From high, dry glacial ridgetops to swamps and bogs, Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary in Monson, Massachusetts is a unique blend of natural, semi-natural and built landscapes. With over 8000 acres, NWS is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the area and at its center is a 75-acre core complete with walking trails for the public to enjoy. Specifically timed to overlap with the bloom season for some of the rarer plants at the sanctuary, participants in this New England Botanical Club summer field trip on August 14 can expect to see Plymouth gentian (Sabatia kennedyana) pictured below, sickle-leaved golden aster (Pityopsis falcata), flat-topped goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum) and more.
We will follow COVID-19 Regulations & Guidance | Mass.gov as the minimum safety standard for our field trips. Attendees sharing a car with other participants as part of a field trip are expected to wear masks during the car ride, unless everyone is fully vaccinated. Anyone who is not vaccinated is requested to wear a mask, except while they are outdoors, and to maintain appropriate social distance from others on the trip. Summer day field trips are informal, small-group outings to explore interesting places and to see interesting plants, facilitated by knowledgeable and enthusiastic leaders. Bring your lunch, water, insect repellent, field guides, hand lens, and curiosity. Be prepared for the terrain and level of difficulty indicated for each trip. You should contact the trip leader at least 1 week in advance to register and to get time and directions. Trips will be limited to 10 participants. Contact Dan Jaffe Wilder (danjwilder@norcrosswildlife.org) for times, more information and to register.
