Knowing Native Plants
07Jun
Knowing Native Plants: Focus on Ferns with Ed Lignowski, Ph.D. (Jun. 7, 2025)
There are some native plants, such as ferns, that don’t flower at all. In this popular program, Ed Lignowski, Ph.D., former botany/plant physiology college professor, will teach you to identify many native ferns. He will highlight their evolutionary history and unusual reproductive habits, as well as their natural habitats and usefulness in native plant gardens. 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. LACES CEUs are available for this class. Registration Fees: In-Person: $30 Virtual: $25
21Jun
Knowing Native Plants: Invasive Species ID and Management with Mary Anne Borge (June 21, 2025)
What is an invasive plant? What problems do invasive plants cause? Join Naturalist Mary Anne Borge to learn the answers to these questions, as well as how to identify the most common and troublesome invasive plant species in the Delaware Valley region. You'll also learn about several alternatives for control of these exotic intruders, many without the use of chemicals. 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 If you cannot add the in-person option to your cart, it is sold out!
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
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.