In the first of her “Out with the Naturalist” series, Beth Bartoli takes us along Rowleys Bay Trail to see what spring flowers may be emerging in Newport State Park in late April.
When you look closely, the forest floor isn’t as barren as it seems. Beth discusses several common spring ephemeral flowers and plants, and why the lack of forest canopy is so important to them.
Beth began filming these short videos during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Like all state parks at the time, Newport was mostly closed and the public was encouraged to shelter at home. She wanted to share what was going on in the park with anyone who couldn’t be there, especially since the naturalist programs and hikes were cancelled.
