[Botsocwash] Fwd: December 17, 2023 Annual Winter Solstice Field Trip at BARC Pine Barrens, Prince George’s County, MD

[Kathy BILTON]

Message from Rod Simmons about the December 17 Annual WInter Solstice trip:

Hi all,



Please see the below announcement for the upcoming Annual Winter Solstice
Walk.  We had originally planned to go to Chapman Forest this year,
but the Maglev
Superconducting Railway proposal between Washington and Baltimore is once
again afoot for this area and it probably makes more sense to raise
awareness of this important conservation issue.  Also, on the plus side is
a large parking lot nearby the site.



Would the sponsoring organizations kindly advertise this walk?



Thanks,



Rod



*December 17, 2023 Annual Winter Solstice Field Trip at BARC Pine Barrens,
Prince George’s County, MD*



*[image: cid:image007.jpg at 01CDCBEC.75B6FF60]*



*"There are mushrooms for a brain,*

*owl talons, vervain, and mandrake,*

*and something else, unnamed,*

*that sets the shallow winter sap upon its face*

*and grants the Greenman motion*

*and binds him to the forest waste."*



*- Ari Berk, Anatomies*



*Sunday, December 17, 2023*



*11:00 am - 3:00 pm  *



Field trip co-sponsored by the Maryland Native Plant Society, Potowmack
Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, Greenbelt Biota Group, and
Botanical Society of Washington



*Leaders:* Rod Simmons, Damien Ossi, John Parrish, and others



This year’s Solstice Walk will explore the globally endangered northern
Pitch Pine sand barrens at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center at
their southernmost extent in Maryland and why these natural areas are so
highly valued and in need of conservation.



Many people have asked what is at stake if the Maglev Superconducting
Railway proposal between Washington and Baltimore is approved.  One outcome
would be that rare plant and animal communities at Beltsville Agricultural
Research Center would be harmed and irreplaceable natural resources lost
forever.

Celebrate the beginning of the winter season amid the vast pine barrens
forest with its spectacular scenery and remarkable diversity of native
plants, wildlife, and natural communities!

We will see the following rare communities, among others.  We will also see
champion-sized Pitch Pine and other pine barrens trees.



*Pine Barrens Pine-Oak Woodland*: *Pinus rigida* - *Quercus coccinea*
- *Quercus
falcata* / (*Quercus marilandica*) / *Gaylussacia frondosa* Woodland
(USNVC: CEGL006329). Global/State Ranks: G2G3/S3.



*Lowland Pine Barrens* with extensive, co-dominant colonies of
Dangleberry (*Gaylussacia
frondosa*). Global/State Ranks: G2G3/S3.



*Pine Barrens Lowland Forest*: *Pinus rigida* – *Nyssa sylvatica* / *Clethra
alnifolia* – *Eubotrys racemosus* Forest (USNVC: CEGL006926). Global/State
Ranks: G2G3/S2?.



*Coastal Plain Depression Swamp* (Willow Oak - Red Maple -Sweetgum
Type): *Quercus
phellos *- *Acer rubrum* - *Liquidambar styraciflua*/ *Vaccinium* (
*formosum*, *fuscatum*) Forest on the Central Farm of the Beltsville
Agricultural Research Center in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Global/State Ranks: G3/S2.



Also see *Marilandica*, Spring 2008
<https://mdflora.org/Resources/Publications/Marilandica/marilandica_v12_n1.pdf>
for
a thorough description of these natural communities in relation to the New
Jersey Pine Barrens.



*Field trip is free and open to non-members.  Registration is not required.*



*Directions*: Take the Capital Beltway to the BW Pkwy north to Powder Mill
Road west exit and Powder Mill Road west a very short ways to the first
parking lot on the left.  This is marked by the blue “P” on the
attached Google Earth image.



*Bring:* Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch or snacks and water.  Most of
the walk traverses fairly flat, open woodland, though some routes may have
a moderate slope.



**In the event of heavy-steady snow, sleet, or pouring rain, or icy,
dangerous conditions of roads, the field trip will be cancelled.  *
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