Autumn Ecology Walk at Innisfree: Examining the Many Ways Animals and Plants Prepare for Winter

Join local science-writer/photographer, ecologist, and natural historian Dr. Loren Merrill for an Autumn Ecology walk at Innisfree Garden. Dr. Merrill will discuss the myriad ways in which organisms prepare for the challenges winter presents in the form of freezing temperatures and food shortages. These approaches to surviving winter include heading south (many birds and some insects and bats); eating lots of food, putting on large fat stores, and entering a lengthy slumber (black bears and wood chucks); creating hidden food caches to access during the winter (squirrels and nuthatches); and producing cryoprotectants to help avoid freezing (plants, frogs, and turtles). During the walk, you will look for examples of these different strategies and enjoy the beauty of the garden’s grounds before they, too, enter their winter sleep. Bring binoculars if you have them, and dress for a cool, relaxing morning walk.

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