Entries by Mary

On the Trail with Doug McGrady

I like being on—and off—the trail with Doug McGrady. Sometimes, he veers off into the brush or through the trees or into the swamps, and you just follow. Or not, it’s up to you. I’ve seen more than one cautious soul turn back as Doug keeps a brisk pace up and down hills, across streams too wide to leap (wear boots, balance on rocks or embrace wet feet), through buggy meadows (insect repellent helps), and along marshes stinking of rotting seaweed at low tide.

Haile Farm Preserve, Warren RI

On the Trail – Garry Plunkett WildforaRI, Spring 2020 Haile Farm’s historical narrative is a common one for coastal Rhode Island. A European family settled along rich coastal marshlands and […]

Winter Book Discussion: The Brothers Gardeners

During the afternoon of February 9,  eleven RIWPS members gathered in the comfortable living room of the Pilson house around a roaring fire. As if on cue a few snow flakes fluttered past the windows. Elaine Trench lead the discussion of “The Brother Gardeners” by Andrea Wulf.

RIWPS January Potluck Social

On January 11, 2020 RIWPS celebrated GO WILD, an afternoon social potluck, held at the Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence. 

A recap: In the Landscape of Nancy Weiss-Fried

Our visit to Nancy Weiss-Fried’s garden in Cranston, on a hot, sunny morning in late July, was a feast for the eyes and senses. Hundreds of species, including groundcovers, perennials, ferns and woody shrubs are terraced down the steep bank behind her house, shaded by the oak, beech, maple, white pine, and even a young chestnut tree that march down to the edge of Spectacle Pond, and which kept us cool, as we wandered about, plant ID lists in hand.

Peter Del Tredici

Peter has written: “While most people have a negative view of spontaneous urban plants, they are actually performing many of the same ecological functions that native species perform in nonurban […]

Botanizers Afield: First Foray

It was a perfect day the for first walk in our new walk series open to out members. We botanized along the Ben Utter Trail, which winds along the Wood River in the Arcadia forest in Exeter, RI.