Mon, 07/24/2017 - 02:14 pm

Kris Folsom, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Hog Island buildings. Courtesy of Steve Kress

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is offering a unique, weekend-long workshop featuring the botany and birds of National Audubon Society’s magnificent Hog Island. The cool headwaters of Muscongus Bay and more than 100 years of protection from development have favored the growth of one of Maine’s most pristine spruce-fir forests. On this 300 acre sanctuary, participants will explore a dense moss ground cover and towering conifers interspersed by sphagnum bogs, meadows of hay-scented ferns and a rocky shoreline punctuated by sand beaches.

Participants will spend a full weekend, August 24-27, with several renowned experts in botany and ornithology, including National Audubon’s Steve Kress and CMBG's Melissa and Bill Cullina as the group explores the island and its varied habitats.

Steve Kress, executive director of the Seabird Restoration Program and vice president for Bird Conservation of the National Audubon Society, is perhaps best known for his role with Project Puffin, which he began in 1973, and is credited for restoring Atlantic Puffin colonies to Eastern Egg Rock.

Bill Cullina, president and CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, is a well-known author and recognized authority on North American native plants. His books include “Wildflowers,” “Native Trees,” and “Native Ferns, Mosses, and Grasses.” Melissa Cullina is research botanist at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and specializes in aquatic and coastal botany, field identification, and rare species conservation.

In addition to plant and bird identification, the weekend’s diverse program includes practical methods for improving backyard bird habitats using native plants, forest ecology and botany walks through the Hog Island forest, and a seabird cruise to Eastern Egg Rock. The program is designed to be accessible to all levels of experience. Meals and accommodations are included, and participants will stay in Audubon’s on-island lodging.

Space is limited — please contact Taylor Eddy at teddy@mainegardens.org or at 633-8012 for details and to register.

Steve Kress, Executive Director of the Seabird Restoration Program and Vice President for Bird Conservation of the National Audubon Society, is perhaps best known for his role with Project Puffin, which he began in 1973, and is credited for restoring Atlantic Puffin colonies to Eastern Egg Rock.

Bill Cullina, President and CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, is a well-known author and recognized authority on North American native plants. His books include Wildflowers, Native Trees, and Native Ferns, Mosses, and Grasses. Melissa Cullina is Research Botanist at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and specializes in aquatic and coastal botany, field identification, and rare species conservation.

Space is limited - please contact Taylor Eddy at teddy@mainegardens.org or at 633-8012 for details and to register.

The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants and nature through horticulture, education and research. Visit www.mainegardens.org for more information.