Let’s explore and showcase the rich diversity of the Ouachita Hills Region at the ULM Biological Station on the banks of the Ouachita River!
Where: CHARLES ALLEN NATURE PRESERVE 1749 Fisher Rd. Columbia, LA 71414
When: Saturday, Oct. 24th. You can join and leave freely, as you please from 8:00 AM – 4.00 PM.
LMN-NE has again been warmly invited to join ULM biology students, faculty and public for an all-day event to observe, document and identify as many life forms as we can including birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, butterflies, fungi and more! There will be several hikes during the day, led primarily by ULM Biology students and faculty. This is a great opportunity for us to both learn and contribute.
We will be using our citizen science apps: iNaturalist app, Merlin, plus cameras, binoculars etc.
Dress for outdoor exploration, and bring clear memory cards/spare batteries, your own food and drinks and naturalist equipment!
I think we all appreciate the importance of plants as primary producers in our food web, we simply wouldn’t survive without them. Sadly plants are disappearing faster than science can keep up with documenting and protecting them according to an article in The Times (Kew’s 300-year-old archive goes digital to sow seeds of AI breakthroughs). The grim reality that 40% of the world’s plants could be threatened with extinction is countered by determined efforts to use the latest technology in their stewardship. See ‘Every box has been opened’: London botanic gardens digitizes 7 million specimens in Nature and Kew Garden’s State of The World’s Plants and Fungi for the latest info about how data sharing is a crucial tool in conservation efforts (06/16/26). There’s lots to unwrap there, but it’s safe to say botanical hotspots like The Kisatchie National Forest are truly precious reserves of Biodiversity!
Another Key weapon in our fight for plant conservation is education! Eight Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast, and 1 each from CENLA and Northwest gathered in Georgetown for our 2026 LMNNE Plants Workshop!
During Rendezvous 2024, I greatly enjoyed his Edible Plants Workshop at Black Bayou Lake NWR. He supplied the native bamboo for the cane break section of the arboretum there. He is an extremely knowledgeable and witty educator capable of educating and entertaining in a wonderful, tireless flow.
Louisiana Master Naturalists presenting Dr. Charles Allen with botanical specimens for identification!
“Why is this called a Dogwood?” “It’s because of the bark.” No, but seriously, this was another fantastic workshop. Henceforth we can tell at a glance between an Ash and a Hickory! I’ve always wanted to be sure of that. We drove into the Kisatchie southeast of Georgetown and parked at various points of interest where Dr. Allen sent us off to gather plants and bring them back to him for identification and discussion of their distinguishing characteristics and intriguing factoids. We explored mixed hardwood and conifer woodland with some mesic tracts, then Shortleaf pinewoods with their far airier ambience and rich understory. We encountered a diverse population of grasses, forbs, vines, shrubs and trees. At one point we saw a large WWII era bunker. The Kisatchie served as army training ground and thus assisted in the liberation of Europe and the Far East!
We learned through these many examples about the importance of noting the opposite or alternate pattern of branches and leaves, the character of their leaf shapes and edges, the quality of their bark, and their flowers. Amongst many other things we learned how to make tea from Yaupon leaves! The samples collected were carefully bagged for use in our classroom phase of the workshop.
We are very grateful to the community of Dry Prong for provision of their excellent Dry Prong Community Center for our classroom portion of the workshop. Our drive to Dry Prong took us through lovely vistas of Shortleaf and endangered Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) forest in the rolling hills. Here Dr. Allen and his daughter, Dawn, laid out all the specimens on tables and then matched them to Dr. Allen’s latest ‘Plants Species List’. Dawn’s husband runs Almost Eden online and mail order plant store.
To our bag of specimens collected on the day, Dr. Allen and Dawn added a treasure trove of specimens collected from their own property, the wonderful Allen Acres B&B, itself an important botanical and entomological hotspot. The Allens manage their private nature reserve for biodiversity, check them out if you’re looking for a highly rated ecotour stay, local tours to the Kisatchie including Pitcher Plant bogs, and top quality botanical books and courses!
Species encountered
Check out our impressive Workshop Plants List! We saw the following in the field and at Dry Prong Village Community Center!
