Do you love trees but can’t tell an ash from a walnut, a birch from a beech, or a spruce from a fir? Are you looking to connect more with the nature around you as we continue to stay close to home?

Join Shelley Hunt, U of G course instructor and former arboretum director, for a virtual, interactive tree identification workshop! Over the course of four Zoom sessions, with hands-on challenges to complete in between, you will learn the basics of tree ID, with a focus on native Ontario species (and their look-alike non-native counterparts). You will learn about the important features to look for (e.g., leaf shape and arrangement, bark characteristics, fruits and cones), as well as the details that help us to distinguish between species in the same group (e.g., ashes, pines, maples). You will practice your skills on trees that you can (safely) find in your local area, and get feedback on your ‘homework’. The fourth session will include a virtual tour of trees in the Arboretum’s collections. Sessions will run from noon-1:30 p.m. (one hour of instruction, and up to 30 minutes of optional questions/discussion) on Thursdays from July 8 through to July 29.

Fee: $70 (plus HST) per person.