Everyone is welcome to visit the WVU Core Arboretum woodland amphitheater for its Nature Connection Series talks on Tuesday evenings this summer.
Local and regional experts on a variety of nature-related subjects will give public talks at the arboretum, as part of our WVU Core Arboretum Nature Connection Series. This summer, talks will cover topics such as fish, trees, native history, moths, birds, plants, mushrooms, geology, vernal pools, forest bathing and more.
These talks happen at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the WVU Core Arboretum Amphitheater, starting in June and continuing through late August.
This coming Tuesday’s speaker is Stuart Welsh, U.S. Geological Survey, Fisheries Research Scientist. His talk is titled “Hornyheads, madtoms, and darters: Narratives on Central Appalachian fishes.” Welsh’s talk will be about his recent book, and he will have copies of his book available for sale at the talk.
The book is a collection of essays on nature, naturalists and the natural history of fishes. A focus is not only on the fishes of central Appalachia but also on the things these fishes do in their natural habitats.
The talks are free and open to the public, and no registration is required. All the talks are outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Talks will be cancelled and rescheduled for a future summer if the weather is inclement.
Free parking is available at the Arboretum Parking Lot and the adjacent WVU Coliseum Parking Lot.
The full calendar for this summer is now out and is available on the arboretum website at https://arboretum.wvu.edu/nature-connection-series.
Other talks this summer:
June 18: Jim Thompson, WVU Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Professor of Soils and Land Use: Restoring red spruce in Appalachia: Why and how soils are used to assess restoration potential and guide decision making.
June 25: Doug Wood, on the landscape and economy of the Monongahela River region at the turn of the centuries (17th and 18th, that is).
July 2: Leroy Fowler, “Young Naturalist: The magnificent work of Maria Merian, artist and entomologist”.
July 9: Tucker Cooley, entomologist and moth expert: “Winged wonders of the night: The moth fauna of West
Virginia”.
July 16: LeJay Graffious, Old Hemlock Foundation, director and bird bander: “Enchanting eccentricity: The American woodcock’s tale”
July 23: Craig Barrett, WVU Department of Biology, associate professor: “Landscaping with native plants: Native plants for Northern West Virginia yards”
July 30: Bill Beatty, Wild and Natural Nature Education and Consulting, eirector: “Mushrooming in West Virginia”
Aug. 6: Claudette Simard, Fairmont State University, geologist and adjunct professor of earth science: “How West Virginia became the Mountain State”
Aug. 13: Margi Bush, certified forest therapy guide, national board-certified health and well-being coach: “How to live an awe inspired, wonder filled life: The art and science of forest bathing”
Aug. 20: John DeMary, teacher and naturalist, expert on vernal pools: “Ephemeral pools: Critical amphibian breeding sites”
Aug. 27: Bill Peterjohn, WVU Department of Biology, emeritus professor: “Earth’s changing climate: Causes, consequences, and challenges”
WVU Core Arboretum Nature Connection Series is supported by the WVU Department of Biology,
the WVU Core Arboretum Endowment, and donations from the public. All speakers are volunteers.
