Tag: native plants

The Colors of Fall

September 12, 2024

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….

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Nature Apps to Enhance Your Hikes

August 13, 2024

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,…

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10 Common Local Animals We Take for Granted: An Appreciation and Guide

August 9, 2024

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…

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Thinking Through a Lawn-to-Habitat Conversion Project

June 20, 2024

Right now, if you look out the nearest window, I bet you can see a lawn. Or at the very least, you can walk a short distance to find one….

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A Beginner’s Guide to Native Plants

June 10, 2024

As spring fades into summer, many of us are busy in our gardens. While you are tending yours, why not consider using native plants? Most are resilient and easy to…

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What’s Up in the Woods? A Guide to Spring Ephemerals

March 14, 2024

Every spring, a miniature forest blooms on the forest floor in the window of warmth and sunlight before the woody giants put out their leaves. These are the spring ephemerals….

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7 Ideas to Help Raise Eco-Conscious Kids

March 1, 2024

The environmental challenges that we face across the globe are daunting and overwhelming for us as adults to navigate, I can only imagine how helpless kids may feel about some…

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Cedar Waxwings: Beyond the Beauty

February 8, 2024

Pennsylvania is home to an amazing array of bird diversity. As of 2024, over 430 species of birds have been reported from the Keystone state – a fair portion of…

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To Plant or to Protect? A Cost-Effective Alternative to Planting Trees

January 16, 2024

They say the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the next best time is today.  There are many good reasons to plant a tree. At…

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A Very Brief History of Southeastern PA’s Geology

January 11, 2024

4.6 billion years is a long story to tell within a human lifetime, let alone a single article, yet here I am trying to sum up PA’s place – southeastern…

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Make Your Own Christmas Bird Suet: The Perfect Last-Minute Gift or Family Craft

December 15, 2023

Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift or school break activity that benefits wildlife? Consider making some holiday-themed bird suet. It is an easy, cheap, and fun way to attract birds…

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In Praise of Snow and its Vital Role in Wildlife Habitat

December 14, 2023

Snow protects plant roots, insulates soil, and supports wildlife survival. Explore the ecological importance of winter snow in Pennsylvania forests.

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