Starts on: September 3, 2026 @ 5:30pm
Plant ID & Ecology: Goldenrods & Asters
Register Now:Thursdays, September 3 & 10, 5:30–7 p.m. (online) & Saturday, September 12, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (in-person)
Asters and goldenrods adorn our New England landscapes in late summer and early fall in shades of white, yellow, pink, and purple, providing beauty and valuable nectar and pollen to native pollinators. Native plant ecologist and botanist Ted Elliman will lead students through a deep dive into the botanical and ecological lessons of these genera and species through a two-part online lecture series and an outdoor field study at a local land trust property.
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
Please bring a hand lens. If you do not have one, we will have extras available to borrow.