As we mark the vernal equinox, take an evening to think about spring! Connecticut is home to more than 40 species of terrestrial orchids, many of which go unnoticed. Join Deb Field for a look into two common species, the Pink Lady Slipper and the Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid, which can be observed as you hike through our local forests. As part of her CT DEEP Master Naturalist certification, Deb spent the 2017 growing season studying the distribution of these plants on a local Joshua’s Trust property in Chaplin, the Hubbard Sanctuary. She will continue to collect data and lead a series of walks on the property in 2018.
Deb Field, a self-proclaimed “tree-hugging dirt-worshipper,” has been a marine & environmental science educator for 25 years. She is currently part of the CT DEEP & Goodwin Conservation Center’s Master Naturalist Program. Deb currently lives in Chaplin, CT with her husband, 2 cats, an uncountable number of fish, and a tortoise named Djaq.