Bryophyte Walk at Steinman Preserve/Trout Run Preserve Saturday June 7, 2008. Meet at the preserve at 10 am (Or at the North Museum at 9:30 am)

Dr. Susan Munch, Tim Draude and I did some scouting for mosses and liverworts a few weeks ago and we found a nice variety of easily accessible species at along Steinman Run and Trout Run in Southern Lancaster Co..

Photo of Mnium species by Mike Slater

We all agreed this would be an excellent place for interested Muhlenberg members and guests to learn about mosses and liverworts on a Bryophyte Walk. Therefore Dr. Susan Munch, who gave us an excellent presentation on mosses and liverworts based on her book "Outsatnding Mosses and Liverworts of Pennsylvania", will take us down the valley at Stienman Run Preserve and Trout Run Preserve, which are owned by the Lancaster County Conservancy, on Saturday June 7, 2008.

We will meet ether at the North Museum at F&M University at 9:30am and car pool from there OR at the Steinman Run Preserve Parking lot on Stump Road at 10am. Directions to the Steinman Run Preserve parking are below. The walking is easy and we will be going slowly looking for bryophytes (mosses and liverworts.) in this nice little valley. In case anyone is late late we will be going downstream (on the opposite side of the road from from the parking area). The trail starts as an old road blocked by a cable. We will take the trail down along Steinman to the confluence with Trout Run and maybe follow the trail down along trout run if we have time. We will be coming back up the same trail.

Susan Munch's book "Outstanding Mosses and Liverworts of Pennsylvania" will be helpful, if you own a copy bring it along otherwise Susan will have a few loaner copies available as well as new copies to sell.

I hope to see many of yout on Saturday.

_______________________________________________________________________

Directions from Lancaster to the Steinman Run Preserve Parking Area:

(Note that my directions are different from the ones on the Lancaster Conservancy's web site. Both will get you there but mine are shorter.)

From Lancaster city go south on Rte. 272 across the Conestoga River proceed about 7 miles .

Turn RIGHT on Pennsy Road . (WEST) This is just before the highway goes through the tunnel under the Railroad.

Go miles 1.0 mile.

Turn LEFT on Kreider Rd. (If you miss this turn make the next left on Rawlinsville Road.)

Go 0.1 mile (1/10 mile) to intersection with Rawlinsville Rd and go straight (South) on Rawlinsville Rd.)

Go 0.85 miles on Rawlinsville Road to where Rawlinsville Road turns RIGHT. Stay on Rawlinsville Road. (DO NOT go Straight on Clearfield Road.)

Go 0.5 miles on Rawlinsville Road to the junction with Sigman Road. and go another 100 feet and bear right on Stump Road. Proceed 0.8 miles to the dirt parking lot on the left BEFORE you cross the creek. The Steinman Preserve parking lot entrance is somewhat obscure so go slowly!

Mike Slater

Muhlenberg Botanic Club Field trips for the rest of Spring 2008

M

Sunday, April 27:

Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center (Meet at 10 am at the Sawmill parking lot. see directions below)

and State Game Lands 52 after lunch.

At Nolde Forest EEC we will see a stream side woodland with spring ephemerals and an upland forest. Easy walking trails, but some hills.

After lunch for those who wish to will travel to State Game Lands #52, about 5 miles away on the Berks Co./Lancaster Co. line (between Maple Grove and Churchtown). We will explore in the woods along Black Creek, where there are interesting plants among the diabase boulders and outcrops.

Directions from Lancaster to Nolde Forest. (Travel time from Lancaster ca. 40 min.):
Take US 222 north, past the PA Turnpike for 2 miles to the NEW Adamstown-Knauers exit.
Turn Right onto Rte 568 east, go 2 miles. At the traffic light, turn left on Rt. 625 north. Go approximately 4.25 miles (past Hickory Rd and Freemansville Rd and 2/3 mile past the main
Nolde Entrance). Turn left into the Sawmill parking lot entrance; if you come to Church Rd.
on the left you have gone too far.

At SGL# 52 there is no trail along the creek, so some boulder hopping is necessary. We will park in the big parking area along Edwards Rd. just north of the bridge over the PA Turnpike. Moderate walk, bring your own bag lunch. Trip leader: Mike Slater (610-775-3757 or mslater@voicenet.com).

Sunday, May 4: Natural Landscape Nursery

We will visit Jim Plyler's nursery from 10:00 am til ? (354 North Jennersville Road, West Grove, PA 19390; 610-869-3788). This is a combined trip with Mason-Dixon Chapter NARGS; bring your own bag lunch. Meet at North Museum at 9:00 am to car pool or at the nursery at 10:00 am.

