Plant lovers and plant enthusiasts can learn to classify plants this Saturday at the Plant Keying Workshop sponsored by the Wild Ones Red Cedar Chapter. Although registration ended last Wednesday, there still are a few seats available, so those interested should check out the group’s Web site. The cost will be $20 per person or two for $30. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and end around 1 p.m. in room 151 in the Plant Biology Laboratories.
“I’m excited about this,” said Mary Leyes, publicity chair for the Wild Ones Organization. “I remember learning this because I had a botany class, but it’s been 20 years. I think it will open up new areas and help me figure out what’s a weed and what’s a wildflower.”
The workshop will be held in two sections. The first couple of hours will be spent in the classroom and, if weather permits, the rest of the time will be in the wood lots putting to use what was learned. The purpose of the workshop is to move beyond using a key to identify a plant that has already bloomed, said Leyes.
“Take a plant in nature, wildflower or weed, and by following a key, will ask different question or how many petals,” Leyes said.
Leyes also said that through a series of questions, participants will learn to answer their questions about which plant they are looking at.
Fundraising chair and creator of the Wild Ones Red Cedar Chapter Mark Ritzenhein said that the workshop provides a learning experience.
“It’s an opportunity for the chapter to provide outreach to the community in a way they can expend our skills, a way to increase members scientific approach to plants and gardening,” Ritzenhein said. “I think that it’s a more precise way by knowing the pants in a scientific way then a physical way.”
Ritzenhein said that his interest for plants is more than planting flowers in the backyard.
“They do it for looks and not functions,” Ritzenhein said. “I was interested in plants having a functional meaning in a garden context.”
Sue Millar, president of the Red Cedar chapter, wasn’t too involved when she first the group.
“I joined five years ago, but I didn’t go to many meetings at first,” Millar said. “I’ve always been interested in plants, meeting with people who share an interest … it’s easy to get really enthusiastic and fun to share the enthusiasm.”