These associations of plants are clues to understanding and interpreting the landscape of our region. We’ll learn how soil moisture is the primary determinate of the plant mix at any given location, and explore the three drainage regimes – xeric (dry), mesic (medium) and hydric (wet). We’ll learn about plant succession – the force that converts a site from bare soil to a mature forest over time through a loosely predictable series of transitional plant communities.

Field trips will visit examples of representative plant communities in the Triangle area, including Duke Forest, Horton Grove Nature Preserve, Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area, and Willie Duke's Bluffs on the Eno River.