Woody
0.5 Abilia chinensis Chinese abilia
11 Aralia spinosa DEVIL’S WALKINGSTICK FAC
21 Callicarpa americana AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY FACU
22 Campsis radicans TRUMPET CREEPER FAC
29 Cephalanthus occidentalis BUTTONBUSH OBL
34 Cornus florida FLOWERING DOGWOOD FACU
39 Diospyros virginiana PERSIMMON FAC
35 Crataegus crus-galli/marshallii/spathulata HAWTHORN FAC
39 Diospyros virginiana PERSIMMON FAC
41 Fagus grandifolia AMERICAN BEECH FACU
46 Fraxinus pennsylvanica GREEN ASH FACW
49 Hamamelis virginiana WITCHHAZEL FACU
61 Ilex vomitoria YAUPON FAC
69 Liquidambar styraciflua SWEETGUM FAC
73 Magnolia grandiflora SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA
74 Magnolia virginiana WHITE BAY (VIRGINIA SWEET BAY) FACW
77 Morus alba/rubra WHITE/RED MULBERRY FACU
78 Myrica (Morella) cerifera/ WAXMYRTLE (BAYBERRY) FAC
84 Parthenocissus quinquefolia VIRGINIA CREEPER FACU
87 Pinus echinata SHORTLEAF PINE
89 Pinus palustris/taeda LONGLEAF/LOBLOLLY PINE FAC
101 Quercus nigra WATER OAK FAC
102 Quercus alba/falcata/hemispherica/virginiana WHITE/SOUTHERN RED/UPLAND WILLOW/LIVE OAK FACU
109 Rhus copallinum WINGED SUMAC UPL
119 Smilax bona-nox SAW GREENBRIER & Smilax glauca SAWBRIER & Smilax rotundifolia COMMON GREENRIER FAC
122 Smilax smallii UPLAND BAMBOO VINE FACU
129 Toxicodendron pubescens POISON OAK FACU
136 Vaccinium elliottii SUMMER HUCKLEBERRY FACW
137 Vaccinium stamineum DEER BERRY, SQUAW BERRY
140 Viburnum dentatum ARROWWOOD FAC
142 Vitis rotundifolia MUSCADINE FAC
Forbs
152 Agalinis spp PURPLE FALSE FOXGLOVE
155 Alophia drummondii PINEWOODS LILY FACU
159 Ambrosia artemisifolia COMMON RAGWEED FACU
171 Asclepias tuberosa MILKWEED
Vitis (genus) MULTIPLE
Baptisia
185 Buchnera americana BLUEHEARTS FAC
187 Callirhoe papaver WINECUP
195 Cassia (Chamaecrista) fasciculata PARTRIDGE PEA FACU
I enjoyed this workshop even though I’ve studied with Dr. Allen five times because each time I learn something new and am reminded of what he has taught, and more knowledge sticks in my head to serve me in the field and my own attempts to educate. You bet we’re going to relay some of this knowledge in our forthcoming Basic Field Skills Workshop (Save the date July 18).
A massive THANK YOU to our participants, Dr. Allen, his daughter Dawn, the good people of Dry Prong and the Forestry Service for making this event a great success.
Check out Larry Allain’s “Guide to the Plants of Louisiana“, an online searchable database containing descriptions, distribution maps, and over 5,000 photographs of 1,755 plant species!
How does an oak tree have more in common with a pumpkin than a pine tree?
Join the iNaturalist community. Add images and details of your plant observations to iNaturalist’s growing data-base. This data can be used to inform scientific research with far-reaching implications.
Watch our Volunteer Opportunities Page and media releases for opportunities to participate in local Phenological projects, restoration projects, outreach activities and more.
Avoid pesticides and broadscale herbicides in your yard.
Delay mowing to allow flowers time to host insects. Alternatively, mow paths and leave islands of longer grass and flowers.
Louisiana Black bear sow with her cub at Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, C.Paxton image and copyright.
Join us for a full day of discovery as the Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast dive into the biology, diversity, and conservation of our state’s mammals under the expert tutelage of ULM’s Dr. Ana Couvillon. This workshop blends classroom learning with hands‑on field experience at one of northeast Louisiana’s richest wildlife areas. This Workshop can count towards your certification as a Louisiana Master Naturalist!
Saturday, March 28, 2026
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: ULM & Russell Sage WMA
Classroom Tuition
9:00 a.m.: We’ll convene in the Natural History Museum STEAM Room, Hanna Hall 1st Floor, ULM Campus
Classroom topics:
Mammalian origin story & what makes a mammal a mammal
Diversity & life histories of mammals
Mammal management & conservation; mammals of Louisiana
Research into mammal biology & ecology
Examining specimens (pelts, dentition, etc.)
11:30 a.m.: Break to travel and eat along the way (make your own arrangements).
Afternoon: Field Work at Russell Sage WMA (12:30–2:45 p.m.)
Reconvene at Russell Sage WMA, where Dr. Ana and graduate students will guide us through:
Camera trap demonstrations
Small mammal survey techniques
Data collection and species identification in the field
We’ll wrap up with announcements around 2:45 p.m. wherever the fieldwork concludes.
Special notes: All adults must have a LWF Permit.
🌿 Headed to Russell Sage WMA for our forthcoming Mammals workshop field trip?
Here’s a quick reminder for all participants — EVERY adult needs a WMA Access Permit, no matter your reason for visiting. They are great value because the Russell Sage is an amazing wildlife area.
Getting your permit online is easy:
👉 Visit **LouisianaOutdoors.com**
👉 Select **Buy Licenses**
👉 Choose **WMA Access Permit** (Annual $20 or 5‑Day $5)
or you can purchase one from an authorized vendor.
Save a screenshot or print a copy before you arrive — cell service can be spotty inside the WMA.
Minors (under 18):
No permit needed—they’re exempt!
Bring your permit (digital or printed) when visiting the WMA!
Thanks for helping us model responsible stewardship and support LDWF’s conservation work. See you in the field! 🌱🦉
Bring the usual field gear: notebook, pencil, camera, ruler. (I learned the importance of rulers at our first mammals workshop and now carry several small ones in my camera bag.) Binoculars also good, if you have them.
Dress for outdoors. Bring bug spray and your own water and snacks as needed. Right now, the long-term forecast is for a pleasant day, with temps in the high 60s, low 70s, and no precipitation. We’ll check that again closer to the date.
We are going onto a State Wildlife Management Area. “Either a WMA Access Annual or 5-day Permit is required for all users of LDWF administered lands, including wildlife management areas, refuges and wetlands conservation areas (LDWF website).”
If you want to pay for the workshop on site, please notify Bette Kauffman or Charles Paxton that you are coming in advance. Also, please arrive 15 minutes early so we can conduct the business first and then focus on the expert tuition.
