French filmmakers Pierre Creton & Vincent Barré will join us for this walk to celebrate the release of their new film, 7 Walks with Mark Brown, screening at BAM from June 20 — 26. Their film follows paleobotanist Mark Brown as he lovingly and expertly describes the flora of Normandy, France.

In honor of their visit, we will explore Brooklyn’s only forest, nestled in the heart of Prospect Park. South of the glacial terminal moraine, this forest was deliberately left wild by the park’s designers. Here, tall Tulip Trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) dominate the canopy, joined by a mix of native and naturalized species such as Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Oaks, and Maples.

The understory is anchored by spicebush (Lindera benzoin), a fragrant shrub that serves as a vital host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly. If we’re lucky, we might see the striking magenta blooms of the Purple-flowered Raspberry (Rubus odoratus).

The forest floor is a mix of exotic and native wildflowers like Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), which hugs the ground, while Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) rises above, sometimes reaching six feet. A scattered mix of sedges, ferns, and lawn weeds fills in the gaps.

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Walk Leader: Marielle Anzelone is the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. She talks about local flora on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show. Follow @nycwildflowers on Instagram

Time: 10:00 am — 12:00 pm EST

Free!

Registration