Led by Ted Elliman, author of Grasses, Sedges and Rushes, An Identification Guide, participants will learn how to identify and better understand New England meadow plants. This is the perfect class for those interested in starting or sustaining an open grassland.

Wetland plants are wildly diverse and complex—take the marsh marigold or the wild calla, the native relative of the traditional calla lily. Join ecologist Ted Elliman for this online lecture and captivating visual presentation, and learn more about freshwater wetland plants. Ted will guide participants in identification, wetland classifications, habits, and the fauna that have co-evolved with these verdant plants, gaining a deeper understanding for their ecological value.

Wetland plants are wildly diverse and beautiful—take the marsh marigold or the wild calla, the latter related to the traditional calla lily sold by florists. Join us for this field-study class with plant ecologist Ted Elliman and develop skills to identify freshwater wetland plants, developing an understanding of their growing conditions, habits, and seasonal performance. Gain a deeper appreciation for the ecological value of these often-overlooked species.

Whether called fields, meadows, or pastures, these wide-open, full-sun terrains all feature a dominant grass population mixed with wildflowers and smaller woody species. In partnership with the Boothbay Region Land Trust, this class will guide students on walks at the Gardens, Oak Point, and Zak Preserve. Led by Ted Elliman, author of Grasses, Sedges and Rushes, An Identification Guide, participants will learn how to identify and better understand meadow culture—perfect for those interested in starting or sustaining an open grassland!

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Ted Elliman has been engaged in botanical work in New England and other northeastern states for more than thirty years. Most recently, he was a botanist and plant ecologist on the staff of the New England Wild Flower Society in Framingham, Massachusetts, where he conducted botanical inventories, natural community surveys, invasive species control programs, and helped publish Wildflowers of New England.

Sedges and rushes are ubiquitous and ecologically significant elements of our natural landscapes, but lacking showy flowers, they are often overlooked. This class will introduce a number of the common sedges and rushes frequently encountered in woods, wetlands, and meadows, highlighting their subtle variety and visual appeal. Join Ted Elliman, New England botanist and field-study researcher, to learn how to identify sedges and rushes, their functions in our natural landscapes, and how they provide ornamental and ecological benefits to gardens spaces.

Offered in partnership with the Native Plant Trust, join us for a special field study at the Trust’s exquisite Coffin Wildflower Preserve. This 177-acre shoreline sanctuary is located along Merrymeeting Bay, the meeting place of six rivers that, together, drain much of Maine's landscape. This freshwater tidal estuary hosts a specialized and rare habitat with a unique array of colorful plants growing in shallows and mudflats: wild rice, bulrushes, arrow-heads, bur-marigold, pipewort, agalinis, and many more. Our walk is timed to low tide, so the plants will be especially accessible as we explore and study the flora and fauna. We’ll get to see Merrymeeting Bay’s abundance of water birds and raptors, such as ospreys and eagles.