Explore woodland ferns and flowers in the Duxbury Town Forest

August 17, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Moss covered rocks in the Duxbury Town Forest. Photo by Kelly Taft

Continuing its 30th anniversary celebration, the Duxbury Land Trust will hold a free woodland plants walk on Saturday, Aug. 24, in the Duxbury Town Forest. 

The walk focusing on native ferns and flowers will run from 9 a.m. to noon. 

University of Vermont botanist Monique McHenry will lead the walk along the rustic forest paths and will discuss leaves and fruit of spring ephemerals, spores of ferns, and late summer blooms that the group encounters along the way. Attendees should come prepared to walk on rough terrain and in brushy areas.

McHenry’s background is in plant diversity and evolution. She is an assistant professor of Pharmacology at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine and also serves as the director of the Medical Cannabis Center for Research and Education. She teaches several classes at UVM in both Pharmacology and Plant Biology departments. 

Duxbury Town Forest. Photo by Alan Quackenbush

For the walk, participants will have the opportunity to visit Duxbury’s Town Forest, the 169-acre town-owned property conserved by the Duxbury Land Trust since 2017. The property’s conservation easement stipulates the permitted uses to ensure the conservation of the forest in perpetuity. Allowed uses there include hiking, cross-country skiing, nature study, snowshoeing, forestry and hunting.

A one-time parking area has been offered to accommodate this event since adequate public parking is not yet available at the site. While this event is free, organizers ask that those interested register by Thursday, Aug. 22, to accommodate everyone given limited parking availability. Participants will be advised of the meeting location upon registration. 

To register contact Audrey Quackenbush at 802-244-7512 or by email at audreyq@myfairpoint.net.