Come explore the Swift River Trail in Tamworth and meet some of your wild neighbors during the first event of our 2021 theme, Naming and Noticing—all year we will invite you to learn the names of plants and trees that we walk by every day.
On Thursday, January 21 from 10AM-12PM (snow date Friday, January 22, same time), join Chocorua Lake Conservancy Stewardship Director Lynne Flaccus for a wooded wander along the Swift River to look at winter twigs and explore adaptations that plants use to survive winter. How can you identify winter trees and shrubs by their buds or bark? What observations can you make to help with identification? Are the buds opposite or alternate, for instance, and are the buds naked? How do plants survive freezing temperatures? Do they photosynthesize even when the mercury drops below zero? What is the “evergreen advantage”? Bring your curiosity, questions and your own knowledge to share!
Careful observations in the early-winter woods can lead to hidden answers about the natural world and to discoveries, no matter what the temperature! The winter woods are full of patterns that will help you understand what is around you. We’ll follow the moderate trail and look for wildlife signs along the way as well, perhaps discovering relationships between plants growing there and the wildlife habitat they create. If you want a primer in advance, visit chocorualake.org/gallery to watch “Winter Trees in Your Forest,” Lynne’s tree ID workshop.
Snow conditions may call for snowshoes if you have them, dress in layers for the cold temperatures, bring water and a snack if you’d like. Please wear a scarf and/or mask—we’ll practice social distancing, but face coverings will be used if we gather around to look at something.
We’ll meet in the parking lot by the Tamworth Town House, across from the church, and leave from there by foot. Please email lflaccus@chocorualake.org with your phone number to let us know you’ll join us—numbers are limited, and we want to be able to reach you if plans change, including if the State of NH issues new Covid-19 directives.
Naturalist Lynne Flaccus has more than 30 years of experience in land conservation and stewardship, managing protected properties, studying wildlife, and educating adults and children.
Banner image: Hemlock branches in winter. Image credit: Winter Ecology Crankie artists