Winter Tree Identification with Sammy Winderman

In winter, without their leaves to distract us, tree species can be easy to identify if you know what to look for. In this workshop, we will learn various native trees’ characteristics that help us to identify them in the leafless season, including buds fruit, needles, and bark.  Dress warmly and wear shoes with good tread. Don't forget your notebook and camera!

Sammy Winderman is Mountain Top Arboretum's Horticulturist. His love for nature inspired him to a pursue a career where the majority of his days are spent outdoors. His first full time job in the field was an AmeriCorps position working for a non-profit that focused on improving the urban forest in San Jose, California. From there, he worked as a supervisor for the San Jose Conservation Corps and led corpsmembers through various environmental projects such as park beautification, trail maintenance, and invasive plant management. These opportunities allowed him to join the Longwood garden’s professional horticulture program – a two-year intensive training program from one of the world’s premier botanical gardens. In this position, Sammy worked with passionate horticulturists across the different parts of the gardens and absorbed as much wisdom as he possibly could. After completing this certificate, Sammy worked for Virginia Tech where he grew Piedmont native grassland plants for seed collection. Outside of work, Sammy loves hiking, camping, paddleboarding, cooking, television, and music.

Registration is free for members and a $10 donation for non-members. Registration is required.