Join us for a presentation that will highlight the stems, leaves, roots, bark and fruit of the many plants of the New England forest that produce a variety of frangances ranging from the sweet smells of spicebush and sweet birch to that of bitter chokeberry and putrid skunk cabbage. These fragrances result from chemicals produces by plants as a defense against insect and plant predators and to protect against fungal and bacterials attack. Participants will learn why plants produce fragrances and how humans have used these fragant substances in food flavoring, food preservation, perfumes and medicine, Stories and flower folklore of our fragrant plants will be shared.

Samples of fragrant plants will be available to all participants for smelling.

The Rzasas are Connecticut Naturalists. Mr. Rzasa graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Forest Chemistry at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse and a Master's of Science in Medical Science from Quinnipiac University.

Call the Library at 203-888-3903 for more information on this program. Registration is not necessary for this program.