Chicken of the woods fungi living on a dead log on Heritage Conservancy preserved land (Photo by Sebastian Harris). All trees have a life expectancy. In Pennsylvania, some trees (like fire cherries) only live for a few decades, while other trees (such as oaks) can live for many centuries if no diseases cut their lives […]
Each ash species has leaves that generally turn a brilliant yellow in the fall. Once a thriving component of PA forests, the ash tree genus (Fraxinus) has hit hard times in the past two decades. For me, the best antidote to this feeling is to imagine what may come next if we are good and […]
As you walk around the Fuller-Pursell Preserve, you’ll notice many trees that we recently cut down. What did we do, why did we do it, and what happens now? The forest at Fuller-Pursell contained 3000 or more dead ash trees – victims of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that has killed tens of […]
A sleepy Great Horned Owl, normally hidden, stands out quite easily on a leafless branch. Winter has arrived, and for many, this means that time spent outside will more or less cease to exist. Frigid conditions don’t compare well to the warmth and comfort of the indoors. Yet, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss […]
Though endowed with incredible natural beauty, Upper Bucks County has extremely limited public space for its residents to enjoy. For this reason, Heritage Conservancy’s ~100-acre Fuller-Pursell Preserve in Springfield Township is a true community asset and is one of our most-visited preserves. Fuller-Pursell provides a place where both local residents and distant visitors can go […]
Monarch butterflies were added to the endangered species list this year due to their rapidly declining populations. MONARCH BUTTERFLIES One of the most famous butterfly species, the Monarch butterfly, is not just known for its iconic orange and black coloration but also their unique life history. These butterflies make some of the most spectacular migrations […]
Pollinator meadows are great, but what other horticultural options are available for saving the bees? THE PROMPTING QUESTION Earlier this spring, the owner of some forestland with an emerald ash borer problem asked me, “I really care about saving the bees, so how can I manage my forest for bees and other pollinators?” That question […]
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) has an affinity for a few different plant species. INTRO Pennsylvania is home to an abundance of incredible bird species. Yet many, if not most, go overlooked. One such species is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). Every spring/summer, they migrate north from Central America to participate in the breeding season. […]
A healthy riparian buffer consists of a diversity of native plants that help protect the waterway as well as its inhabitants. INTRO A riparian buffer is an area of land that borders a stream, pond, lake, river, etc. A healthy riparian buffer consists of a wide section of vegetation, preferably forest, that buffers a waterway from […]
Our stewardship team is gearing up to plant 300 trees and shrubs, thanks to the 2022 Southeast PA TreeVitalize Watersheds grant. Starting this spring and continuing into fall, the plantings will occur along tributaries of the Pidcock and Neshaminy Creeks at two of our preserves. All trees will be tolerant of moist soils and flooding, […]
