Exploring Nature
Oct24
Meandering Mindfully Through Fall’s Colors (Series)
Mindfulness is a way of experiencing the world in the present moment with curiosity and non-judgmental awareness. Join us in mindfully wandering through the Preserve, focusing on the change of seasons through four of our senses: sight, hearing, touch, and smell. Deepen your connection with the natural world and nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Sandy Unger, MA, is trained in teaching Mindfulness-Based Stree Reduction (MBSR) at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. She is also a certified Qigong and Tai Chi Easy certified teacher through the Institute of Qigong and Tai Chi, and a member of the National Qigong Association. Please note: This series must be purchased as a whole, in advance. Individual sessions are not available for purchase. Online booking for this program closes on October 8, 2018. To register online, click here. If you wish to register after October 8, please call 215.862.2924 for space availability and reservations. »
Nov03
Knowing Native Plants: From Flowers to Seeds with Ed Lignowski, Ph.D.
How do angiosperms reproduce sexually? Ed Lignowski, Ph.D., will answer that question during a discussion on the life cycle of flowering plants, from pollination to fruit and seed dispersal. The general anatomy of flowers will be covered; specific examples of native plants will be used to illustrate the many interesting differences in floral structure and function that occur in nature. The events following pollination, leading to the development of fruits and seeds, will be explained. Learn about various types of native plant fruits and see examples of how they provide nutrition for wildlife. This presentation will be followed by an outdoor tour. »
Nov11
Learn About Lichens with Dennis Waters
Are they plants? Are they fungi? They're both! Lichens are everywhere you look and they are as fascinating as they are unbiquitous. Join lichenologist Dennis Waters to learn about these remarkable botanical partnerships. Understand how they work and why they have grown to be so dependent on each other. Following a short talk, we will take an excursion into the Preserve to find lichens growing on trees, on rocks, and on the ground. You will learn about their lifestyles, their habitats, and their important contributions to ecosystems. You'll have plenty of chances to tour your hand at identifying the lichens you see. Dennis Waters has been a lichenologist for ten years. He is currently completing his first lichenological survey of Mercer County, New Jersey, in collaboration with the New York Botanical Garden, the Mercer County Park Commission, and the D&R Greenway Land Trust. In recent years he has been part of lichen surveys in Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, the Dare Regional Biodiversity Hotspot in North Carolina, the Straits Counties of Michigan, and the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. »
Nov16
Dec08
Dec21
Winter Solstice Walk with Kelly Joslin
Instead of hunkering down and bemoaning the longest night of the year (also known as the winter solstice), celebrate it with a stroll through the Preserve with Education Coordinator Kelly Joslin. We'll celebrate the joys of winter with a walk on the Preserve's trails at a time when the sun is lowest in the sky and we experience the shortest days of the year. We'll conclude in the Visitor Center with hot drinks and cookies, »
Knowing Native Plants
Nov03
Knowing Native Plants: From Flowers to Seeds with Ed Lignowski, Ph.D.
How do angiosperms reproduce sexually? Ed Lignowski, Ph.D., will answer that question during a discussion on the life cycle of flowering plants, from pollination to fruit and seed dispersal. The general anatomy of flowers will be covered; specific examples of native plants will be used to illustrate the many interesting differences in floral structure and function that occur in nature. The events following pollination, leading to the development of fruits and seeds, will be explained. Learn about various types of native plant fruits and see examples of how they provide nutrition for wildlife. This presentation will be followed by an outdoor tour. »