Tag Archive for: plant identification

Workshop: Plant Identification in the Classroom (Cancelled)

Hone your botanical observation skills and learn to identify plants!

Join botanist Elizabeth Dickson for a workshop on how to key wildflowers using Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide and GoBotany. Bring a copy of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, a hand lens, and your cell phone, tablet or laptop. We will key out as many wildflowers as we can, and learn about the Mystery Plant challenge on the RIWPS’ companion website, Among-RI-Wildflowers.

The workshop will be on May 30, 2026 from 9 am-12 pm, URI Greenhouse, 6 Greenhouse Rd., Kingston, RI. Free parking is available in the Fine Arts Lot off of Flagg Road. A visitors pass is not required for parking in this area.  (link to Campus Map) 

Limited space.  Registration Required. Fee: $20.00 for RIWPS members; $30.00 for non members.

You may register one Member and one Non-member per form. To register additional people, please submit another registration form.

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


 

First Thursday Botanizing Walk: Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk MA (note: Walk has been moved to the first Saturday)

Registration is closed for this walk.

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.

 

First Thursday Botanizing Walk: Carter Preserve, Charlestown

On July 9, 2026 from 10 am – 12 pm join us  in Charlestown RI  at the Carter Preserve, the second-largest preserve of The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island.

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.

 

Summer Flowers on the Wood River, Hope Valley (07/23)

Summer Evening Kayak: A Delightful Way to Experience Wetland Flowers

When
• Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, July 24, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

• Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, August 21, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

Where
WPWA, 203 Arcadia Road, Hope Valley, RI 02832 (Google Directions), (Written Directions )

Join the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council, the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association for a series of summer evening paddles on the Wood River to discover aquatic flowers.  Besides plant identification we will also learn about the ecology of the Wood River and why it has been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

In July we usually see native rhododendrons, sweet pepperbush, pickerel weed, and several types of floating water lilies. With any luck there will still be swamp rose and swamp azaleas still blooming.  In August we should be treated to Joe-pye weed, boneset, monkey flowers, bur marigolds and the spectacular cardinal flowers.

These paddles will be led by naturalist Denise Poyer, former Program Director for WPWA and currently a member the Wild and Scenic Rivers Council and RIWPS.  The Wild and Scenic Rivers Council is subsidizing some of the cost of these paddles to help make them more available to the community.

• Limit to 15 participants per paddle. The paddles are appropriate for beginner kayakers, 10 and over.

• Fee: $30 per person, includes individual kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and paddle guides. Fee is due at time of registration. Fee  is non-refundable. No discount for bringing your own kayak and no refunds for no shows.  

• Participants will be asked to sign a standard liability waiver at the event prior to participation. Participants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

• General Guidelines for WPWA kayaking programs: What to Wear. What to Bring, What to Expect

Links to register for this July 23 paddle or any of the other upcoming paddles in this series.


 

Summer Flowers on the Wood River, Hope Valley (07/24)

Summer Evening Kayak: A Delightful Way to Experience Wetland Flowers

When
• Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, July 24, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

• Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, August 21, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

Where
WPWA, 203 Arcadia Road, Hope Valley, RI 02832 (Google Directions), (Written Directions )

Join the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council, the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association for a series of summer evening paddles on the Wood River to discover aquatic flowers.  Besides plant identification we will also learn about the ecology of the Wood River and why it has been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

In July we usually see native rhododendrons, sweet pepperbush, pickerel weed, and several types of floating water lilies. With any luck there will still be swamp rose and swamp azaleas still blooming.  In August we should be treated to Joe-pye weed, boneset, monkey flowers, bur marigolds and the spectacular cardinal flowers.

These paddles will be led by naturalist Denise Poyer, former Program Director for WPWA and currently a member the Wild and Scenic Rivers Council and RIWPS.  The Wild and Scenic Rivers Council is subsidizing some of the cost of these paddles to help make them more available to the community.

• Limit to 15 participants per paddle. The paddles are appropriate for beginner kayakers, 10 and over.

• Fee: $30 per person, includes individual kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and paddle guides. Fee is due at time of registration. Fee  is non-refundable. No discount for bringing your own kayak and no refunds for no shows.  

• Participants will be asked to sign a standard liability waiver at the event prior to participation. Participants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

• General Guidelines for WPWA kayaking programs: What to Wear. What to Bring, What to Expect

Links to register for this July 24 paddle or any of the other upcoming paddles in this series.


 

Summer Flowers on the Wood River, Hope Valley (08/20)

Summer Evening Kayak: A Delightful Way to Experience Wetland Flowers

When
• Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, July 24, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

• Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, August 21, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

Where
WPWA, 203 Arcadia Road, Hope Valley, RI 02832 (Google Directions), (Written Directions )

Join the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council, the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association for a series of summer evening paddles on the Wood River to discover aquatic flowers.  Besides plant identification we will also learn about the ecology of the Wood River and why it has been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

In July we usually see native rhododendrons, sweet pepperbush, pickerel weed, and several types of floating water lilies. With any luck there will still be swamp rose and swamp azaleas still blooming.  In August we should be treated to Joe-pye weed, boneset, monkey flowers, bur marigolds and the spectacular cardinal flowers.

These paddles will be led by naturalist Denise Poyer, former Program Director for WPWA and currently a member the Wild and Scenic Rivers Council and RIWPS.  The Wild and Scenic Rivers Council is subsidizing some of the cost of these paddles to help make them more available to the community.

• Limit to 15 participants per paddle. The paddles are appropriate for beginner kayakers, 10 and over.

• Fee: $30 per person, includes individual kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and paddle guides. Fee is due at time of registration. Fee  is non-refundable. No discount for bringing your own kayak and no refunds for no shows.  

• Participants will be asked to sign a standard liability waiver at the event prior to participation. Participants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

• General Guidelines for WPWA kayaking programs: What to Wear. What to Bring, What to Expect

Links to register for this August 20 paddle or the other upcoming paddle in this series.

Summer Flowers on the Wood River, Hope Valley (08/21)

Summer Evening Kayak: A Delightful Way to Experience Wetland Flowers

When
• Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, July 24, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

• Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
• Friday, August 21, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Rain date Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

Where
WPWA, 203 Arcadia Road, Hope Valley, RI 02832 (Google Directions), (Written Directions )

Join the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council, the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association for a series of summer evening paddles on the Wood River to discover aquatic flowers.  Besides plant identification we will also learn about the ecology of the Wood River and why it has been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

In July we usually see native rhododendrons, sweet pepperbush, pickerel weed, and several types of floating water lilies. With any luck there will still be swamp rose and swamp azaleas still blooming.  In August we should be treated to Joe-pye weed, boneset, monkey flowers, bur marigolds and the spectacular cardinal flowers.

These paddles will be led by naturalist Denise Poyer, former Program Director for WPWA and currently a member the Wild and Scenic Rivers Council and RIWPS.  The Wild and Scenic Rivers Council is subsidizing some of the cost of these paddles to help make them more available to the community.

• Limit to 15 participants per paddle. The paddles are appropriate for beginner kayakers, 10 and over.

• Fee: $30 per person, includes individual kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and paddle guides. Fee is due at time of registration. Fee  is non-refundable. No discount for bringing your own kayak and no refunds for no shows.  

• Participants will be asked to sign a standard liability waiver at the event prior to participation. Participants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

• General Guidelines for WPWA kayaking programs: What to Wear. What to Bring, What to Expect

Links to register for the last paddle in this  series