November 8, 2011* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Bob Gibbons: "The Most Flowery Places in the World."
The talk will take viewers on a tour of some of the most spectacular flower displays on the planet, showing some of the flowers and landscapes to be found at each location and discussing what makes some places so exceptionally flowery. Some of the ups and downs involved in the work to find these places will be revealed, and there will be photographs of some of the special animal life that can be found there. All will be illustrated with a selection of photographs of the highest quality. Dr. Bob Gibbons became a freelance author, photographer, lecturer and tour leader after spending 15 years or so in nature conservation in Britain. He has written and illustrated over 30 books, and led hundreds of botanical or natural history tours all over the world, including a number for the New York Botanic Garden. This talk follows part of the work involved in producing his latest book "Wildflower Wonders of the World."
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

December 13, 2011* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Members Night: Members are welcome to bring photos, stories, specimens, and tales of peculiar sightings of favorite plants. A great opportunity to show what you have found while exploring on Long Island or elsewhere. Please call Rich Kelly (516-354-6506) in advance to advise as to the approximate number of images/slides that you would like to show and preferred medium of presentation. Thanks.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

Reminder: there will be no meetings in January or February.

March 13, 2012* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Eric Morgan: "Ecology of a Southwest New England Forest and its Invasion by a Non Native Tree Species."
Learn about a statistical analysis of the invasion of the Amur Cork Tree (Phellodendron amurense) throughout the eastern United States. This tree has been noted as a particular problem right here in Forest Park, Queens. Eric is on staff at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford, Connecticut. A major aspect of his work is the acquisition and maintenance of the Arboretum's living collections, including the display beds, trees and shrubs, and an expanding selection of tropical plants which are added each year. He is also curator of the herbarium and research departments, and has published on tropical biology topics regarding Florida and Peru.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

April 10, 2012* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Jennifer Dean: "Tracking Invasive Species in New York with Volunteers and Professionals." Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity, particularly at localized scales. In New York, the State invasive species database (iMapInvasives) was developed to provide an online mapping tool for aggregating and sharing invasive species data. Since 2010, the New York Natural Heritage Program has been training users to enter data into iMapInvasives to gain a better understanding of infestations and to help with the early detection and rapid response of new invaders. Jennifer earned her Ph.D. from Penn State University in Entomology with a focus on plant-insect interactions, and a B.S. in Plant Biology from Ohio University. She is the Invasive Species Biologist for the New York Natural Heritage Program, where she provides biological expertise for the database, conducts state-wide outreach, and collaborates with other groups throughout the state that are concerned with—and track—invasive species.
Location: Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Earth and Space Science Building, Gil Hanson Room (Room 123), SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook

* Refreshments and informal talk begin at 7:30.
Formal meeting starts at 8:00 PM.
Directions to Muttontown: 516-354-6506
Directions to Stony Brook: 516-354-6506