Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania


BSWP 2021 Zoom meetings

View BSWP's May 2022 Zoom meeting.

April 2022 Meeting.

March 2022 Meeting.

February 2022 Meeting

January 2022 Meeting.

The 2020 and 2021 Zoom meeting video links can be found on the Activities page.


BSWP Meetings

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



BSWP Field Trips

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, call the field trip leader or Loree Speedy at 724-518-6022 (cell) or loreespeedy@gmail.com. Stay informed about staying safe outdoors at cdc.gov.

Add these BSWP field trips  to your Google Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Ym90c29jd3BhQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ

Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 11:30 AM (lunch) Noon (walk)

Pleasant Hills Arboretum, Pleasant Hills


Allegheny County 

Leader: Meg Scanlon; 724-612-6192

Established in 1950, the Pleasant Hills Arboretum is home to 65 species of trees — some more than 200 years old — as well as a variety of shrubs and other plants. Arboretum founder A.W. Robertson, who also helped establish the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, found his inspiration for the place from the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.

Walking the trails gives visitors opportunities for reflection and study as well as the ability to take in the many tree species including Beech and Oak. Tree plantings have included memorial trees, Arbor Day plantings, and select specimen trees like the recently planted Veteran’s Shingle Oak.

Rain or shine, this leisurely paced, easy walk will have us looking closely at how to identify trees, shrubs and meadow plants in this winter season. Gazebo and picnic tables for those that wish to come at 11:30 for lunch, 12 noon for start of walk. Port-a-john on site.

Directions: The Arboretum is located south of Pittsburgh at 199 W. Bruceton Road, Pleasant Hills, PA, 15236.  

Arrive at 11:30 AM to eat lunch at the gazebo, weather permitting. We will start walking at 12 noon. Handicapped parking and portajohn at this shelter.   

GPS coordinates: 40.32925, -79.96644 Google Maps Link

Saturday , February 1, 2025, 1:00 PM

Search for Penn Tree, Richland Park
Richland Township, Allegheny County, PA 

Leader: Loree Speedy - 724-518-6022; loreespeedy@gmail.com

Directions: Penn Tree is a majestic oak considered the oldest tree in Allegheny County, and perhaps the oldest in all of western Pennsylvania. A count of trunk rings after a lightning strike showed it to have taken root in 1598.  

We will meet along Van Velsor Drive in Richland Township Community Park, across from the soccer fields. The tree is a quarter mile away along a wooded path (that could be muddy). If time permits, we can visit other bicentennial trees in the area.  

Read about the Penn tree here.  And here.

GPS Coordinates: 40.65529, -79.92653  Google Map Link