Exploring Nature
Aug17
Nature Play Day
Come for an afternoon of play in nature! Our Visitor Center will be filled with fun and thematic self-guided activities and art projects. Join us for a guided hike, too. This is a drop-in family program; no advance registration is required. »
Aug18
(CANCELED) Signature Plants of the Preserve: Late Summer
The late summer landscape is a tapestry of colorful plants and the fauna they attract. Join Education Coordinator Kelly Joslin for an engaging walk to discover the wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that, because of their beauty, wildlife value, ecological role, and garden worthiness, we have dubbed our Signature Plants of Late Summer. Photo: Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) with Red-banded Hairstreak by Mary Anne Borge »
Aug19
Collections Walk: The Plants of the Meadow
The Preserve is home to more than 700 species of native plants. Join us for an informative walk as we take a look at rare, unusual, and/or unique favorites of our Curator, Collection Committee, and Naturalists. This walk will feature the collection found within our meadow and we will discuss plans for the Aquatong Meadow expansion project. Please dress for the weather. »
Aug19
The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly
The invasive insect, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. This session will discuss what it is, how to identify it, why we are concerned about it, and what to do if you find it in your yard or neighborhood. »
Aug22
Mornings in the Meadow
Amidst a sea of waving green grasses, native bees and butterflies gather nectar or pollen from milkweeds, mints, bonesets, and coneflowers. Before the day heats up, take a guided tour of our meadow to learn about native warm-season grasses, meadow ecology, and plant-pollinator interactions. This vigorous walk leaves from the Visitor Center. For ages 10 and up. »
Sep01
Mornings in the Meadow
Amidst a sea of waving green grasses, native bees and butterflies gather nectar or pollen from milkweeds, mints, bonesets, and coneflowers. Before the day heats up, take a guided tour of our meadow to learn about native warm-season grasses, meadow ecology, and plant-pollinator interactions. This vigorous walk leaves from the Visitor Center. For ages 10 and up. »
Sep08
Fall Morning Bird Walk
The Preserve's diverse variety of native plants offers migrating birds a smorgasbord of fruits and the insects they attract. Join us as we search the woods for warblers, thrushes, and other species and learn about the plants that help fuel their flight. »
Sep08
Milkweeds & Monarchs
Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on leaves of milkweed, the only host plant for this iconic butterfly species. Without it, they cannot complete their life cycle. The good news is that planting milkweed is one of the easiest ways that each of us can make a difference for monarchs. Join Education Coordinator Kelly Joslin and learn about the monarch life cycle and their migration. You will also learn which plants to add to your yard to provide nectar for adults and serve as hosts for caterpillars. »
Sep15
Fall Morning Bird Walk
The Preserve's diverse variety of native plants offers migrating birds a smorgasbord of fruits and the insects they attract. Join us as we search the woods for warblers, thrushes, and other species and learn about the plants that help fuel their flight. »
Sep15
Knowing Native Plants: Amazing Asters with Mary Anne Borge
Fall is peak bloom time for the Aster family. Explore our woods and meadows with Naturalist Mary Anne Borge to discover asters, goldenrods, bonesets, coneflowers, tickseeds, and other yellow composites. We'll look for signs of the relationships these plants have with the insects, birds, and other animals that depend on them. »
Sep15
The Hidden Lives of Trees with Monica Flint
Do trees really talk with each other? Or is this a romantic fantasy straight out of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings? Peter Wohlleben is a forester who has long studied the life of trees in the forest in Germany. In his book, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, he describes the trees' interactions and methods of communication. The latest scientific studies conducted by respected institutions of higher learning confirm Wohlleben's observations. But while some scientists, like Wohlleben, may seem to see intention or purpose behind trees' interactions, others see genetic programming without consciousness at work. Read Wohlleben's book, available in the Twinleaf Book & Gift Shop; then join Monica Flint for a discussion and a walk to visit some of the trees in Penn's Woods. »
Sep16
Confusing Fall Warblers ID Workshop with Pete Bacinski
This is a comprehensive workshop on the identification of our warblers in their basic (fall) plumage, with a discussion of arrival dates and natural history. This presentation will illustrate all of the Keystone and Garden States' annual fall warbler visitors, emphasizing the most difficult ID challenges with many of these very similar-looking birds. The warbler images in this program are spectacular. Photo: Blackpoll warbler by Gerry Dewaghe »
Sep21
Nature at Night
Nocturnal nature is full of beauty and mystery. September is a great time to explore the Preserve and discover the fascinating life history of creatures big and small. Bring a flashlight or headlamp and we will search the meadow for signs of nocturnal nature, including the most industrious creatures of them all: spiders! »
Sep22
Fall Morning Bird Walk
The Preserve's diverse variety of native plants offers migrating birds a smorgasbord of fruits and the insects they attract. Join us as we search the woods for warblers, thrushes, and other species and learn about the plants that help fuel their flight. »
Sep22
Nature Play Day
Come for an afternoon of play in nature! Our Visitor Center will be filled with fun and thematic self-guided activities and art projects. Join us for a guided hike, too. This is a drop-in family program; no advance registration is required. »
Sep23
Aster Walk with Mary Anne Borge
When it comes to fall flowers, those in the Aster family are the "stars" of the season. Join Naturalist Mary Anne Borge for a walk that is all about these gorgeous blooms - and the important roles they play in supporting wildlife throughout the fall and even into winter. Photo: Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) with common buckeye by Mary Anne Borge »
Sep29
Fall Morning Bird Walk
The Preserve's diverse variety of native plants offers migrating birds a smorgasbord of fruits and the insects they attract. Join us as we search the woods for warblers, thrushes, and other species and learn about the plants that help fuel their flight. »
Sep30
Penn’s Woods Tree Trail Walk with Jeffrey Buckwalter and Jim Bray
