Hitchcock Center Naturalist Ted Watt will lead a trip to explore the botany and natural history of the Hawley Bog, a fine example of a northern sphagnum bog. The Sphagnum moss mat is made up of consolidated peat 30 feet thick that floats on the open water of a deep glacial depression and supports an unusual community of plants. We will look for orchids and for different species of insect-eating plants.

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For those who would like to carpool or caravan, we will meet at 8:30am at the Big Y parking lot in Greenfield at the intersection of Route 91 and Route 2; from there we will carpool west on Route 2 to Charlemont and then up into the hills of east Hawley to the bog.

For those who would like to meet at the bog, we will be starting there just after 9am.

We will be walking on solid ground and on a boardwalk, that is quite narrow in places, so everyday footwear is fine. Bring bug spray and sunscreen. The exposed bog mat can be very hot in the sun. Bring binoculars. We will aim to be back in Greenfield by noon.

This program is a part of an in-depth natural history course for naturalists and citizen scientists. Each month, in our series of nature explorations with different local naturalists, we explore a focused, seasonal, natural history topic. We’ll look at nature in new ways, from broad habitat perspectives to close details of individual species. Over the course of the year we’ll visit a variety of natural habitats in the greater Pioneer Valley area. Identification skills, ecological connections, adaptations, and life cycles of organisms will be the focus of our observations. Bring your curiosity and observation skills and be prepared to spend time outdoors. Dress for the weather as we rarely cancel due to inclement weather. Bring binoculars and a hand lens, water and snacks if you would like. Carpooling to more distant locations will be encouraged. Note: A change has been made to this program since it was originally published. The program will meet March-December, 2018.

Sundays once per month, 9am-12pm (some class times may vary depending on topics)
Members: $250/Non-members: $300 for the full course OR $30 per class
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