Put a spring in your step and join Friends of Rogers to search the forest floor for wildflowers May 7. Hikers will explore the amazing adaptations and beautiful colors of May’s blooms on this fun and exciting trek along one of the many trails at Rogers Center.
“In addition to being aesthetically pleasing to the eye, wildflowers have an important role in the ecosystem, such as providing an early nectar source for many pollinators,” said Friends of Rogers Environmental Educator Sarah Freedman. “It will be fun seeing how many different species we can identify.”
Guests should meet at 10 a.m. in the main parking lot and will head out as a group to the perfect location for finding spring wildflowers. Pre-registration, at $2 for members and $3 for not-yet-members, is highly recommended.
For the third year in a row, those who enjoy growing their own flora are invited to garden at Rogers Center in one of the raised bed plots now open for the season. Spots are available on a first come, first serve basis, and groups that plan on using a plot to help raise crops for local food cupboards are eligible to participate. Preference is given to those without space for a garden at their place of residence. Participants sign a contract for the 2016 season agreeing to garden rules, and all gardeners are asked to have an active membership with Friends of Rogers.
“Growing your own food is fun, good for you, and good for the environment,” said Simon Solomon, Friends of Rogers executive director. “Community gardens bring people together from a wide variety of backgrounds and help build team spirit.”
The goal of this initiative ultimately is to provide unique opportunities for increased exercise, health, recreation and overall well-being. In addition to presenting participants with a natural and inexpensive stress reliever, community gardens help to stimulate intergenerational, as well as cross-cultural, social interaction – not to mention the delicious fresh food that is produced as a result!
Rogers Center is operated by Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs for all ages. Seasonal winter hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (607) 674-4733 or visit www.friendsofrogers.org.