anthes@fws.gov

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." - Einstein

 

   Anne Mulready, Paul Thompson and Neil Anthes, Photo by JPilson

 

Leader: Carl Sawyer

Moderate

Pre-registration required at least 48 hours prior.

Fee:  Members $5, Non-members $10.

Minimum 8, maximum 15

Directions and meeting place will be sent to those who have registered.

 

Portsmouth, RI

Saturday, September 25, 9:30 - 11 am

 

Fall is a grand time to plan for changes to be made in your garden. Collecting and saving the seeds from your favorite plants is a good way to begin and can be a rewarding experience. Sharing your extra seeds will help someone else expand their garden pallet.

 

Come to this lecture to learn how to collect seeds, what storage treatment they may need and to find out when to start planting the seeds so they will be just the right size when spring arrives again. The presenter, Marty Fisher, enjoys blooming plants along with ripening seed heads in her garden. All of her plants have been grown from seeds that she has saved, collected, or bought. The fun of propagating seeds continues year after year.

Attendees are invited to bring seeds to share.

Leader:  Marty Fisher

Harvard Forest Pre-Settlement Forest 1700 AD

TOUR OF HARVARD FOREST AND FISHER MUSEUM
Petersham, MA
Sunday, September 26, 12 noon (on site) to 3:00 p.m.
 
This will be a memorable afternoon, spent with John O'Keefe, co-author of New England Forests Through Time, and long-time Coordinator of the Fisher Museum. The tour will begin with a video and discussion of the history and mission of Harvard Forest, followed by an interpreted tour of the Museum's main exhibit, the internationally acclaimed dioramas portraying the history, conservation and management of central New England's forests. Finally, we will take a walk into one of the most intensively studied tracts in North America, the 3,000-acre site for Harvard Forest studies and long term ecological research. We will see a variety of woodland communities and the different species composition patterns resulting from 270 years of varied land use.
 
Leader: Garry Plunkett
Moderate
Pre-registration required at least 48 hours prior.
Fee:  Members $10, non-members $20.
Minimum 8, maximum 15
Directions and car pool arrangements will be sent to those who have registered.

 

Photo by Noel Rowe

MUSHROOM WALK AT ALTON JONES
Alton Jones Education Center
West Greenwich, RI
Tuesday, October 5, 3 - 5 pm
Rain date: Wednesday, October 6, 3-5 pm
 
Fungus is everywhere but mostly we only notice it when it decides to send out its spore producing fruit, the mushroom.  At the Nettie Marie Jones Nature Preserve the variety of habitats, from the mixed hardwood forest to streams and old fields, should give us a diversity of mushrooms to look for and learn about. We will pick one of each type and try to identify it to a major group. There is NO collecting on this foray. You are advised never to eat a wild mushroom unless you are positive of its species. Many mushrooms look alike, but some are deadly.
 
Leader: Noel Rowe, experienced amateur Mushroom Enthusiast
Easy
Pre-registration required at least 48 hours prior.
Fee: Members $5, Non-members $10
Minimum 5, maximum 15
Directions will be sent to those who have registered. 
 
 

Photo by Joan Pilson

FALL FOLIAGE IDENTIFICATION

Pulaski State Park
Western Gloucester, RI
Sunday, October 17,
1 to 3 pm
Rain date: Sunday, October 24, 1 - 3 pm
 

 

This program is the fourth and final event in the Paul Dolan Tree Identification series for the 2009-10 season. This time he will take us to Pulaski Park in northwestern RI -- one of the best areas in the state to see fall color. The kaleidoscope of changing leaf colors contrast with the woods around Peck's Pond to remind us how fortunate we are to live in this part of New England. Access for most people will be via Route 44.
 
Leader: Paul Dolan
Moderate
Pre-registration required at least 48 hours prior.
Fee:  Members $5, Non-members $10.
Minimum 5, maximum: 15
Directions and meeting place will be sent to those who have registered. Leave plenty time to get there!

 President