On Saturday, the Wells Reserve and New England Wild Flower Society partnered to offer a "Naked Shrubs" workshop with naturalist Boot Boutwell. Participants hailed from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to learn how to identify 15-20 species of shrubs in winter. Following a slideshow and overview of identification terminology, the group hit the snow-covered trail to observe shrubs up close. Using buds, fruits, bark, lenticels, and more, we all discovered the variations existing in the winter woods. Boot provided lots of identification tips, as well as natural history information and his characteristic good humor. After the trail walk, we were treated to shrub drinks and jam before taking a wrap-up shrub identification quiz. Fun was had by all! Following are the species that we learned:

• Alder, Speckled?? Alnus incana ssp. rugosa/Alnus rugosa
• Barberry, Japanese?? Berberis thunbergii
• Bayberry?? Morella caroliniensis/Myrica pennsylvanica
• Blackberry, Highbush?? Rubus allegheniensis
• Blueberry, Highbush?? Vaccinium corymbosum
• Buckthorn, Glossy?? Frangula alnus/Rhamnus frangula
• Cranberry, Large?? Vaccinium macrocarpon
• Elderberry/Common Elder?? Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis
• Hawthorne?? Crataegus sp.
• Honeysuckle, Morrows**?? Lonicera morrowii
• Laurel, Sheep?? Kalmia angustifolia
• Maleberry?? Lyonia ligustrina
• Meadowsweet?? Spiraea alba var. latifolia
• Poison Ivy?? Toxicodendron radicans/Rhus radicans
• Raspberry, Red?? Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus
• Rose, Multiflora**?? Rosa multiflora