WGNSS Botany Group - Chair: George Van Brunt
WGNSS Monday Botany Walk
When: Monday, May 18, 2026, at 9:30 am
Where: Pickle Springs Natural Area
Let’s try to dodge the raindrops and enjoy a day at Pickle Springs Natural Area near Farmington, MO.
The parking lot is located at GPS Coordinates: 37°48'05.5"N, 90°18'05.8"W or 37.801533, -90.301616.
We’ll walk the scenic Trail Through Time (1.9 miles) and see some sandstone-loving plants along the way. Potential targets include Rhododendron prinophyllum (flame azalea), all three of Missouri's Vaccinium species, V. pallidum (lowbush blueberry), V. stamineum (deerberry), and V. arboreum (farkleberry), and possibly, a rare semi-aquatic violet, Viola macloskeyi (small white violet).
This hike is a bit more strenuous than some we have taken lately. Use your head and know your limitations. You can walk part of the loop and still see some beautiful scenery!
Bring water and dress for the weather. The current forecast for Monday shows a possibility of rain early, with a possible window of cloudy, rain-free skies and temperatures in the 70s at walk time.
Lunch stops in Farmington open on Mondays include Sugar Fire BBQ, or, if we head back to I-55, there’s Midway Bar and Grill in New Offenburg.
When: Monday, May 18, 2026, at 9:30 am
Where: Pickle Springs Natural Area
Let’s try to dodge the raindrops and enjoy a day at Pickle Springs Natural Area near Farmington, MO.
The parking lot is located at GPS Coordinates: 37°48'05.5"N, 90°18'05.8"W or 37.801533, -90.301616.
We’ll walk the scenic Trail Through Time (1.9 miles) and see some sandstone-loving plants along the way. Potential targets include Rhododendron prinophyllum (flame azalea), all three of Missouri's Vaccinium species, V. pallidum (lowbush blueberry), V. stamineum (deerberry), and V. arboreum (farkleberry), and possibly, a rare semi-aquatic violet, Viola macloskeyi (small white violet).
This hike is a bit more strenuous than some we have taken lately. Use your head and know your limitations. You can walk part of the loop and still see some beautiful scenery!
Bring water and dress for the weather. The current forecast for Monday shows a possibility of rain early, with a possible window of cloudy, rain-free skies and temperatures in the 70s at walk time.
Lunch stops in Farmington open on Mondays include Sugar Fire BBQ, or, if we head back to I-55, there’s Midway Bar and Grill in New Offenburg.
The Webster Groves Nature Study Society Botany Group schedules a botany field trip for each Monday morning throughout the year, weather permitting. Yes, we do winter botany too!
After leading these botany walks for 54 years, Fr. Jim Sullivan has "retired," and the walks are currently being led by John Oliver.
***See the WGNSS Event Calendar for Botany Walks.***
Monday Botany Walks—John Oliver is currently the Botany Walk leader. John usually schedules walks of 2-3 hours duration for Monday mornings, but occasionally he will schedule the weekly walk on a different day of the week, and he may even schedule an overnight trip. Sign up for WGNSS Botany Group notification emails from Wayne Clark.
If you wish to be added to the Monday Botany Walk notification list, contact Wayne Clark at [email protected] or (314) 962- 5443 to receive an email no later than Sunday describing the following week’s trip destination.
***See the WGNSS Event Calendar for Botany Walks.***
Weekend Botany Walks - Are you interested in learning more botany but are unable to accompany the WGNSS Botany group on weekday outings?
WGNSS member Michael Laschober conducts botany walks on weekends from April through October.
Each weekend, there are two walks, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., both to the same location.
To get on the list for the “St. Louis Nature Students” and to see their schedule, please go to https://stlns.org/
Join WGNSS for botany, birds, bugs, books & photography!
All events are free & open to the public unless noted.
WGNSS event notices are posted on the WGNSS Facebook page.
After leading these botany walks for 54 years, Fr. Jim Sullivan has "retired," and the walks are currently being led by John Oliver.
***See the WGNSS Event Calendar for Botany Walks.***
Monday Botany Walks—John Oliver is currently the Botany Walk leader. John usually schedules walks of 2-3 hours duration for Monday mornings, but occasionally he will schedule the weekly walk on a different day of the week, and he may even schedule an overnight trip. Sign up for WGNSS Botany Group notification emails from Wayne Clark.
If you wish to be added to the Monday Botany Walk notification list, contact Wayne Clark at [email protected] or (314) 962- 5443 to receive an email no later than Sunday describing the following week’s trip destination.
***See the WGNSS Event Calendar for Botany Walks.***
Weekend Botany Walks - Are you interested in learning more botany but are unable to accompany the WGNSS Botany group on weekday outings?
WGNSS member Michael Laschober conducts botany walks on weekends from April through October.
Each weekend, there are two walks, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., both to the same location.
To get on the list for the “St. Louis Nature Students” and to see their schedule, please go to https://stlns.org/
Join WGNSS for botany, birds, bugs, books & photography!
All events are free & open to the public unless noted.
WGNSS event notices are posted on the WGNSS Facebook page.
Learn more about Missouri Flora -- Resources are provided at this website links:
➢Missouriplants.com
➢Missouri websites and References
➢Missouriplants.com
➢Missouri websites and References