Field Trips

Torrey Botanical Society along with the Olive Natural Heritage Society participants at Boot Strap Rock in the Catskill Mountains.

Field trips are one of the most important activities of the Society and participation is the best way to increase one’s knowledge of local plants.  Most of the trips are for general study and monitoring of the flora and ecology of an area. Other trips are led by individuals who specialize in certain groups of plants and their trips are planned accordingly. While most trips emphasize plant study, other aspects of natural history and cultural heritage are not neglected. Trip participants are always free to ask questions about anything of interest they see. The leader or other members of the group can often supply an answer.

The location may be any place of botanic interest which is usually within 50 miles of New York City. We are not a hiking club and walking distances are usually not great. Those who come on the field trips are urged to participate in the Society’s other activities as well. The phone numbers and e-mail addresses (when available) of each leader are given at the end of each trip description. Trips generally go rain or shine; if in doubt, check the website or contact the leader. Some trips are reachable only by automobile. Those in need of rides and those who are offering rides should post and check for messages on Torrey Botanical Society’s Facebook and Twitter sites or contact the trip leader. Those who use public transportation are advised to check updated schedules in advance. Interested guests and non-members are always welcome on field trips.

Upcoming Field Trips

New York Botanical Garden Herbarium Tour
Friday, March 22 – 2:30 pm and Saturday, March 30 – 10:30 am (two dates)

Location: the William & Lynda Steere Herbarium, the New York Botanical Garden
Trip Leader: Laura Briscoe
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-york-botanical-garden-herbarium-tour-tickets-836264939947
Description: The William & Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden is the largest collection of its kind in the Americas. Home to nearly 8 million specimens, it encompasses all major plant and fungal groups from all over the world. While its global nature is a colonial vestige, it stands as an invaluable collection which documents global biodiversity and supports diverse floristic and systematic research. Come see behind the scenes to understand how plants make it from collector to the collections, and learn some of the human stories and histories captured in the specimens.
This tour is open to NYFA and TBS members. Space is extremely limited – once the cap is reached, you can join the wait list.
Meeting Location: Details on exact meeting location will be sent to registered participants.
Transit Directions:  Enter via the Mosholu Gate Entrance, across the street from the Botanical Garden station on the Metro-North on the Harlem Line. The entrance is also a 10 minute walk from the Bedford Park Boulevard D and 4 subway stops. Limited parking will be available.


Skunk Cabbage and Bryophytes of Alley Pond Park
Saturday, March 23 – 10 AM-2 PM

Location: Alley Pond Park, Queens
Trip Leader: Zihao Wang (zihaowan@buffalo.edu), botanist
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skunk-cabbage-and-bryophytes-of-alley-pond-park-tickets-859565733247
Description: Join us for a field trip to Alley Pond Park to observe the phenology of Skunk Cabbage, our most charismatic early flowering herb in the spring. We will be observing how wildlife interacts with this unusual plant. This data will help researchers at Queens College to better understand how this species responds to urbanization. Alley Pond Park is home to some of the best vernal pools and swamp forest in the area. We will look for early spring wildflowers such as Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), and Wood Anemone (Anemonoides quinquefolia) in the diverse understory, and fairy shrimps and salamanders around the vernal pools.
Since the NYC EcoFlora Project’s EcoQuest challenge of the month is “Browse Bryophytes”, we will explore the rich diversity of mosses and liverworts in the park as well. The common but interesting species found here includes: Tetraphis pellucidaOdontoschisma sphagniRicciocarpos natans (a floating aquatic liverwort!), and Pallavicinia lyellii.
Meeting Location: Trailhead at the Intersection of 233rd St and 67th Ave, near P.S. 213 The Carl Ullman Middle School (GPS coordinates: 40.748190, -73.744035, across the street from the address of 64-68 233rd St, Flushing, NY 11364).
Transit Directions:  By car: Take exit 30E from Cross Island Pkwy, and continue on Douglaston Pkwy. Drive to 233rd St. Street parking is available along the park. By public transportation: From the last stop of 7 Train at Main Street, Flushing, take the Cambria-Heights-bound Q27 bus and get off at Springfield Blvd/64 Av. Walk east for 20 minutes


Check back soon for more details on upcoming field trips, or become a member to receive updates via email!


Field trip leaders are asked to complete and submit a field trip reporting form which includes vegetation lists and notes on any new or unusual plants or vegetation types to the Field Chair, Simon Verlynde. These trip reports, when submitted, will be made available as a year end field trip summary publication.

Please click on the link to access the field trip reporting form:
TBS Field Trip Instructions

Past Field Season Reviews: TBS 2016 Field Review  & TBS 2017 Field Review