In our region, deciduous trees—those that lose their leaves during the colder winter months—dominate the forests, making tree identification more difficult when the branches are bare. Luckily, there are other characteristics we can turn to when the temperature drops and the days get shorter.

After incurring substantial damage from historic flooding caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021, the house at 6 Station Way Road on Brandywine's inner campus is preparing to enter a new phase of life. Built sometime between 1878 and 1880, the nearly 150-year old building stands as a tangible reminder of the seven families who once called it home and the development of Chadds Ford village at the turn of the century. Soon, this historic structure will be undergoing renovations to become an office building for Brandywine staff who still remain displaced after Ida flooding substantially damaged multiple office buildings on our campus.

Looking to get outside with your pets this fall? Whether you’re going for your morning walk, a weekend trip out of the city, or just passing through, you can find dog-friendly parks and trails through the Brandywine Creek Greenway App. By utilizing your phones global positioning system (GPS), this app provides nearby recreational areas from the over 200 parks and trails in its database, in both English or Spanish. You can even filter your search to look for specific amenities, such as bicycle trails or picnic facilities. Each description contains information about the park, including additional weblinks, parking notes and tips—including whether the location is dog-friendly, for leashed-dogs, or features off-leash dog parks.

First observed in Ohio in 2012, Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) has since spread swiftly throughout the northeastern United States, reaching as far as Ontario, Canada. The disease affects seedlings, saplings and mature trees, and is believed to be caused by Litylenchus crenatae mccannii, an invasive nematode—or microscopic worm—that infiltrates the buds and leaves of American beech trees, depriving them of vital nutrients, gradually weakening the host and ultimately leading to its death. BLD poses a serious threat to the health and future of beech-dominant forest ecosystems.

Bamboo is a fast-growing woody grass often marketed as an option for planting privacy screens and windbreaks. While bamboo is beautiful and has many practical uses, it is very challenging to control or remove and should be planted with extreme caution—and certain types should not be planted at all.