Estuary Plants of the Coffin Sanctuary

Join us for a special field study at the Native Plant Trust’s exquisite Coffin Wildflower Preserve. This 177-acre shoreline sanctuary is located along Merrymeeting Bay, the meeting place of six rivers that, together, drain much of Maine's landscape. This freshwater tidal estuary hosts a specialized and rare habitat with a unique array of colorful plants growing in shallows and mudflats: wild rice (Zizania palustris), bulrushes (Scirpus spp.), arrow-heads (Saggitaria spp.), bur-marigold (Bidens spp.), pipewort (Ericaulon spp.), false foxglove (Agalinis spp.), and many more. Our walk is timed to low tide, so the plants will be especially accessible as we study the flora and fauna. We’ll get to see Merrymeeting Bay’s abundance of water birds and raptors, such as ospreys and eagles. We strongly recommend binoculars and footwear you don’t mind getting wet. Presented in partnership with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. 

Please note: We do not make video or audio recordings of classes or programs available after the fact, because we believe education is interactive, with instructors and students building a community and culture of learning. Some programs may be recorded strictly for instructor-training purposes. Please visit this page to review this and other FAQs about our policies.