In the Garden/Exploring Nature:

Arboretum Plant Identification

If you are interested in learning to identify trees and shrubs but botany books complicate the process, then this class is for you. The class will be an introduction to the native trees and shrubs that occur within Houston and in the surrounding area. Many of these are growing in area parks, neighborhoods, at the Arboretum and in our own yards.

Learn the basic concepts needed to begin to sort through the identification process. We will use four of our five senses to discover how tree shape, leaf pattern, bark pattern, patterns of growth and our senses of smell and touch can help simplify the identification process. The key identification concepts of botany will be demystified and simplified so that we can make use of them in our daily lives. Field trip will be a hike in the Arboretum where we will observe plants and put into practice the principles that we learned in class.

Course Instructor: Glenn Olsen is a member and past president of the Native Plant Society of Texas and a member and past vice president of education for the Houston Audubon Society. He is a co-founder of the "WildScapes Workshops", a partnership between the Houston Chapter of the Native Plant Society and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Course Dates:
Class: Wednesday, March 3, 2010: 7 - 9 p.m.
Field Trip: Sunday, March 7
Hike in the Arboretum to practice identification skills learned in class.

Cost: $40 for members
$55 for non-members

Register online.