Note: There may be field trips with this course. You must be able to traverse up to 2 miles on uneven ground both grassy and slightly rocky. Participants will provide their own transportation to any field sites. Come learn to identify the community of plants that grow together in the alluvial forest. This course will discuss the herbaceous and woody native plants that grow adjacent to water. Lowland habitats are often the most intense and diverse environments in our region. Often, these areas are underappreciated because they do not sustain agriculture and many other human endeavors. But surprisingly, the woody plants found in the hydric habitat are some of the most adaptable to urban conditions. We will consider the ornamental value, growth habit, and limitations of these plants. Basic taxonomic principles are used for field identification. The application of the knowledge gained in this class will prepare students to properly select plants for rain gardens, bioretention areas as well as a variety of urban sites that may not drain well, have highly compacted clay or post-construction soils. This class is being offered because of the ease of mobility on more level pathways than the rolling hills or mountainous natural habitats in our region. On one field trip, we will view a rich variety of early blooming native wildflowers such as Virginia bluebells and their partners. The second field trip will serve as a review session of many of the plants and the fascinating habitat we have studied during this course. The sense of mystery of the alluvial forest calls us to explore. Come join us! Sue Dickson worked nine years as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Northern Virginia Community College in Loudoun County, VA . Sue grew up 10 minutes from Longwood Gardens and Winterthur Gardens. With such extraordinary inspiration she couldn’t avoid becoming a horticulturist! Over the years she has sustained a deep commitment to horticulture as a greenhouse perennial plant production grower, garden designer, and grounds manager. Her extensive background in production horticulture has provided her with a wealth of hands-on experiences that she applies in the classroom. Many of her horticultural accomplishments and writings were widely recognized at her previous posts as horticulture manager at Keswick Hall and Woodberry Forest School near Charlottesville, Virginia. B. S. Plant Science, University of Delaware M. S. Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Sue recently retired and lives in Rockingham.