Tree identification can be an intimidating pursuit. The path of least resistance involves keeping vague that blanket of green that provides us with shade in the summer. I took that path for longer than I wish I had. What I’ve come to realize is that tree ID is a lifelong pursuit, and the sooner you […]
With spring, we’re welcoming back a whole suite of birds that haven’t been around since early fall. While you’re out and about, keep an eye (and ear) out for the return of some of our most charismatic birds. Cuckoos Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus): You’ll find two species of cuckoo here in Pennsylvania, the yellow-billed cuckoo […]
Thanks to the work of Dr. Doug Tallamy and his lab of ecologists, oaks have become all the rage. Before the publication of his book, The Nature of Oaks, I knew I most enjoyed wandering through oak-dominated forests, but after I read his research, I understood why. When it comes to attracting and supporting biodiversity […]
Happy Women’s History Month! To celebrate the occasion, we have collected reading recommendations from some of Heritage Conservancy’s staff members, who enjoy reading about history and ecology. From historical fiction to outdoor inspiration, here are a few volumes to add to your reading list. Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a […]
Are you hoping to attract more pollinators to your land? When it comes to supporting pollinators, there are three plant families that deserve a shout out. Asters, Mints, and Legumes are similar in many ways, but they differ considerably in how they support pollinators. It’s important to understand family’s nutritional offerings. Here are a few […]
Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to three native magnolia species? These ancient flowering plants are known for their large flowers that originally evolved before most of the pollinating insects we see today. Umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) starting to flower at Croydon Woods Nature Preserve Heritage Conservancy owns and manages Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, […]
Our second annual nature writing contest, 100 Wild Words, challenged kids to connect with nature in their community and capture the experience in 100 words or less. Winners were announced at a literary reading last month hosted at Margaret R. Grundy Library in Bristol, at a gathering that celebrated local connections to nature and the […]
When hiking in the woods in winter, it is easier to see details one might overlook during the warmer months. In the absence of leaves and flowers, things like the textures of bark, the beauty of different shades of brown, and the shapes of rocks stand out more boldly. One such star of the bleak […]
The Honorable William Hart Rufe III, known affectionately to friends and family as Hart, passed away at the age of 92 in Ft. Pierce, FL, on January 14, 2025, due to natural causes. Born on September 6,1932, in Sellersville, PA to parents William Harold and Frances Appenzeller Rufe, Hart was the oldest of four children, […]
Despite climate change, things still get pretty frigid here in the northeast. You can see it in aquatic environments, where surface waters fall still, momentarily becoming sheets of ice. Small ponds transform into arenas for ice hockey, and lakes and reservoirs offer ice fishing opportunities for men much braver than I. Even stretches of rivers […]