By Emily Crennen, Museum Education Specialist
Spring has truly sprung in the town of Windsor! We are sure that you know the usual suspects like tulips, cherry trees, or lilac bushes, but do you know about the odorous purple crossflower, the wispy feather-like leaves of yarrow, or the waxy yellow blooms of golden currant bushes? Do you ever find yourself stumped when your kids inevitably ask, “what kind of flower/plant/tree is that?” Do you want to share the awe-inspiring world of plants with children but don’t know where to start? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should sign up for our new adult-with-child plant identification class, Beginner Naturalists!
This three-session summer course runs the second Sunday of every month from 3-4pm, starting in June. Beginner Naturalists is built for those with little to no plant knowledge in mind. In these classes, adults and children alike will receive basic identification skills like understanding how plants are categorized, major characteristics of plant families, and how to use an identification guide. Located at our new museum site, the Historic Halfway Homestead, it is the perfect place to start your learning journey to knowing the names of native and non-native trees, shrubs, and flowers of Colorado.
In session one, Trees & Shrubs, you will learn categorizing factors like leaf shape, margin, and bark texture. In session two, Flower Power, you will learn the parts of a flower, the most common flower families, and their distinguishing features. In our third and final session, Natives vs. Invasives, we discuss what it means for a plant to be native, non-native, or invasive, and how to classify the friends and foes of Colorado’s ecosystems.
This program is designed for children ages 6-11 to explore alongside with parents, grandparents, caregiver, or other trusted adults! Sign up for a single session or the entire summer series, children must attend with an adult.
We hope to see all aspiring naturalists, biologists, or curious environmentalists there!