Workshops & Events
Ecology & Conservation
Jul28
How to Really Save the Bees with Nancy Lawson
One in four bee species in North America is now at risk of extinction. Historically under-studied and under-appreciated, our nearly 4,000 native bee species live decidedly different lifestyles than that of the honeybee, a captive-bred animal originally introduced from Europe. Most native bees are solitary, nesting underground or in holes in wood and twigs. Some are specialists, gathering pollen only from certain native plants to provision their nests. Many are so small they're often mistaken for flies or gnats. All are worthy of our attention and concern. Learn how to create and nurture a habitat that provides food and shelter for bees throughout their lifecycles. Nancy Lawson is the author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife. A columnist for All Animals magazine, Lawson founded Humane Gardener, an outreach initiative dedicated to cultivating compassion for all creatures, great and small, through animal-friendly landscaping methods. After an early career in newspaper journalism, she led the creative teams behind the award-winning print and digital magazines of The Humane Society of the United States. »
Aug04
Weed Patrol
Join us for a fun morning in the woods. Meet Preserve Grounds Manager Rick on the Visitor Center porch for details regarding the morning’s tasks. Jobs will likely include removing non-native plants and helping with light trail maintenance. Learn as you go! Dress for the weather and for working outside. Please bring a reusable water bottle. Groups, individuals, and families welcome. Gloves and tools are supplied or bring your own. This program is weather dependent; visit BHWP.org for program status. To register, contact Volunteer Coordinator Regina Moriarty at 215.862.2924 ext. 110 or moriarty@bhwp.org. »
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. »
Sep08
Creating Backyard Habitat for Butterflies with Jesse Connor
Our area hosts more butterflies than people realize (more than 100 species!); but the butterflies need our help. This members-only* talk focuses on what we can do to re-establish our backyards as healthy, butterfly-friendly eco-systems. Learn which native perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines are best for them and which species you can attract and provide for in your yard. Jesse is a passionate advocate of sustainable landscaping who has worked as a naturalist, horticultural assistant, and specialty garden designer. She currently leads the Southeast Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. *Your membership must be current to attend this event. Not a member or need to renew? Click here to join or renew today. Photo by Tom Potterfield »
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. »
Sep22
Weed Patrol
Join us for a fun morning in the woods. Meet Preserve Grounds Manager Rick on the Visitor Center porch for details regarding the morning’s tasks. Jobs will likely include removing non-native plants and helping with light trail maintenance. Learn as you go! Dress for the weather and for working outside. Please bring a reusable water bottle. Groups, individuals, and families welcome. Gloves and tools are supplied or bring your own. This program is weather dependent; visit BHWP.org for program status. To register, contact Volunteer Coordinator Regina Moriarty at 215.862.2924 ext. 110 or moriarty@bhwp.org. »
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. »
Oct06
Weed Patrol
Join us for a fun morning in the woods. Meet Preserve Grounds Manager Rick on the Visitor Center porch for details regarding the morning’s tasks. Jobs will likely include removing non-native plants and helping with light trail maintenance. Learn as you go! Dress for the weather and for working outside. Please bring a reusable water bottle. Your efforts will help to protect our collections of rare and endangered plants. Groups, individuals, and families welcome. Gloves and tools are supplied or bring your own. This program is weather dependent; visit BHWP.org for program status. To register, contact Volunteer Coordinator Regina Moriarty at 215.862.2924 ext. 110 or moriarty@bhwp.org. »
Birding Programs
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. »
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. »
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 »
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. »
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. »
Art, Health & Nature
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. »
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. »