Knowing Native Plants
Knowing Native Plants: From Flowers to Seeds with Ed Lignowski, PhD
How do angiosperms reproduce sexually? Former botany/plant physiology college professor Ed Lignowski, PhD, will answer that question in this new program by discussing the life cycle of flowering plants from pollination to fruit/seed dispersal. General anatomy of flowers will be covered, and specific examples of native plants will be used to illustrate the many interesting differences in floral structure and function that occur in nature. Presentation/discussion is followed by an outdoor tour. This program is suited for adults. Professional CEUs are available.
Exploring Nature
Penn’s Woods Tree Trail Walk
Penn’s Woods is a 9-acre arboretum within the Preserve that showcases our collection of native trees. Join Preserve naturalist Rick Anderson to explore the history of the Penn’s Woods Tree Trail, discover why native trees work best in the landscape and learn about the environmental benefits of trees.
Collections Walk: The Millrace
Take a walk along the newly restored Millrace Trail with the collections crew and Glenn Blakely, a volunteer with the Friends of Washington Crossing Historic Park. He was instrumental in restoring the functioning water channel as part of a larger effort to restore the Thompson-Neely Grist Mill on Pidcock Creek. You’ll learn about 19th technological ingenuity while strolling between the creek and the millrace in the colorful light of the streamside forest.
Fall Foliage Walk
Have you ever wondered how and why the beautiful fall color at the Preserve happens? Join a Preserve naturalist and learn their knowledge of trees, from color changes to medicinal value and more, on this interactive walk.
Knowing Native Plants: From Flowers to Seeds with Ed Lignowski, PhD
How do angiosperms reproduce sexually? Former botany/plant physiology college professor Ed Lignowski, PhD, will answer that question in this new program by discussing the life cycle of flowering plants from pollination to fruit/seed dispersal. General anatomy of flowers will be covered, and specific examples of native plants will be used to illustrate the many interesting differences in floral structure and function that occur in nature. Presentation/discussion is followed by an outdoor tour. This program is suited for adults. Professional CEUs are available.
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 ubiquitous. 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 try 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.
Owl Prowl
Join us for an after-hours hike as we search for these nocturnal birds. We’ll start indoors and discuss how to identify the species we may see or hear. Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk through wet trail conditions. For ages 8 and up.
Winter Solstice Walk
Instead of hunkering down and bemoaning the longest night of the year—also known as the winter solstice—celebrate with a stroll through the Preserve with a naturalist. We’ll celebrate the joys of winter with a walk on the 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.
Growing Native Plants
Growing Native Plants: Make-and-Take Carnivorous Plants
What’s scarier than a plant that eats meat? Join us in our Native Plant Nursery to create your own “scary” carnivorous plant masterpiece. The planter will contain a pitcher plant and a sundew, which can be kept in the planter or planted out in your landscape. This is a drop-in program that takes place between 10 am - 2 pm.