Saturday, May 10: Maria Cattell's Garden & Safe Harbor

Meet at 486 Walnut Hill Rd. Millersville, Pa, at 9:00 am; bring your own bag lunch. After lunch we'll visit Safe Harbor for spring woodland flowers and a look at the river’s edge. Easy walk. Trip leader: Joan King (717-284-5239 or jsking1@lycos.com).

June, 7: Mosses and Liverworts in the Susquehanna Glens

Location to be announced.

Leader: Dr. Susan Munch, Albright College. Bring along your copy of Outstanding Mosses of Pennsylvania by Dr. Munch if you purchased one last year (or you can borrow one for the day or buy one from her).

Meet 9:30 at the North Museum or call/e-mail to find out the location (the starting point will depend on our scouting trips this spring); trip starts at 10 am. Bring a hand lens and reading glasses if necessary. Bring your own bag lunch.

Coordinator: Mike Slater; Home phone: 610 775-3757; Cell: 610 698-4031;

e-mail:mslater@voicenet.com).

Complete field trip list 2008

Muhlenberg Botanical Socitety April 2008 Field Trips

Complete 2008 Field Trip List

Saturday, April 19: Benton Hollow and Haines Station
Meet at Musser Grocery Store on Rt. 272 at the Buck, south side of parking lot at 9:00 am. We’ll go Benton Hollow first. Bring your own bag lunch; we’ll return to the cars to eat. In the afternoon we'll visit Haines Station to see the pink Trillium grandiflorum. Each walk is 1 ½ mile round trip, easy to moderate. Trip leader: Joan King (717-284-5239 or jsking1@lycos.com).

Sunday, April 27: Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center and State Game Lands 52. Meet at 10 am at Nolde Forest EEC's Sawmill Parking Lot.
At Nolde Forestwe will see a stream side woodland with spring ephemerals and an upland forest. Easy walking trails, but some hills. After lunch those who wish to will travel to State Game Lands #52, about 5 miles away on the Berks Co./Lancaster Co. line (between Maple Grove and Churchtown). We will explore in the woods along Black Creek, where there are interesting plants among the diabase boulders and outcrops.

Directions from Lancaster to Nolde Forest. (Travel time from Lancaster ca. 40 min.):
Take US 222 north, past the PA Turnpike for 2 miles to the NEW Adamstown-Knauers exit.
Turn Right onto Rte 568 east, go 2 miles. At the traffic light, turn left on Rt. 625 north. Go approximately 4.25 miles (past Hickory Rd and Freemansville Rd and 2/3 mile past the main
Nolde Entrance). Turn left into the Sawmill parking lot entrance; if you come to Church Rd.
on the left you have gone too far.

At SGL#52 there is no trail along the creek, so some boulder hopping is necessary. We will park in the big parking area along Edwards Rd. just north of the bridge over the PA Turnpike. Moderate walk, bring your own bag lunch. Trip leader: Mike Slater (610-775-3757 or mslater@voicenet.com).


Complete 2008 Field Trip List

Muhlenberg Bulletin January 2008

The latest

Muhlenberg Bulletin
of the

MUHLENBERG BOTANICAL SOCIETY

Volume 27 Number 2 1/7 / 2008

is now available with Field trip and Meeting information for 2008

Muhlenberg Botanic Club upcoming Field Trips

September 22, Saturday: Nottingham County Park 10:00 a.m.
150 Park Road, Nottingham, PA 19362 (610-932-2589). Located 4 miles south of Oxford off Route 1 Bypass in southwestern Chester County, this 651-acre park sits atop an outcropping of serpentine stone greater than one square mile in size, making it one of the largest serpentine barrens on the East Coast. Go into the park entrance, turn right, and meet at pavilion 6. This trip consists of a long walk in and out, so be prepared to carry your lunch with you to eat on the trail. Trail rating: moderate. Leader: Tim Draude (717-393-7233)

October 7, Sunday: 10:00 a.m.State Game Lands 156 and Penryn
We will examine this poor soil plant community, which will hopefully include fringed gentians. After lunch we will walk in the Penryn power cut, looking for asters and goldenrods. Trail rating for the power cut: moderate, about 1 mile in length.
At the intersection of Rtes. 501 and 322, turn left (west) onto 322 and travel approximately 3 miles; meet at the parking lot on the left along Rt. 322. Be aware that the lower entrance to the lot has been blocked off. Leader: TBA