History of the Preserve 1930s At a chance meeting in a wooded area on state park land in Bucks County, two conservation-minded people struck up a conversation, sharing their mutual appreciation for the peaceful, natural setting that surrounded them. It …
We are excited to announce that The Crossing will be returning to Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve for a reprise of The Forest, their choral performance that quickly sold out at the Preserve last October, during their Month of Moderns 2021 …
Tips for Visitors Parking Free parking is available in the Visitor Center parking lot, with additional parking along the left side of the entrance road (Continental Drive) or by the Captian James Moore Pavilion. Accessibility The main floor of the …
Celebrating 90 Years of Conservation Action In October 1934, the Washington Crossing Park Commission set aside 100 acres of Washington Crossing Historic Park. At the urging of two dedicated visionaries, these acres became Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Mary K. Parry, …
Our Staff PETER COUCHMAN, Executive Director 215.862.2924 x104 Peter Couchman is a hybrid between a vegetable gardening father and an ornamental horticulturist mother, germinated and grown in Gettysburg, PA. While still a teenager, Peter began a career as a professional …
The Captain James Moore PavilionThe Captain James Moore Pavilion, which stands adjacent to the meadow near the Preserve entrance, was erected by the Washington Crossing Park Commission in 1941. Moore, a 24-year-old officer with the New York Artillery, died Dec. …
The Preserve is governed by a volunteer board of trustees. The trustees serve as legal stewards of the Preserve’s mission, goals, policies and finances. Through their occupation, background, experience and residence, the board members represent diverse segments of the regional …
American Holly and Canada Hemlock: Important Wildlife Food and Habitat Autumn oranges, yellows and reds are not the only colors on the Preserve this November. Check out a couple of our native evergreens!
Right Plant, Right PlaceIt is common in the gardening world to hear that successful planting is all about “right plant, right place.” While this is true, the Preserve also highly recommends focusing on the benefits of using native plants of …
This presentation captures the conception, design, current state of plant establishment and stewardship of a native plant landscape and sculpture park—The Bower—as told by the founders, Bill and Jane Allis. Begun in 2018, this “rural renewal” enhances and diversifies a 36-acre property situated in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Northern Appalachian range in Shermans Dale, PA. Large native plant gardens, shrub drifts, enhanced natural meadow and savanna habitat, a series of small constructed wetland pools and forest combine gracefully with significant sculptures, providing visitors an immersive experience. Stewarded organically with renewable energy and limited staff, The Bower opened in 2021—free by appointment only—and continues to develop with evolving visitor enhancements and public programming. The project was recently awarded one of the Preserve’s 2023 Land Ethics Awards.
Bill Allis retired as an environmental engineer for Gannett Fleming, an international consulting firm, in 2018. As a designer, project manager and business leader, his practice focused on large municipal civil infrastructure. Beyond his current role as The Bower’s co-founder and manager, Allis is engaged in landscape conservation and enhancement as a board member and the stewardship committee chair of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy. He lives full time at The Bower—his homestead of almost 50 years.
Jane Allis completed a 40-year career as an early childhood educator and administrator in 2016. Her career highlights include education program development and serving as project manager for the land acquisition, consultant selection and design build of The Londonderry School—one of the first LEED accredited school designs in Pennsylvania. Beyond her current role as The Bower’s co-founder and manager, Allis is engaged as a property holder in a public and private pilot conservation project: the Catoctin Stewardship Initiative in Maryland. She also serves as chapter president of the Wild Ones of South-Central Pennsylvania. Jane lives full time at The Bower—her homestead of almost 50 years.
Program Fee: $15 (Members, enter your code at checkout to receive your 20% discount.)
All lectures will be held virtually using Zoom. They will be recorded and shared with everyone who registers for a short time.