Knowing Native Plants
26Jul
Knowing Native Plants: Meadow Magic with Mary Anne Borge (July 26, 2025)
Join Naturalist Mary Anne Borge and discover the Preserve’s 4-acre meadow. This program will introduce you to native plants that thrive in a meadow habitat, including wildflowers, grasses, sedges and rushes. Learn what defines a meadow, the benefits it provides, meadow successional stages, the actions necessary to maintain a meadow and the animals that depend on this type of ecosystem. Find out why it is important to plant native species and avoid non-native ornamentals that may escape from cultivation. Whether you are looking for ideas for your own meadow or want help identifying plants in the meadows where you hike, this program is for you. Mary Anne Borge is a naturalist, photographer, author and educator. She is the editor of Butterfly Gardener Magazine, a naturalist and instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and a Pennsylvania master naturalist. She is the team leader for Lambertville Goes Wild, a volunteer organization that successfully led Lambertville to certification as a community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. On her blog, Mary Anne writes about and illustrates with her photography the importance of native plants to all life. Additional Information: Online registration for this program closes 12 hours before the start of the class. If you need help with registration, please email education@bhwp.org. If you need assistance with your membership code, please contact development@bhwp.org. You will receive an email with a Zoom meeting invitation before the program begins and after registration closes. Registration Fees: In-Person: $30 Virtual: $25
23Aug
Knowing Native Plants: Confusing Yellow Composites with Mary Anne Borge (Aug 23, 2025)
Join Preserve Naturalist Mary Anne Borge as we focus on the confusing late summer and fall-blooming yellow composites, including goldenrods (Solidago spp.), sunflowers, coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) and beggar-ticks (Bidens spp.). She will cover the features that make aster family members unique, as well as the relationships these plants have with the insects, birds and other animals that depend on them. Find out which of these species might be good candidates for your own garden. Mary Anne Borge is a naturalist, photographer, author and educator. She is the editor of Butterfly Gardener Magazine, a naturalist and instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and a Pennsylvania master naturalist. She is the team leader for Lambertville Goes Wild, a volunteer organization that successfully led Lambertville to certification as a community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. On her blog, Mary Anne writes about and illustrates with her photography the importance of native plants to all life. Additional Information: Online registration for this program closes 12 hours before the start of the class. If you need help with registration, please email education@bhwp.org. If you need assistance with your membership code, please contact development@bhwp.org. You will receive an email with a Zoom meeting invitation before the program begins and after registration closes. Registration Fees: In-Person: $30 (if you cannot add to your cart, in-person tickets are sold out) Virtual: $25
20Sep
Knowing Native Plants: Classic Asters and Their Colorful Companions with Mary Anne Borge (Sept. 20, 2025)
Join Preserve Naturalist Mary Anne Borge to find out what makes aster family members different from all other plants and their importance to both wildlife and people. You’ll learn about classic asters such as New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) and many other species found in different habitats; some that bloom into November; as well as bonesets (Eupatorium perfoliatum), white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) and mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum). Learn which of these species might be good candidates for your own garden. Mary Anne Borge is a naturalist, photographer, author and educator. She is the editor of Butterfly Gardener Magazine, a naturalist and instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and a Pennsylvania master naturalist. She is the team leader for Lambertville Goes Wild, a volunteer organization that successfully led Lambertville to certification as a community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. On her blog, Mary Anne writes about and illustrates with her photography the importance of native plants to all life. Additional Information: Online registration for this program closes 12 hours before the start of the class. If you need help with registration, please email education@bhwp.org. If you need assistance with your membership code, please contact development@bhwp.org. You will receive an email with a Zoom meeting invitation before the program begins and after registration closes. Registration Fees: In-Person: $30 Virtual: $25
04Oct
Knowing Native Plants: Trees of the Preserve with Ed Lignowski, Ph.D. (Oct. 4, 2025)
Learn about our native trees that dominate the landscape of forests, homes and municipalities. Former botany/plant physiology college professor Ed Lignowski, Ph.D., will discuss Pennsylvania’s forests, tree growth and development and how to identify the many native tree species of the Preserve. The biological and environmental changes occurring in autumn that provide brilliant seasonal tree colors will be explained. Additional Information: Online registration for this program closes 12 hours before the start of the class. If you need help with registration, please email education@bhwp.org. If you need assistance with your membership code, please contact development@bhwp.org. You will receive an email with a Zoom meeting invitation before the program begins and after registration closes. Registration Fees: In-Person: $30 Virtual: $25
01Nov
Knowing Native Plants: From Flowers to Seeds with Ed Lignowski, Ph.D. (Nov. 1, 2025)
