What we’re about
Open, informal group for the appreciation of nature and wildflowers. Also for birders, butterfly lovers, and folks concerned about declining numbers of bees. We'll take field-trips to see wildflowers in nature, in gardens, and in nurseries. In winter, we'll meet for coffee or cocktails.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- NEW DATE! - Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers Walk at Thacher State ParkParking for Long Path and Perimeter Trailheads, East Berne, NY
PLEASE NOTE: To attend, you must RSVP to reserve your spot as this event will be limited to 22 participants.
You don’t want to miss this hike! In addition to seeing beautiful native wildflowers up close in bloom, you’ll also enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding landscape from High Point within Thacher State Park.
Take Route 146 to Altamont. Squiggle up the mountain on Rt 156. Turn LEFT onto Old Stage Road (after Lewis Rd). Go up the steep hill that turns right then left. Go to the Long Path parking area, which is ~<1 mile south of NY Route 156. We’ll meet at the trailhead just beyond the parking area. View the trail map for this hike. We will make our way to High Point via Long Path (LP on the map) and then return to the parking area via High Point Road (HP on the map; ~2.25 miles round trip). Trail surface is a dirt path with occasional exposed tree roots and rocks. Please wear proper footwear.
We’re hoping to find some spring ephemeral wildflowers and other blooming beauties along our route.
Weather cancellation: This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:
- thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
- moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
- gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).
- Bog Walk on the Rensselaer PlateauDyken Pond Environmental Center, Cropseyville, NY
PLEASE NOTE: To attend, you must (1) RSVP to reserve your spot (as this event will be limited to 16 participants) AND (2) send an email request to david.behm.curiousbynature@gmail.com for directions as to where we will meet. My reply will also include a trail map for this unique outing.
We’ll explore a small portion of a bog located on the Rensselaer Plateau (Town of Grafton). Before heading out onto a bog, please be sure to become acquainted with “myth vs. fact” about them. Come along for a fun outing to search for and identify plants in this unique type of wetland.
For those joining me, I recommend rubber knee boots or waterproof boots as we will be walking on water-soaked sphagnum moss and other mat-like bog vegetation. It is unlikely that we will be walking through any standing water, but most, if not all of your steps, will likely result in wet shoes because your feet will sink into the wet spongy vegetation beneath you.
Weather cancellation: This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:
- thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
- moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
- gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).
- Using Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide in the FieldVeterans Memorial Park at Elks Trail, Clifton Park, NY
PLEASE NOTE: To attend, you must (1) RSVP to reserve your spot (as this event will be limited to 11 participants) AND (2) send an email request to david.behm.curiousbynature@gmail.com for directions as to where we will meet. My reply will also include a trail map for this outing.
For this outing, you’ll learn how to identify blooming wildflowers in their natural habitat using your personal copy of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide (whether its cover is yellow or blue). As we encounter a blooming wildflower along our walk, we’ll use pages x-xiii to answer the following five questions, and then with that info, we’ll use pages 1-14 to direct us to the appropriate subsequent pages of this guide to reveal the identity of that wildflower.
Flower type:
- Is the flower regular (radially symmetrical) or irregular or are the flower parts indistinguishable?
- If regular, how many petals or similar parts does it have?
Plant type: - Is the plant a forb or a shrub or a vine?
- If a forb, is it without leaves, or if it has leaves, are they all at the base of the plant, or are they arranged singly on the stem (alternate), or are they opposite one another in pairs or whorls?
Leaf type:
5. Are the leaves entire (with even and unbroken margins), or are they toothed or lobed or divided?
Please join me for this hands-on outing at Veterans Memorial Park (Town of Clifton Park). We will walk along a mowed path and step off it into taller grassy areas and perhaps amongst some brushy areas along our route, so please wear proper attire and footwear.
I’ve scheduled this unique outing at this time to enable you to learn how to use this great information resource for the remainder of this wildflower season to identify the many blooming beauties yet to come.
Weather cancellation: This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:
- thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
- moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
- gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).
