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.