You might start noticing a bright minivan out on the roads, it’s hard to miss. What was once a plain white Toyota Sienna hybrid has been transformed into a mobile representation of our region’s natural habitats. We’re calling it the Naturemobile. Each side of the van features a different local habitat, with landscapes photographed at […]
The American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is among the most recognizable tree species found in the eastern U.S. Even so, their importance to wildlife and people alike is often overlooked. In this article, I’d like to shine a spotlight on one of the true titans of the tree world. Growing well over 100 ft tall, and […]
The American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is one of our largest and longest-lived trees in the eastern US, but the future of these grand trees is uncertain due to Beech Leaf Disease (BLD). In 2012, northeastern Ohioans noticed that the leaves of their American beech trees were becoming banded, crinkly, and wrinkled and dying, a sure […]
What might be on a Christmas list for our wildlife, if they could come together to generate one? “Wildlife” is a very broad term, so wishes would likely vary. Pine martens might jot down “more trees please” while meadowlarks would request “fewer forests, more grasslands.” Even with that variability, there are some goods that I […]
This summer and fall, Heritage Conservancy planted more than 2,000 native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers across our preserves, and it took an entire community to make it happen. From restoration work to all-hands-on-deck staff days to dedicated volunteers and corporate partners, the past few months have been a testament to what we can accomplish together. […]
As we embark on the season of turkey consumption, it’s a fun time to highlight what it is that wild turkeys are out there eating this time of year. Spoiler alert: it isn’t stuffing, casseroles, or morsels of their brethren. Rather, a wild turkey feast involves the fruits and seeds that native plants cook up. […]
Not all gardens have to have a cheery, bright aesthetic. If you prefer the macabre to the mainstream, here are five combinations of native plants to give your backyard a witchy, goth look. The Vision To achieve this look, I’m pulling plants for a few different reasons: Rich reds and purples – to darken your […]
Join Philadelphia Mycology Club President Sam Bucciarelli and Heritage Conservancy’s Conservation Easement Steward Sebastian Harris to explore and ID the mushrooms within Croydon Woods Nature Preserve. Located less than half a mile from the Delaware River, Croydon Woods is one of the last remaining coastal plain forests in southeastern Pennsylvania. The preserve is home to […]
Many invasive or non-native plants are widely recognized and avoided by landowners; Multiflora Rose, Japanese Barberry, and Mile-a-minute are common examples. Interestingly, there are still several other species that remain popular among gardeners and plant enthusiasts. Some of that can be attributed to their beauty, but I’d argue that some of it simply stems from […]
In one of this summer’s most ambitious and rewarding projects, our Stewardship Department and summer interns transformed a 15-acre former cornfield at our Lindsay Farm Preserve in Warminster into a native pollinator meadow, our largest and most diverse seeding to date. A Legacy Landscape Lindsay Farm Preserve, owned and protected by Heritage Conservancy since 1987, […]