How do angiosperms reproduce sexually? Former botany and plant physiology college professor Ed Lignowski, Ph.D., will discuss the life cycle of flowering plants, from pollination to fruit and seed dispersal. The general anatomy of flowers will be covered along with specific examples of native plants that illustrate the many interesting differences in floral structure and function occurring in nature. Additional Information: Online registration for this program closes 12 hours before the start of the class. If you need help with registration, please email education@bhwp.org. If you need assistance with your membership code, please contact development@bhwp.org. You will receive an email with a Zoom meeting invitation before the program begins and after registration closes. Registration Fees: In-Person: $30 Virtual: $25
Thursday Night Nature
03Jul
PA ELK: A Conservation Success Story with Ben Porkolab (July 3, 2025)
Pennsylvania was once teeming with Eastern woodland elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis) numbering over 100,000 animals. Due to habitat loss and overhunting this subspecies was completely gone by the late 1860s. Thanks to the introduction of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis) by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, this majestic animal can now be enjoyed once again in our state. This program will cover elk ecology and up-to-date research projects being conducted. Ben Porkolab is the Conservation Education Coordinator for the Keystone Elk Country Alliance at the Elk Country Visitor Center. Before teaching at the Elk Country Visitor Center, he taught elementary school for 22 years, guided sportfishing in Alaska for ten summers and has volunteered as a PA Hunter Education Instructor for 17 years. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge of nature with others. Program Fee: $15 (Members, enter your code at checkout to receive your 20% discount.) All lectures will be held virtually using Zoom. They will be recorded and shared with everyone who registers for a short time.
03Jul
Thursday Night Nature Summer 2025 Discount Bundle
Autumn savings are coming to you for Thursday Night Nature! The full class bundle is available for an extra discounted price of $90, which equals two free lectures. Learn more about Thursday Night Nature here. The Preserve is proud to announce the continuation of Thursday Night Nature. In the same vein as our popular Winter Lecture Series, the Preserve will host a guest lecturer 7 pm - 8 pm every Thursday for eight weeks, beginning October 3. Using Zoom Webinars these all-virtual lectures will feature an impressive list of experts from across the country. All programs will be recorded and shared for a short time with all registrants. If you can't join us LIVE, register and watch when you can during the allowed time. Online registration for this program bundle closes on July 3 at 5:00 pm. Additional Information: Online registration for this program closes at 5:00 pm on the date of the program. Zoom invitations will be sent out after this time to the email used to register for the event. The link will come from lauricella@bhwp.org OR education@bhwp.org. The series features presentations by regionally renowned experts who address a wide range of topics related to natural history, biodiversity, ecological gardening, native plants and native wildlife. All lectures will be held virtually using Zoom.
10Jul
The Ecology of Native Plants with Jason Goldman (July 10, 2025)
This presentation is a deep dive exploration of native plant gardening. We'll learn all about the ecology of native plants and animals, and understand the importance of these often hidden connections between them. It is forged out of a need for a deeper understanding of native plant gardening and will take the audience on an exploration of the natural world right here in our own backyards. You’ll leave this talk wanting to plant native everywhere! Jason Goldman is a naturalist, garden designer and ecological presenter. Growing up in New Jersey, he has always had an appreciation for the natural world. With a degree in ecology and a passion for educating others, Jason strives to empower others and help them become more environmentally conscious. Jason has presented at numerous garden clubs and public libraries. Program Fee: $15 (Members, enter your code at checkout to receive your 20% discount.) All lectures will be held virtually using Zoom. They will be recorded and shared with everyone who registers for a short time.
Exploring Nature
19Jul
North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly Count 2025
Join us for a citizen science extravaganza focusing on our fluttering friends. Why count butterflies? It helps scientists piece together the big picture of the distribution and population size of each species counted, and how they change over time. It is also a lot of fun! Join Mary Anne Borge, Preserve naturalist, who will teach you to identify the different butterflies we encounter and the native host plants they depend on for nectar and caterpillar food. Please bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens, and a field guide, if you have one. Make sure you have plenty of water, snacks and appropriate sun protection. Join us for all or part of the morning; all experience levels are welcome, from beginners to seasoned butterfliers. Mary Anne Borge is a naturalist, photographer, author and educator. She is the editor of Butterfly Gardener Magazine, a naturalist and instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and a Pennsylvania master naturalist. She is the team leader for Lambertville Goes Wild, a volunteer organization that successfully led Lambertville to certification as a community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. On her blog, Mary Anne writes about and illustrates with her photography the importance of native plants to all life. Registration is required for this event.