The spring season is officially upon us and the public is invited to check out what’s happening in the Carleton College Cowling Arboretum.
Wildflower Tour
Come learn about the wildflowers of the Cowling Arboretum on a field trip led by Arboretum director, Nancy Braker. Learn flower identification tips and see what is blooming. The field trip will visit Stork Forest, the oldest forest restoration project in the Arboretum. Wild ginger, trillium, bellwort, hepatica and bloodroot all grow here, but what will be seen on the trip depends on how far advanced the spring is. This will be a joint field trip with the Prairie Partners Chapter of the Wild Ones.
The field trip will take place on Thursday, May 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Participants will meet at the entrance to the Upper Arboretum at the intersection of Second and Oak Streets. Casual clothing and walking shoes are recommended.
Annual Spring Bird Count
Do you know the call of a Chickadee or honk of a goose? All participants are welcome for the annual spring bird count on Saturday, May 16 from 6-8:30 a.m. in the Cowling Arboretum. Regardless of skill level, you can help count species of birds and learn about new birds at the same time. Participants should meet at the Arboretum office and return there after the event for coffee, muffins and bird viewing stories.
Arboretum Volunteer Work Event
Want to spend all morning in the Arb? After the bird count, join a group of volunteers to continue removing invading non-native shrubs from the forests of the Upper Arboretum. The event will take place Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. until Noon. Your efforts will help make the woods safe for wildflowers. Participants should meet at the bridge over Spring Creek, along the paved trail near the entrance to the Upper Arboretum and at the intersection of Second and Oak streets near the tennis courts.
For more information, call (507) 222-4543. The Carleton College Cowling Arboretum office is located at 710 Three Oaks Drive in Northfield.
