Field trips

Digital dragonflies in an analog world? Join us for a different kind of field trip with a focus on dragonflies. We will spend about a half hour in the classroom reviewing dragonflies and then spend about an hour out in the wetland looking for dragonflies, taking their photos when we can get them to pose and netting those that do not want to pose. We will have a projector available so the image will be shown on a very large screen instead of a computer monitor. There is no charge to participate, but pre-registration is required.

Come join other MNNPS members for an exploration of the moist cliff areas at Carpenter Nature Center. This is challenging topography, not easily accessed, and not entirely catalogued. Many species of ferns and liverworts are to be found on the cliff faces, including walking fern, fragile fern and bulblet fern. Several unusual woodland sedges are also present, and lily-leaved twayblade should be in bloom along the trail.

See two gems of the Lower Minnesota River Valley consisting of sloping, calcareous, organic soil wetlands with springs and small, groundwater-fed, marl streams. Fifteen members of the sedge family, including 10 species of Carex, as well as the exquisite white lady's-slipper orchid, are anticipated highlights. Such floristic diversity in the heart of a large metropolitan area is rare. Problems with invasive species (buckthorn, Phragmites, hybrid cattail) will be discussed. Of particular interest will be observing the results of a prescribed burn conducted last spring at Seminary Fen SNA.