Started in 1944, Penn's Woods in a nine-acre arboretum within the Preserve that showcases our collection of trees native to Pennsylvania. Join Preserve volunteer Jeffrey Buckwalter and naturalist Jim Bray to explore the history of Penn's Woods Tree Trail, discover why native trees work best in the landscape, and the efficiency and environmental benefits of trees. »
Oct06
Perimeter Walk with Les Swartley
The Preserve would look very different without our ten-foot-tall deer fence. Have you ever wondered what lies along the edge of such a significant perimeter, which encompasses nearly 100 acres of pristine and diverse woodland habitat? Join Naturalist Les Swartley as he takes you on an excursion around our boundary to study the contrast between our grounds and the neighboring landscapes. This is a rigorous walk requiring a good degree of balance. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy hiking shoes appropriate for the possibly wet terrain. »
Oct10
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. »
Oct13
Knowing Native Plants: Trees of the Preserve
Learn about many of our native tree species in the glory of their fall color! Do you know which native tree was originally used to flavor root beer? Or why leaves change color? This program will cover these topics and more. You will also gather tips on how to identify the trees of the Preserve, both deciduous and evergreen. This program is geared toward adults. Professional CEUs available. »
Oct14
From Wildflowers to Bowman’s Tower Family Nature Walk
You're in for a special treat! We'll take a guided, early morning walk from our Visitor Center to Bowman's Hill Tower. Along the way, we'll discuss the interesting plants and habitats we encounter. »
Oct14
Sparrow Identification Workshop with Pete Bacinski
Pete Bacinski leads a comprehensive identification workshop featuring over 25 of our resident and wintering sparrows, as well as common rarities that visit Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His presentation will illustrate field marks and clues to identification. Pete Bacinski is a naturalist, photographer, and field trip guide who has been a leader in the field of ornithology for decades. He has written for numerous local, state, and national publications and has won the World Series of Birding Competition three times. »
Oct17
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. »
Oct20
Fall Foliage Walk with Jim Bray
The magic of fall color at the Preserve is mesmerizing; but have you ever wondered how and why the color change occurs? Join Naturalist Jim BRay as he shares his knowledge of trees - from color changes to medicinal value and folklore to some things in between - on this interactive walk. »
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
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
Sep15
Knowing Native Plants: Amazing Asters with Mary Anne Borge
Fall is peak bloom time for the Aster family. Explore our woods and meadows with Naturalist Mary Anne Borge to discover asters, goldenrods, bonesets, coneflowers, tickseeds, and other yellow composites. We'll look for signs of the relationships these plants have with the insects, birds, and other animals that depend on them. »
Oct13
Knowing Native Plants: Trees of the Preserve
Learn about many of our native tree species in the glory of their fall color! Do you know which native tree was originally used to flavor root beer? Or why leaves change color? This program will cover these topics and more. You will also gather tips on how to identify the trees of the Preserve, both deciduous and evergreen. This program is geared toward adults. Professional CEUs available. »
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. »
Growing Native Plants
Sep08
Fall Native Plant Sale
Saturday, September 8, 2018 11 am - 1 pm: Members-only Nursery shopping 1 pm - 5 pm: Nursery opens to the public Sunday, September 9, 2018 9 am - 5 pm: Nursery open to all »
Sep08
Milkweeds & Monarchs
Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on leaves of milkweed, the only host plant for this iconic butterfly species. Without it, they cannot complete their life cycle. The good news is that planting milkweed is one of the easiest ways that each of us can make a difference for monarchs. Join Education Coordinator Kelly Joslin and learn about the monarch life cycle and their migration. You will also learn which plants to add to your yard to provide nectar for adults and serve as hosts for caterpillars. »
Sep09
Natural Landscape Design: Meadows, Woods, and Water with Larry Weaner
Natural gardens reduce maintenance needs, improve the environment, and enhance the beauty of any residential property. Through a series of case studies, this presentation details techniques for gracefully integrating native plant compositions and ecological processes into a residential setting. Projects are presented from inception to maturity, providing a behind-the-scenes look at both practical and aesthetic considerations involved in creating and maintaining natural gardens. Larry Weaner is nationally recognized for combining expertise in horticulture, landscape design, and ecological restoration. His work throughout the eastern United States has been featured in regional and national publications, including the New York Times. Larry is an active guest lecturer for horticultural and environmental organizations throughout the U.S. and in 1990 he developed New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), a conference series with a national following. His book, Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change, received an American Horticultural Society Book Award. »
Sep09
Make & Take: Fall Planter Workshop
Come to the Native Plant Nursery and create your own native fall planter. This planter will be an inviting piece for your front porch or back patio. The selected plants can be kept in the planter or planted out in your home's landscape. »
Sep29
Growing Native Plants: Seed Collection with Jason Ksepka
We often forget that the reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds. Take advantage of the expertise of Preserve Curator Jason Ksepka and learn how to collect seed from the plants in your own backyard. This class will take you through the steps of successful and responsible native plant seed collection. The timing of seed collection, as well as techniques and supplies suggested for storage and cleaning, will also be covered. Participants will take home a packet of native seeds. »
Oct14
Behind-the-Scenes Nursery Tour
Join Preserve Nursery Manager Jake Fitzpatrick for a walk-through of the Preserve's growing area. Normally closed to all visitors, this is your chance to see how we grow our precious native plants. Learn how we propagate seeds and care for our native perennials all year long. You will also pot a native perennial to take home! »