Monday, March 30, 2020
By: Susan Charkes, Easement Steward
In the best of times, and in the least best of times, nature’s seasonal rhythms provide a comforting sense of order. Spring wildflowers remind us that beauty is precious and worth taking note of. Enjoying flowers is an antidote to anxiety,...
Read MoreMonday, August 26, 2019
By: Kelly Ford, Land Stewardship Intern
In the summer of 2015, pitch pines in Nottingham County Park and nearby sites started showing signs of stress. The crowns of the trees had started yellowing. Later, pea-sized globs of white resin were noticed on the bark of a few trees. At the time the Southern Pine Bark beetle was not yet considered a threat. They had been known to affect a damaged tree from time to time, but had never mounted a large infestation in Pennsylvania. By the fall of 2017 nearly every single pitch pine in the area was dead or dying. The infestation stretched from nearby state forest lands in the south to privately held tracts to the north.
Continue ReadingTuesday, August 6, 2019
By: Lillia Schmidt, Brandywine Conservancy Intern
In these wet summer months, it is not unusual to notice a thick foam accumulating on the surface of your stream. Although it can look unnatural, even alarming, suds on your stream is not all harmful, depending on the type. The tricky part is identifying which foam you have and knowing what to do...
Continue ReadingWednesday, June 19, 2019
By: Kelly Ford, Easement Stewardship Intern
You may have noticed an increase in the number of turtles out on the roads over the last couple of weeks. This is because spring and early summer are the times turtles are moving about to find mates and a place to lay their eggs. Pennsylvania is home to 14 different...
Continue ReadingWednesday, June 19, 2019
By: Grant Folin, Laurels Preserve Manager
Pollinators play a crucial role in every ecosystem and ensure the reproduction of many flowering plants. In recent years, scientists have observed a worldwide decline in pollinators, including native bee species—most notably in honeybees—and some butterfly and moth species. It is believed that the decline has been caused principally by habitat loss and more intensive use of pesticides on crops. In order to thrive, it is important that pollinators find nectar from plants available to them throughout the growing season.
Continue ReadingWednesday, June 5, 2019
By: Susan Charkes, Easement Steward
North America’s largest rodent, the beaver (Castor canadensis), is supremely well adapted to life in and around fresh water. In December 2018, Conservancy staff discovered a new beaver dam and lodge at Waterloo Mills Preserve that had re-routed a stream and inundated the Preserve’s wet meadows. While some of the adverse impacts included the destruction of healthy trees, there have also been some surprising benefits as a result of the Preserve's newest inhabitants.
Continue Reading