On March 14, 2026, from 10:00 am to noon, join Nathan Lambstrom for a walk through URI’s North Woods, focusing on techniques and features we can use to identify trees in winter.
For better or worse, many of our woody plants do not have leaves for most of the year. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing for the plant nerd to do out in the woods. Nathan will have some copies of Peterson’s Field Guide to Trees & Shrubs to identify trees and shrubs to the species level using their buds, bark, and growth habits, and the fantastic Winter Weed Finder to identify herbaceous perennials using their dead aboveground stems. Bring your own copies if you have them.
Nathan Lambstrom is a lecturer in the College of Environment and Life Sciences (CELS) at URI. A garden ecologist, Nathan also runs his own business designing and planting gardens that support wildlife, conserve water, and enrich home environments. Nathan holds a MS in plant biology and conservation from Northwestern University.
Easy to moderate trail hike ranging from dry to very wet. It is approximately 1-mile round trip. Wear waterproof shoes, knee boots are best, and dress appropriately for the weather.
This walk is free and open to the public.
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General walk guidelines
Wear clothing and sturdy footwear appropriate for the weather conditions and for protection against sun exposure, ticks and other insects, briers, tree root etc. Bring a sufficient supply of water and nourishment for your needs.
Dogs are not permitted.
Cancellations
Should you need to cancel, contact communications@riwps.org
We walk light rain or shine. In case of cancellations due to poor weather conditions, we will email you. We tend to wait until the day before the walk to make this call as weather forecasts can be changeable.
Registration is required
The number of participants is limited to maximize the ability for everyone to observe the plants and participate in the conversation.
Note: Only one person can register at a time. To register a second person, just repeat the process.
More specifics about the location provided upon registration.
