With Brian Maynard, retired professor from the Department of Plant Sciences & Entomology at the University of Rhode Island, we will explore of a variety of dry habitats and view forest recovery from the 2017 spongy moth infestation.  The terrain is moderate to difficult.

Free and open to the public.

Donations to help support our walks are appreciated.  DONATE NOW

General walk guidelines

Wear clothing and sturdy footwear appropriate for the weather conditions and for protection against sun exposure, ticks and other insects, briars, tree roots, rocks, mud, poison ivy, and other natural hazards etc. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and any personal items you may need during the walk.

Dogs are not permitted.

Cancellations

Should you need to cancel, contact communications@riwps.org 

We walk in light rain or shine. If severe weather requires cancellation, we’ll email you—typically deciding the day before.

Registration is required

Space is limited to ensure everyone can observe plants and join the discussion.

Note: Submit a separate registration for each person.

The post First Thursday Botanizing Walk: Carter Preserve, Charlestown appeared first on Rhode Island Wild Plant Society.

Trillium cernuum (Nodding Trillium),

On Saturday June 6, 2026 from 10 am – 12 pm join Joe Kroger at Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk, MA.  Joe Kroger, Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s naturalist of the year in 2024, has 40 years of experience at Caratunk Wildlife Refuge.  We will look  for some plants of concern, notably nodding trillium, begonias, and baneberry, in addition to the usual suspects.

Joe also leads the bird program at Caratunk as well, so he can lead us along the blue bird trail too. With nearly 200 acres of fields, forests, streams, and ponds, Caratunk offers miles of well-marked, easy to moderate trails, making it one of Audubon’s most popular properties.

Free and open to the public.

Donations to help support our walks are appreciated.  DONATE NOW

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 in light rain or shine. If severe weather requires cancellation, we’ll email you—typically deciding the day before.

Registration is required

Space is limited to ensure everyone can observe plants and join the discussion.

Note: Submit a separate registration for each person.

More details about the location of the walk provided upon registration.

The post First Thursday Botanizing Walk: Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk MA (note: Walk has been moved to the first Saturday) appeared first on Rhode Island Wild Plant Society.

Trillium cernuum (Nodding Trillium), Arcadia Management Area, Exeter, RI

May 7, 2026 | 10 am – 12 pm

Acadia Management Area | Exeter, RI

On this walk with biologist Denise Poyer, we will discover early spring flowers deep in the Arcadia Management Area.

We will first walk south on Sand Trail to look for Indian cucumber root (Medeola virginiana), dolls-eyes (Actaea pachypoda), sharp-lobed hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) and many other ephemeral flowers. This trail features a wonderful patch of nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum), one of the few trillium species found in RI.

We will then turn back north on the Ben Utter Trail to search for downy rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera pubescens), as well as more wetland species, including early violets. Plan for a mile or so of walking on wooded trails.

This walk is free and open to the public.

Donations to help support our walks are appreciated.  DONATE NOW

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 specific location of the walk is provided upon registration.

The post First Thursday Botanizing Walk: Ben Utter Trail (Exeter) appeared first on Rhode Island Wild Plant Society.

In addition to our general botanizing, along the way we will also explore the stresses of living in this environment now under the pressure of sea level rise. On the trail through the coastal forest to the marsh and Winnapaug Pond we will decipher how plants and animals struggle and cooperate in order to survive.

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.

Donations help support our walks and programs.   DONATE NOW

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.

The post Tidal Salt Marsh Walk at Lathrop Wildlife Refuge (Westerly) appeared first on Rhode Island Wild Plant Society.

Our first First Thursday walk of the season is April 2, 2026, from 10 am to noon. We will explore the Snake Den Farm parcel of Snake Den State Park with Chris Modisette, a retired forester with more than 40 years of service with the National Resources Conservation Service.

Managed by the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District, Snake Den parcel reflects a historical progression from woodlot and pasture, reversion to forest and most recently, experimental fields to promote sustainable agriculture. The major tree species in the area are white pine, yellow and black birch, white and red oak, red maple and big tooth aspen.

We will be hiking slightly over a mile on a relatively easy trail, ending at agricultural fields edged by many species of non-native invasive plants.

This walk is free and open to the public.

Donations to help support our walks are appreciated.  DONATE NOW

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 specific location of the walk is provided upon registration.

The post First Thursday Botanizing Walk: Snake Den Farm (Johnston) appeared first on Rhode Island Wild Plant Society.