Details are below (following a couple of VNPS event links) for the June 20
trip to Chapman's Landing.

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Some upcoming VNPS events:

Wetland Plant Walk - Huntley Meadows Park
Saturday, June 13 - 9 to 11:00 a.m.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnps-pot/message/2359

Native Ferns at Green Spring Gardens
Guided Walk: 6:45 pm
Indoor Lecture: 7:30 pm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnps-pot/message/2355

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Summer Solstice Walk at Chapman Forest South, Charles County

Leaders: Rod Simmons and Jim Long

Date: Saturday June 20, 2009

Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm or later

Directions: From the Capital Beltway (495), take Indian Head Highway (Rte
210) south approximately 22 miles to the Rt. 227 intersection at Bryans
Road (at the intersection and not surprisingly, a McDonald's and Burger
King will be on your right and a builders supply will be on left - don't
take PG County versions of Livingston Road many miles before this
intersection!). Turn left at Rte 227 and proceed south for approximately
3-4 miles. Slow down as road begins to descend down big hill to Mattawoman
Creek (Lamont's will be on left about here) and be prepared to turn right
just after stream crossing at Buteaux Crossing and before abandoned
railroad tracks. Parking area will be on right at railroad tracks. We'll
meet in parking lot.

Bring: Lunch, water, and good shoes.

Note: Moderate though lengthy walk on fairly level ground. Some wet ground
or occasional very shallow stream crossing may be encountered. Afterwards,
a group of us will meet at Chinese restaurant in Bryans Road shopping
center for dinner.

Contact: Rod, cecropia13@...

The south tributary of Chapman Forest South is a pristine, spring-fed
stream that begins as a series of Magnolia Bogs and seeps and flows
through steep, forested ravines to Mattawoman Creek. We will walk along
the floodplain of this stream from near its convergence with Mattawoman
Creek upstream to a large series of wet meadows formed by beaver dams.
This is a wild and pristine area with a great diversity of wildlife
(migratory fish spawn in the stream and evidence of bobcat has been
observed, among many others). In addition to discovering new things, we
should see the state-rare Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua) and Camphorweed
(Pluchea camphorata); extensive fern belts and clubmoss colonies and many
species of ferns, including Adder's Tongue; numerous wildflowers and
species of Carex; and a diversity of trees and shrubs. Most of the
vegetation here is typical of the Coastal Plain, but some of the stream
passes through beds of calcareous marine sands and marl, which give rise
to a distinctive flora with montane elements.

Trip is jointly sponsored by MNPS, VNPS, and the Botanical Society of
Washington.