This past week has brought an aerial invasion of sorts. From the east coast to the midwest, Red Admiral butterflies have been showing up in numbers like never before. These striking butterflies are returning northward from wintering in the south, from Texas to 
Guatemala. They begin traveling north in March. With the extremely early warm weather, mony more than usual have survived the journey. Some will stay in our area to breed and lay eggs. Later in the summer months we should see a large number of the next generation of Red Admirals.
Winged Invasion
May 9, 2012 at 2:53 pm (butterflies, insects, migration, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, seasons)
Blooming Bells
April 12, 2012 at 4:35 pm (flowers, Holtwood, native plants, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, seasons, wildflowers)
A pale blue haze appears to hang above the forest floor givin
g the woodland a rather unearthly appearance. Upon closer approach you discover that the blue is from the flowers of Virginia bluebells. These spring wildflowers are in full bloom at Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower area of the Holtwood Environmental Preserve. For more information about Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve go here: http://bit.ly/1NrPSy.
A Bloody Secret
March 30, 2012 at 11:55 am (flowers, Montour Preserve, native plants, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, plants, programs, seasons, wildflowers)
After a short and mild winter and an unusually warm beginning of spring it is no surprise that some of Montour Preserves woodland wildflowers are showing up early this year. One great example of this early bloom is bloodroot which is in full bloom at the preserve. Bloodroot can be recognized by its large white flowers and leaf which wraps itself around the stem in early spring. This showy spring blossom is aptly named for the orangish red sap that flows from the root and stem of the plant which has been used in a variety of ways in the past. Native Americans used bloodroot sap both medicinally and practically for a dye for face painting and clothing, and as a cough medicine. In the early 1980’s bloodroot extract called Sanguinaria, became somewhat famous as a first line of defense against gum disease and some prominent members of the dental community believed this extract to be as influential in plague fighting as fluoride had been to tooth decay. Don’t miss out on the wonders of early spring; remember our woodland wildflower walk is scheduled for Saturday April 28th from 1:30-3:00p.m.
Sappy Days
March 2, 2012 at 3:17 pm (Activities, education, history, Montour Preserve, nature, outdoors, Pennsylvania, plants, seasons, sugaring, trees, Uncategorized)
Those buckets hanging on trees can mean only one thing:
Sap buckets adorn maple trees at Montour Preserve
it’s maple sugaring time. Join us at PPL’s Montour Preserve on Sunday, March 4 as we take you from sunshine to syrup at our second and final maple sugaring open house of the season. Programs begin indoors at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
Outdoor demonstrations continue until 4 p.m. This is a fun program for the entire family, so join us for some sappy days.
Snow is in the air
February 9, 2012 at 1:01 pm (birds, migration, Montour Preserve, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, seasons, Uncategorized, wildlife)
Yesterday brought a rare snow for this winter. But even before those flakes began to fall there was snow in the air. This snow was the feathered kind: snow geese. About 300-400 snow geese landed on the ice at Lake Chillisquaque at Montour Preserve. They arrived late in the morning and stayed into the early afternoon. They returned this morning but seeing them on the lake can be a hit or miss proposition as they often leave to feed in local farm fields. Their arrival, like many natural events this winter, is about a month earlier than usual.
Snow geese on ice at Montour Preserve's Lake Chillisquaque
Paper Houses
November 10, 2011 at 6:07 pm (insects, nature, observations, outdoors, seasons)
Abandoned baldfaced hornet nest
Who would consider building houses of paper? Certainly none of us. We like more substantial homes. With the leaves off the trees you can see these paper houses hanging from branches. These are the now abandoned homes of baldfaced hornets. These large black bees with white on their faces and abdomens are about ¾ inch in length. Worker bees spent a good amount of time and effort building this house from chewed wood, cardboard or paper. Mixed with their own saliva, they created layers of paper and insulating air space. The nest kept them cool in the heat of summer and warm on cool nights. Now that we have had several frosts, the nest is empty of active bees. Only the queen will survive the winter to begin a new colony next spring. Left to the ravages of wind, rain, sleet and snow, these paper houses are mere tatters by that time. Next year’s colony of hornets will begin all over again.
