Starts on: June 2, 2026 @ 5:30pm
Natural Communities of Maine
Register Now:Tuesdays, June 2 & 9, 5:30–7:30 p.m. (online) & Sunday, June 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (in-person)
Guided by ecologist Ted Elliman, this comprehensive, three-day hybrid course introduces students to natural plant communities, their defining physical environments, and the natural processes that shape them. Through online discussion and hands-on field work, participants will evaluate the variety of plant communities throughout Maine and how this information influences gardening choices. Days one and two are online lectures, and day three is in the field at the Gardens and at a local land trust property. Learn the differences between communities like salt marshes, red maple swamps, bogs, and floodplain forests, and discover common plants as well as key plant adaptations.
Instructor Bio(s)
Ted Elliman, a botanist and former plant ecologist for the Native Plant Trust, is an acclaimed author of Wildflowers of New England and co-author of Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide. Elliman describes the plants in clear, concise language. Elliman worked as a contract ecologist for the National Park Service, and he has written numerous articles on botanical subjects for conservation organizations, scientific journals, and state and federal environmental agencies. For years, Ted has taught botany and ecology-focused classes for Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, the Native Plant Trust, and other botanical institutions.
Materials and Equipment Needed
Suggested Reference: Natural Landscapes of Maine: A Guide to Natural Communities and Ecosystems by Gawler and Cutko