BSWP 2021 Zoom meetings
View BSWP's May 2022 Zoom meeting.
The Society meets monthly from September through June on every second Monday of the month at 7:15 p.m. For now, our meetings take place via Zoom.
Members who have joined the BSWP e-mail list will be contacted and e-mailed an invitation (link and password) to each monthly meeting.
Directions to in-person meetings, when held
To Ford Mateer Classroom of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History:
The entrance to the parking lot, which is gated, is just past the Museum at the intersection of Forbes and Craig Street. The Ford-Mateer Classroom is reached through the Portal Entry in the rear parking lot area. Once inside the building, the room is located just beyond the Security desk on the left. In addition to the Museum parking lot, which costs $6, there are metered spaces on Forbes Avenue opposite the Museum and along Craig Street that are free after 6 p.m. From there you will cross the street and walk through the right side of the gates to the parking lot. Continue on the sidewalk to the rear of the building where you will see the sign for “Portal Entry” ahead.
If you do not park in the Museum’s lot, from Forbes Avenue, walk along the right side of the parking toll gates to the parking lot. Continue on the sidewalk to the rear of the building where you will see the sign for "Portal Entry" ahead.
Directions to the Carnegie Museum
http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/interior.php?pageID=36
Registration for Botanical Society field trips is not required. Everyone is welcome, including non-members. Trips last 3 to 4 hours but one can leave at any time. For questions, contact the field trip leader or Loree Speedy at (724) 518-6022 (cell) or loreespeedy@gmail.com. Add these BSWP field trips to your Google Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Ym90c29jd3BhQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 1:00 PM
Little Sewickley Creek outside of Herminie, Westmoreland County
This is a favorite trip for early spring ephemerals and Snow Trillium, along an old railroad grade.
Directions: Take the PA Turnpike to Exit 67-Route 30/Irwin/Greensburg. Take the Route 30 East/Greensburg ramp. At the first stoplight on Route 30, turn right onto Arona Road, then another right after 0.5 mile onto unmarked Wendel Road. Travel this road 3.7 miles to a T. Turn right at the T and continue 1 mile to Herminie to a 4-way stop (VFD on corner). Continue straight to the next stop sign and turn left. Proceed through 2 more stop signs, end at a T, and turn right. Continue past the Dairy Queen on your right and continue down a hill; we will meet just before the highway bridge. Park on the left side.
These directions are difficult as roads are unmarked and state roads through Herminie sometimes look like alleys. GPS coordinates will likely take you by a more direct route.
GPS coordinates: 40.26045, -79.72696.
Google Maps
Link to Herminie
Tuesday, March 24, 2026,
12:00 PM, NOON
Rescheduled from March 17
Cedar Creek County Park
Westmoreland County
Meet at RC Airfield
Leader: Meg Scanlon; Cell: 724-612-6192
Directions: From Pittsburgh, travel PA 51 south to its junction with PA 201 (just after Bill's and Willowbrook Plaza). Continuing on PA 51, travel 2 additional miles to the traffic light for Concord Lane and turn left. (This traffic light at Concord Lane can also be reached by I-70 exit 46B and continuing north on PA 51 to the northern Concord Lane intersection across from C Harper car dealership.) Traveling on Concord Lane, turn left onto Municipal Drive.
Continue about 0.6 mile and turn left at the first road (Timm’s Lane) past the municipal building. You will see the first brown park sign for pavilions 14 and 15 and the RC Airfield. This left turn is before the Main Park Entrance. Continue on Timms Lane past the ballfields to the RC Airfield, where we will meet.
Picnic tables and restrooms available at the Radio-controlled field for those that wish to come at 11:30 AM for lunch, 12 noon for start of walk.
GPS coordinates: 40.17454, -79.77733
Google Maps
Link to Cedar Creek Park Airfield
Saturday,
April 4, 2026, 1:00 PM
Wharton
Furnace Road, Forbes State Forest
Fayette County
Leader: Loree Speedy; loreespeedy@gmail.com; (724) 518-6022 cell
Directions: From Uniontown, take US40 east up the mountain to Summit Hotel. Pass the summit, but prepare to turn right onto Wharton Furnace Road a little over ½ mile from the Summit. Turn right onto Wharton Furnace Road and travel 3.3 miles to a Forbes State Forest parking lot on the left. This is 1.5 miles from Wharton Furnace historic site near the intersections with Shephard and Fayette Springs Roads. The parking lot is large but the area is not well-marked; look for the Forbes State Forest sign.
This recent addition to Forbes State Forest is along a sandy floodplain of Cheney Run, perfect for Phlox stolonifera and violets.
GPS coordinates: 39.8080, -79.62180
Google Maps
Link to FSF Lot
Saturday, April 11, 2026,
10:00 AM
Cedar Creek County Park
Rostraver,
Westmoreland County
Leader: Mark Bowers; monarda55@gmail.com; cell: (724) 454-4012
We will join the Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club for a hike in the gorge.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, travel PA 51 south to its junction with PA 201 (just after Bill's and Willowbrook Plaza). Continuing on PA 51, travel 2 additional miles to the traffic light for Concord Lane (Honda and Ford car dealership on right) and turn left. Traveling on Concord Lane, turn left onto Municipal Drive. Continue about 0.6 mile and turn left into the main entrance to the park. Follow this park road downhill, cross the bike trail, and turn left to continue through a series of parking lots until you reach the farthest parking lot, near the Gorge Trail and the mouth of Cedar Creek.
GPS coordinates: 40.17867, -79.77847
Google Maps
Link to Cedar Creek Gorge lot
Mark Your Calendar
The following trips have been scheduled
and details will follow in early April.
Saturday, April 18, Park Gate Lineal Park, Beaver County, 1:00 PM
Tuesday, April 21, Noon, Ackermann Preserve near Trafford, Westmoreland County
Sunday, April 26, 1:00 PM, Penn State New Kensington Woods with Mason Heberling, 1:00 PM
Weekend of May 16 and May 17, Dolly Sods and Tucker County, Come one or both days
Additional trips will be scheduled for May!