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Summer Tree ID Workshop
August 19, 2023 @ 11:30 am - August 20, 2023 @ 4:00 pm
Presented in partnership with Feral Foraging
Have you ever been on a walk through the woods and wondered to yourself, “What are all of these trees?” Recognizing the trees around you is an incredible and valuable skill. It creates a sense of familiarity that will make you feel at home in the forest!
Identifying trees may sound daunting, but it is one of the most approachable naturalist skills. If you have the correct details, it can be one of the easiest to learn too! In this workshop, we will give you an overview of common trees in Alabama and a roadmap for identifying any tree you may come across!
The workshop comprises a mix of both lecture and field study. We’ll start in the classroom and then head to the woods to apply everything we’ve learned! You will learn something new, whether you are a more advanced student or a pure beginner!
Oh, and everything we’ll learn for identifying trees also applies to herbaceous plants!
When & Where:
- Saturday, August 19 from 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM at Southwood Presbyterian Church (1000 Carl T Jones Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35802) – This portion of the program will take place indoors.
- Sunday, August 20 from 1-4 PM at Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve (1263 U.S Hwy 72 East, Huntsville, AL 35811) – This portion of the workshop will take place outdoors. Access to restrooms will be available. (Rain Date: Sunday, August 27 from 1-4 PM)
Cost: $60 for Non-members, $45 for Land Trust members at Trailblazer level or above
If you’re not a member, join today!
Course fees will help pay for instruction, snacks and drinks, some worksheets and handouts, and the pocket-sized booklet Tree Finder: A Manual for Identification of Trees by their Leaves, by May T. Watts and Tom Watts.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The class focuses on general concepts that can be applied to any tree or woody plant that you come across in the woods. However, we will also look more in-depth at some common trees that grow in North Alabama.
Common trees and shrubs covered in the course:
- Maple – Acer spp.
- Hickory – Carya spp.
- Oak – Quercus spp.
- Tulip Tree – Liriodendron tulipifera
- Persimmon – Diospyros virginiana
- Beech – Fagus grandifolia
- Elderberry – Sambucus spp.
- Ash – Fraxinus spp.
- Buckeye – Aesculus spp.
- Black Locust – Robinia pseudoacacia
- Sassafras – Sassafras albidum
- Black Cherry – Prunus serotina
- Sweetgum – Liquidambar styraciflua
- Elm – Ulmus spp.
- Redbud – Cercis canadensis
- Sugarberry – Celtis laevigata
What to Bring/Wear: There will be several exercises that require a notebook and pen. During the field study portion, we’ll do some light hiking with stops to observe different species in the wild. Please dress so that you can be comfortable sitting down and hiking. Additional supplies that are not required but recommended are:
- Loupe or Magnifying Glass
- Tree Identification Field Guide
- Knife or Pruners
- Ruler
