Who knows their Horticulture?

“Are any of you experts at identifying plants in the woods? Where did you learn? Did you take a class at a local community college, or figure it out from books?

While its always been one of my goals (which I have put off over and over), I have a new interest in learing to ID plants. I recently took a seminar to learn the Army Corps of Engineering method of wetland delineation, and now have to learn to ID plants for work!

I'd like to know your thoughts.”

“...fighting...urge...to...post...bad...joke...”

“way cool! i'd like to be able to ID plants, too...”

“i know that joke!

Aero charges $5 a pop, that's all i'm saying.”

“(ug, I don't get the joke....)

Latta Outdoors has no plant books. What's up with dat?”

“Smiley,
Try the local community college. Schoolcraft or OCC may offer a class that would help.”

“The only plant IDs I remember are one's people told me... I'm horrible at matching pictures and descriptions with things I see in the wild.”

“Thanks Dhutch. Schoolcraft doesn't seem to offer anything of the sort, and OCC has classes that involve ornamental plants. I'm hoping not to see any ornamentals in the wild! I also checked with the MSU extension service, but haven't heard back from them yet.

You'd think my brother, the one with the horticulture degree, could help!”

“I hear eucalyptus leaves make a yummy salad*!



DISCLAIMER _ They are poisonous, ya goob!”

“Just go out and make up a bunch of names. It seems no one else has any idea so you might as well be the self-appointed expert.”

“I had a boy scout leader that could ID everything in the woods, and he passed alot of this on to us...besides that the only way i find i can learn about ID'ing plants is taking one of those small audobon fieldguilds out into the woods, and looking up everything you find. If i try to memorize the book at home, or when not looking at the plants i have trouble.”

“Having a good guide with you is the best way. I learn by seeing flowers and wondering what they are, then trying to find them in the guide. Try to break it down to tiny bits, not learn it all at once.

Find a horticultural center and inquire whether they can offer advice. They should at least be able to point you in the right direction.”

“A better term than horticulture for the identification of wild plants is field botany. Recommend checking community colleges for possible courses and to definately pick up a flora that covers your area. Use the flora (a book describing plants scientifically that includes keys) and learn the terminology used by the flora (ex learn what a glume is). Grab a plant and sit down and try to key it out - the first few may take a very long time while you learn the terms and what they mean but it gets better once you know the language.”

“Smiley girl, check with the nature conservancy in your area.”

“i can id most trees by leaf, bark, and grain, but thats just from doing alot of clearing, limbing, and splitting (so i can know what im up against before i dig in)

plants i dont know- i guess just use the handbooks, and eventualy you remember them

later,
-nate”

“I worked at a nursery for a couple summers, so I know some about plants, but mostly annuals (ornamental) and perinials. Trees I'm not so good at.”

“Get books and learn to use the keys.”

“Contact the local extension service. They have all that information.”

“You can lead a horse to water...”

“uh huh....”

“"Aero charges $5 a pop, that's all i'm saying."
lyra
03:18:29 PM


Hmmm... how much for a mom?”

“I've learned everything on my own from books. It's not difficult.

Our high adventure crew of Scouts is disappointed I ddn't go to the Smokies with them. I quote, "She knows everything about this place!" God, that was emarrassing but gratifying. I always take at least one plant i.d. book with me when I go there.”

“Smiley, where are you. If you are in Ca. or the pacific NW area I can give you titles and places you can get some of these books. But keep in mind there is a whole lot of levels to this. Starting with moss, firns, gress, flowers, brush and trees. I have a couple hunderd books and I'm just into flower, brush and trees.”

“I do...”

“Yes dodder, you orange leafless parasitic vine with tiny sweet smelling flowers you...
Go ahead, just suck the life out of us!

;)”

“I learned most of my plant ID
native taxonomy with a friend.
Like the other folks say, nothing like someone who knows the plants.
I have been fortunate in knowing folks who had an interest and then getting the Field guides. I have two for my region: one is Plants of the Pacific NW Coast, goes from Oregon to Alaska and includes Canada. The other one is Mountainous Plants of the Pacific NW. Author names I only remember sort of: Powacke and McKinnon
USed book stores can be a great place to pick up copies at much less price.
Best if you get a friend to go with you and make it into a game.”

“Michigan Flora, Vol. 3
by Edward G. Voss


Sorry, mispelled the names for the Pac NW book, it's Pojar and MacKinnon. my apologies”

“We (my company) bought "Wetland Flora" but that won't completely satisfy my needs on the trail. Guess its time to pick up a good and lightweight handbook for spring.

Thanks all!”

“Get a good book for the area you are going to be hiking in, and learn a few flowers each trip. You might find a local tour with field botany IDs, which they have in the hills around my area (Boise). If you can invest the time, take a class at a college in plant identification, taxonomy or field botany.

If you are lucky, you can find very small books with plant information. Its a fun hobby.”