In 1901 Emma J. Cole published Grand Rapids Flora, a catalogue of plants growing without cultivation in the vicinity of Kent County. Enormous changes have taken place since those “horse and buggy” days, yet her book remains the most complete account of plants specific to our area. Who was this remarkable high school teacher, world traveller and Kent Scientific Institute botanist? Where were her favorite spots for wildflowers? Do they still exist?

Julie Stivers will speak about the life of Emma Cole. Professor Crow will describe the work he and Dr. Warners are doing with Calvin students to rediscover Emma’s haunts and assess their natural quality today. There are interesting surprises as we don our “sleuthing” hats, grab our hand lenses, and observe the changes over more than 116 years.