The New England Wild Flower Society and Roland “Boot” Boutwell will once again take you on an adventure, this time in Saco, Maine, on Saturday, May 22, from 10 – 2. This outstanding botanical site is perhaps the southernmost example of a raised bog in North America, dating back 12,000 years when glacial activity created adjacent water-filled kettle holes. Saco Heath formed when these ponds filled with decaying plant matter called peat. With each year’s plant growth adding to the peat accumulation, the two peatlands eventually grew together above the water table to form a raised, coalesced bog. The Rhodora (Rhododendron canadense) should be in glorious bloom. The flora we should encounter includes, tamarack, black gum, labrador tea, leatherleaf, pitcher plant, cotton grass, and Atlantic white cedar. Bring lunch and a hand lens if you have one. $32 for NEWFS members, $36 for nonmembers. Register at www.newfs.org.
