Chances are most nature goers will experience the dreaded poison ivy rash at least once in their lifetime. Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a native plant that is valued by wildlife—humans are one of the few species vulnerable to its “poison.” The easiest way to avoid the painfully itchy reaction is to steer clear of the plant. Learn about a few common look-alike species that are often confused for poison ivy or download a handy field guide to take with you during your next nature walk.
We are living in an unusual time. With many of us now working from home, we’ve become experts at programs like Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft Teams and a multitude of other technologies that help ease the transition and keep us connected to family, friends, colleagues and collaborators. For those of us who are lucky enough to have jobs we can perform remotely, we find that the disruption is not actually all that disruptive to our work. However, it does make us think a little harder about what we can and cannot do from the comfort of our own homes.
By:
Ellen Ferretti, Director of the Brandywine Conservancy
Today, April 22, 2020, marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Through the years, this day has taken on the context of the time in which it’s celebrated. I looked up a newscast by Walter Cronkite on the first Earth Day in 1970—which I remember well—and was simultaneously thankful for how far we’ve come in our awareness of our natural environment and saddened by the fact that we are still not fully addressing deep concerns of the past and those that have come to light in the years since.
Nature’s first blush of green is a sign that spring is officially here. Whether you are hiking, driving or just looking out into your backyard, you will notice green starting to appear. It may come as a surprise that these first glimpses of green are often non-native invasive plant species. The...
A prescribed fire is a beautiful thing. When Jim Moore, an owner of one of Brandywine’s conservation easement properties, shared some drone footage of a prescribed burn—a fire that was deliberately set and professionally controlled—we were struck by the beauty of the aerial imagery....
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, focusing your attention on nature.While social...