On a sunny Saturday earlier this month, almost 90 people joined us for our first-ever Pawpaw Festival, a celebration of the local fruit and other native trees and plants. “I was inspired to start a pawpaw festival to share my passions for conservation, science, native plants, and work I do here at Heritage Conservancy,” says […]
Fast-Growing Native Plants for Your Garden
These swamp rose mallows were photographed in bloom at Heritage Conservancy’s Aldie Mansion. Whether you are starting a new garden, expanding an existing one, or filling in a bald spot, many gardeners find themselves in need of beautiful plants that will fill a large area quickly. When selecting aggressive, fast-growing plants, going native is crucial. […]
Bryn Gweled: A Historic Intentional Community and Heritage Conservancy’s First Conservation Easement
The sight of thousands of fireflies flickering over the Bryn Gweled pond on a quiet summer evening took Cathie Forman’s breath away. It’s that feeling — and a respect for the living landscape that inspired it — she wants to pass down to future generations. Bryn Gweled is more than just a place of natural […]
A Productive and Enlightening Summer for Heritage Conservancy Interns
The Heritage Conservancy conservation stewardship interns from this summer. Each summer, Heritage Conservancy hosts four conservation stewardship interns who assist our stewardship staff in managing the nature preserves we own, all while gaining insights from various professionals in the field. These college students aim to pursue careers in conservation and will apply the skills they […]
The Colors of Fall
Aldie Mansion, Heritage Conservancy’s headquarters, bathed in autumn leaves. Some of us welcome the fall season with open arms, while others dread the onset of shorter days and frigid weather. However, I believe that both camps can appreciate just how beautiful our landscapes become each autumn. A seemingly uniform blanket of green transforms into a […]
A Vibrant Celebration of Nature at Pollinator Palooza 2024
What a day we had at Pollinator Palooza! Our amazing partners and volunteers turned the event into a vibrant celebration of nature, creativity, and community. Kids at the Lego table had a blast building their own aquatic worlds, crafting everything from bugs to plants and imagining their very own ecosystems. Nearby, our hand-blown glass […]
Nature Apps to Enhance Your Hikes
As you enjoy some late summer hiking, don’t forget to update your travel tools. Outdoor apps offer us a wealth of knowledge and information we can hold in our pockets, even for our time off the grid and in nature. Here are a few staff favorites to download and enjoy on vacation and even on […]
10 Common Local Animals We Take for Granted: An Appreciation and Guide
Appreciating the Familiar In the spring of 2019, I studied abroad in Madagascar, an island where people live with some of the world’s most unique species. One of those incredible animals is the Panther Chameleon. This chameleon is endemic to northern/northeastern Madagascar and they absolutely thrive there. Seeing one of these large reptiles in the […]
The Shipley Lester House of Quakertown
The historic Shipley Lester House in Quakertown dates back to about 1815 and was linked to multiple notable local figures over its years. The property was recently added to Heritage Conservancy’s Register of Historic Places. Located in Quakertown Borough, the house has an interesting history related to prominent individuals in the community with ties to […]
Why Moths Are Underappreciated Insects
Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus). Moths are one of the many forgotten but ever-important insect groups that we have. Their more apparent and charismatic kin, the butterflies, seem to garner somewhat lopsided attention and appreciation, as do bees, ladybugs, lightning bugs, and praying mantises. Many of our moths aren’t particularly eye-catching, and most are active at […]