The diversity of plant communities in New England is truly astounding, including multiple forest types, freshwater wetlands, coastal dunes, grasslands, heathlands, tidal marshes, and montane communities. Understanding the dominant canopy species, indicator species, and range helps us to interpret our own landscape’s ecological identity. Lectures at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, sponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society, cover effects of soils, topography, moisture, geological conditions, and glaciation. Field trips to study the composition and structure of some distinctive plant communities complement the lectures. Extensive handouts included. Dates are Wednesdays, June 18 (6 – 8), June 25 (5 – 8), July 2 (5 – 8), July 9 (6 – 8) and July 16 (6 – 8.) Pat Swain, Community Ecologist, MA Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program, will be the instructor, and the fee is $227 for NEWFS members, $267 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/catalog/bot4000.