The hills of North Pownal, Vermont have been on the “must visit” map of botanists ever since James W. Robbins made his famous plant collecting excursion through New England nearly 180 years ago.  Robbins’ specimens figured prominently in the first flora of Vermont by William Oakes.  The Nature Conservancy of Vermont’s preserve on Quarry Hill will be the focus of this mid-season botanical field trip.  Quarry Hill is a low-elevation marble hill with a dramatic southwest-facing cliff, and supports a very diverse upland limestone flora in its dry and mesic oak-hickory-hophornbeam forests, which include yellow oak (Quercus muhlenbergii), four-leaved milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia), beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) and many grasses and sedges rare in Vermont.  The North Pownal hills are significant for biodiversity protection at both New England and eco-regional levels.  We will spend the day scrambling around this steep, rocky terrain, so come prepared with sturdy boots and clothing.  Bring a bag lunch and plenty of water.