Knowing Native Plants
Knowing Native Plants: Plant Identification
*** This program has been rescheduled to February 1 due to inclement weather*** Please call us at 215.862.2924 if you have questions or need assistance due to the rescheduling. Thank you! This indoor program will introduce you to the basics of identifying conifers and flowering plants using dichotomous keys. Ed Lignowski, PhD, former botany/plant physiology college professor, will teach you the vegetative and reproductive morphological features and terminology needed to use a typical plant identification key.
Knowing Native Plants: Trees in Winter
Although this time of year the trees are dormant, they exhibit many interesting botanical features. Ed Lignowski will explain how to identify native deciduous trees and shrubs using buds, twigs, fruit, bark and shape as your only clues. Discover what these trees are doing to prepare for spring and how flowing sap is used to make maple syrup. Pre-registration required. Presentation/discussion will be followed by an outdoor tour.
Knowing Native Plants: Signs of Spring
Meet the early flowering plants—including snow trillium, skunk cabbage and hepatica—and learn how they have adapted to this potentially harsh time of year. We will attempt to identify spring-blooming species from shoots just beginning to poke through the soil. Presentation/discussion will be followed by an outdoor tour.
Exploring Nature
Knowing Native Plants: Plant Identification
*** This program has been rescheduled to February 1 due to inclement weather*** Please call us at 215.862.2924 if you have questions or need assistance due to the rescheduling. Thank you! This indoor program will introduce you to the basics of identifying conifers and flowering plants using dichotomous keys. Ed Lignowski, PhD, former botany/plant physiology college professor, will teach you the vegetative and reproductive morphological features and terminology needed to use a typical plant identification key.
Winter Woodland Walk
Join us for a leisurely walk through woodland trails as we enjoy the quiet of the winter woods. We will look for tracks, abandoned nests and seed pods and enjoy the tranquility of the forest. After our walk, we will return to the Visitor Center for hot cider and cookies. Bring binoculars if you have them. Dress warm. Advanced registration required.
Great Backyard Bird Count
This annual global four-day event engages bird watchers of all ages in counting the birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginner bird watchers to experts. The Preserve's bird count takes place in the bird observatory in the Preserve’s auditorium. Binoculars aren’t necessary, but helpful.
Bagels and Birds for Beginners
If you’ve wanted to start watching birds, but don’t know where to begin, here is a great opportunity for you. While we sip coffee or tea and munch on fresh bagels, we will cover how to use binoculars and learn the basics of field identification through visual and behavioral cues. Then we will head outdoors to use our new-found knowledge in the field. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Advanced registration and payment by March 12 required. Photo credit Jean Barrell.
Knowing Native Plants: Signs of Spring
Meet the early flowering plants—including snow trillium, skunk cabbage and hepatica—and learn how they have adapted to this potentially harsh time of year. We will attempt to identify spring-blooming species from shoots just beginning to poke through the soil. Presentation/discussion will be followed by an outdoor tour.
Growing Native Plants
Growing Native Plants from Seed
Start your native wildflower garden early! Join Jason Ksepka, BHWP curator, to learn how to grow wildflowers from seed. He will discuss different germination strategies while you plant a variety of wildflower seeds to bring home for your garden. Advanced registration required.