On Saturday, the Wells Reserve and New England Wild Flower Society partnered to offer a "Naked Shrubs" workshop with naturalist Boot Boutwell. Participants hailed from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to learn how to identify 15-20 species of shrubs in winter. Following a slideshow and overview of identification terminology, the group hit the snow-covered trail to observe shrubs up close. Using buds, fruits, bark, lenticels, and more, we all discovered the variations existing in the winter woods. Boot provided lots of identification tips, as well as natural history information and his characteristic good humor. After the trail walk, we were treated to shrub drinks and jam before taking a wrap-up shrub identification quiz. Fun was had by all! Following are the species that we learned:

• Alder, Speckled   Alnus incana ssp. rugosa/Alnus rugosa
• Barberry, Japanese   Berberis thunbergii
• Bayberry   Morella caroliniensis/Myrica pennsylvanica
• Blackberry, Highbush   Rubus allegheniensis
• Blueberry, Highbush   Vaccinium corymbosum
• Buckthorn, Glossy   Frangula alnus/Rhamnus frangula
• Cranberry, Large   Vaccinium macrocarpon
• Elderberry/Common Elder   Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis
• Hawthorne   Crataegus sp.
• Honeysuckle, Morrow’s**   Lonicera morrowii
• Laurel, Sheep   Kalmia angustifolia
• Maleberry   Lyonia ligustrina
• Meadowsweet   Spiraea alba var. latifolia
• Poison Ivy   Toxicodendron radicans/Rhus radicans
• Raspberry, Red   Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus
• Rose, Multiflora**   Rosa multiflora