Flaming Sunrise
October 29, 2011 at 8:00 am (Montour Preserve, nature, nature photography, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, seasons)
Atmospheric conditions in the fall can bring about spectacular sunrises as the rays of the rising sun are refracted by layers of air and clouds. Colors change quickly as the sun moves above the horizon. This oak tree provided a wonderful silhouette against the flaming early morning sky recently.
October sunrise
October programs at PPL Martins Creek Preserve
September 28, 2011 at 5:33 pm (Activities, birds of prey, education, energy, Hiking, Martins Creek, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, seasons, teacher workshops)
Tags: Martins Creek, programs, teacher workshop
Autumn is here! Come take a walk with us on the Tekening Trails to enjoy the beautiful colors, learn about the fall raptor migration or get tips for conserving energy in your home. After all, October is Energy Awareness Month.
Autumn Walk n’ Talk
Sunday, Oct. 2
1-2:30 p.m.
Lower Mount Bethel Welcome Center
Presenter: Bud Cole, Three B’s Nature Center
Join us for a fall walk through the fields and along the fencerows of the Tekening Trails. The lush grow of summer is past. Plants have stored away energy for next spring’s awakening and animals race against time to prepare for winter. Bud Cole of Three B’s Nature Center will lead us on another of his Walk n’ Talk hikes through the Tekening Woods to enjoy the beautiful fall colors of autumn. Please dress for the weather. This program is free but registration is requested. For more information or to register, contact PPL at 570-542-2886 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.
Raptor ID
Saturday, Oct. 15
6-7:30 p.m.
Lower Mount Bethel Welcome Center
Presenter: Pennsylvania Raptor & Wildlife Association
The Pennsylvania Raptor and Wildlife Association return to talk about the natural history and biology of raptors. See live birds up close and learn what puts these winged predators at the top of nature’s food chain. Refine your identification skills during this time of raptor migration. The program is free. For directions, please visit www.pplpreserves.com, click on “Martins Creek” then select “Directions.”
Home and Backyard Conservation Teacher Workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 20
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lower Mount Bethel Welcome Center
The NCCD in partnership with PPL, Martins Jacoby Watershed Association (MJWA), Penn State Agricultural Extension, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be offering an Act 48 continuing education workshop for teachers titled: “Home and Backyard Conservation: What Can You Do?” The workshop will be a combination of classroom instruction and activities as well as field work to construct Best Management Practices (BMPs) and a tour of the Welcome Center grounds which has a vast number of conservation practice already at work. The goal of the workshop is to introduce educators to BMPs they can use in their classrooms, or at their school, to encourage their students to use the practices in their households. We will be constructing various conservation practices that the attendees will be able to bring back to their classrooms for demonstration.
Please call the conservation district and reserve your seat now if you are interested, as the class size is restricted. A $10 registration fee will be required to reserve your seat. Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Visit www.pplpreserves.com for more information and directions. I hope to see you soon!
Alana
Seeing the Seasons from Space
September 23, 2011 at 12:42 pm (education, nature, observations, seasons)
Early this morning the Earth reached a point in its orbit around the Sun known as the autumnal equinox that marks the astronomical beginning of autumn. You can see fantastic NASA images of the equinoxes and solstices at: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=52248.
Wine & dine
August 25, 2011 at 8:00 am (birds, mammals, Montour Preserve, native plants, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, plants, seasons, wildlife)
Clusters of dark purple grapes hang hidden below large green leaves. These wild grapes are ripening and disappearing as they do so. Some tumble to the ground, pried loose by a gust of wind. Others are gobbled up by a wide variety of hungry birds, raccoons, opossums, skunks and red foxes. There are few plants that feed as many different species of animals as wild grapes.
Ripening wild grapes
