Early Wildflower Weekend - Adams County, OH

March 23 - 25, 2018

Break out of the winter blues with an early jump on the wildflowers! This tour will visit various botanical goldmines deep in southern Ohio – early blooming hotspots where plants begin to flower weeks in advance of locales to the north. We’ll see Virginia bluebells, blue-eyed mary, trout lilies, trilliums, hepatica, harbinger-of-spring, bloodroot, dwarf larkspur and more. In total, we should see a few dozen species of wildflowers in bloom, including a few very rare types. Also, and adding to the macro allure, many early season pollinators should be working the flowers and providing for interesting photo ops. The earliest of the butterflies will have emerged, including the showy falcate orangetip. While we will focus primarily on flowers, we won’t ignore anything interesting that comes our way. That includes early to arrive Neotropical birds such as blue-gray gnatcatcher, blue-headed vireo, and Louisiana watershrush, in addition to many species of local birds.

Base Camp: We’ll base ourselves at the Comfort Inn, Seaman, Ohio that is right in the midst of the wildflower hotspots we will be visiting. 

Itinerary

Day 1

We’ll rendezvous at 1:00pm on Friday, March 23rd in the meeting room at the Comfort Inn. We'll go over basic techniques for macro photography and discuss the various species we will likely encounter.  Following the session, we will head to some local scenic hotspots and shoot until dark. Dinner as a group at a local restaurant. (No meals included in price) 

Day 2

After breakfast at the hotel, we will head out and be devoted to shooting the region’s best wildflower offerings for a majority of the day. Dinner and conversation as a group at a local restaurant and a sunset scenic photo session will end the night. If in bloom, we will visit the rare goldenstar lily and snow trillium. (Breakfast at hotel included with lodging)

Day 3

Following breakfast on Sunday, we’ll hit a few more spots and conclude the workshop by noon. (Breakfast at hotel included with lodging)

Itinerary includes

• Photo instructions, guidance and field techniques
• Transportation (large van) for field trips
• Snacks and water in the field
• Hot breakfast at host hotel
• Critiques upon request
• Editing instruction

Itinerary does not included

• Lodging (a block of rooms are being held for us. You will recieve complete information when you register)
• Items of a personal nature

Lens Rentals

Please contact us if you are interested in renting a specific lens. We should be able to arrange for nearly anything you might wish. Cost will vary depending upon the lens and the time period it will be used for. We can quote a price soon after your inquiry.

Interesting natural history highlights

Bloom times vary from year to year, but it’s likely we’ll see the very rare goldenstar lily and snow trillium. Another notable plant is mistletoe, which occurs in trees along the Ohio River. Large stands – acres! of Virginia bluebells is a highlight. If skies are sunny and temperatures reasonable warm, we should see many species of butterflies, including falcate orangetip, mourning cloak, and zebra swallowtail. Many species of birds will be establishing territory and singing, including pine warbler, black-and-white warbler, Lousiana waterthrush and more. We will also hone our botany skills. Jim McCormac spent much of his career as a field botanist, has seen 99+% of Ohio’s native plant species, and will help us learn to identify the flora.

Enrollment Information

Deposit and Full Payment

All prices are quoted in US dollars and all payments must be paid in US dollars. Deposits can be made using a Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card. Final payment for your trip is due 90 days prior to departure.

1 and 3 day workshops- full payment, Registration Form and Release of Liability and Assumption of all Risks form are required to reserve your spot. 

4 days+ tours – your deposit, Registration Form and Release of Liability and Assumption of all Risks form are required to hold your spot. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. If you sign up for a tour within 90 days of departure, the entire amount is due when you register.

Cancellations and Refunds

We understand that unforeseen events may come up and prevent you from attending the workshop/tour. If you need to cancel, we must receive written notification. Refunds will be processed according to these schedules:

One and three-day workshops (full payment paid in advance) 

• 30 days or more prior to the first day of the event - we will provide a refund of the registration fee for the workshop (less 6% of the total for administration and credit card fees). 
• 29 days or less prior to the first day of the event – we will issue you a refund of the registration fee for the workshop (less 6% of the total for administration and credit card fees) if your vacancy is filled.
• 29 days or less prior to the first day of the event – if we cannot fill your vacancy, we will issue you a 50% refund (less 6% of the total for administration and credit card fees).

If for some reason an event is cancelled, you will receive a full refund of the registration fee. However, we cannot be responsible for any non-refundable travel expenses you may have incurred. 

Tours longer than three-days (deposit paid in advance and final payment paid 120 days prior):

• 121+ days prior to departure – refunded less 6% for administration and fees 
• 120 to 90 days prior to departure – refunded 50% 
• 90 days or less prior to departure – NO REFUND

No partial refunds for unused services, lodging, meals, etc. Trips are sold as a package only. 

Travel Insurance

Travel protection insurance is recommended to protect your investment.  Travelguard.com and allianztravelinsurance.com are 2 options that provide various types of coverage options.  

In the unlikely event that the trip is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, your money will be refunded in full, with the exception of expenses you personally incurred while preparing for the trip.

Health Considerations

Most of our trips will involve elements of physical activity easily accomplished by the average person in good health.  While some of our locations are near a road or parking lot, some are not. PLEASE be sure you are comfortable walking over uneven rocky terrain with your gear for 30 – 45 minutes at a time. We may shoot at all hours of the day and night (we try to take advantage of the best weather and light conditions), which may not be typical for some participants. Specific considerations are included in the description of each workshop/tour. 

Medical circumstances or emergencies do not constitute grounds for exception to the cancellation policy. Therefore, trip cancellation and interruption insurance is recommended.

Smoking is not permitted in group vehicles, during meals, and at other times when secondhand smoke can affect the health and comfort of others. 

Costs

Information about what is included/not included are summarized in the individual descriptions of each workshop/tour. 

Trips that include overnight accommodations will be double occupancy. You will be charged the single supplement fee if you request a single room.

Because of deposits forwarded and liabilities incurred by Debbie DiCarlo Photography and Jim McCormac with hotels, local guides, transportation, etc. no partial refunds will be given for unused rooms, meals, transportation, etc. 

Weather policy

We are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Locations have been scouted and options are in place in case of uncooperative weather. Without putting participants at risk, the workshop will commence rain or shine, cold or warm, clear skies or cloudy. Refunds will not be issued because of the weather.

Responsibility

Debbie DiCarlo Photography and Jim McCormac Photography act only as agents for the client in regard to travel including, but not limited to, sightseeing, meals, lodging, transportation, and all other services whether by railroad, motorcar, motor coach, boat, ship or aircraft and they assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the trip.

Debbie DiCarlo Photography and Jim McCormac Photography can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, volcanic eruption, terrorist acts, political unrest, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as trip fees provide for arrangements only for the times and locations stated. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.

The right is reserved to 1) substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary or transport where deemed necessary, or caused by changes in air schedules or equipment substitution; 2) cancel any trip prior to departure, in which case full refund of the paid trip funds will be given, but Debbie DiCarlo Photography and Jim McCormac are not responsible for any other trip preparation expenses such as penalized or non-refundable air tickets, visa fees and medical related expenses; 3) substitute trip leader(s) for the leader(s) originally specified, in which case the substitution is not a basis for participant cancellation or refund other than provided by our normal cancellation policy. 

Trip prices are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of publication and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein.

The Registration Form and the Release of Liability and Assumption of all Risks forms must be signed by each participant prior to the commencement of the trip. Participation by any trip member will be declined in the absence of the signed Registration Form and the Release of Liability and Assumption of all Risks, with no trip fee refund. No modification of the Release of Liability and Assumption of all Risks form will be accepted.