Two Walks Explore Native Habitats that Benefit Wildlife

with Penn State Extension Educators Cathryn Pugh and Glen Bupp

On a cloudy (but not rainy) May 17 evening and May 18 morning, thirty or so people walked the trails at ChicoryLane to learn about trees and shrubs—native, non-native, naturalized, invasive—and to think about their relative habitat values for wildlife, especially birds. Four different varieties of viburnum, five dogwood varieties, six willows, along with black cherry, wild plum, and elderberry indicated the diversity of plants in the landscape. Walk leaders drilled down on basics of plant identification, inspired curiosity about plant reproductive relationships (there’s no safe sex in plant world), and suggested techniques for managing invasive plant growth. Takeaways included plant identification by leaf shape and stem attachment (petiole); the story of Canada thistle’s migration to the US from Canada with French, English, German, and Czech settlers; and a reason why aspen leaves tremble in the wind (it's all in the leaf’s slender, square petiole).

NATURE WALKS AT A GLANCE

Left, Top to Bottom

• John Smith (on bench, right) introduces Doug Tallamy's tables of ecological functions of native plants.
• Cathryn (Cat) Pugh explains leaf elements for tree, shrub and plants as a tool for plant identification.
• A gentle breeze offerd the quiet beauty of the Aspen tree's quaking leaves. The group also learned about another Aspen grove that is being transitioned to Woodcock habitat.
• Multiple Viburna varieties were examined, including Nannyberry, Arrowwood, Gray, and Cranberry. Pictured is Cranberry is with its spring asexual flowers; we await its fall bright red berries, widely enjoyed by wildlife.
• Glen Bupp discusses the troublesome Multiflora Rose, its history and the variety of methods used to eradicate. Also cited was the Pennsylvania list of invasive varieties published by PDA and DCNR.

Right, Top to Bottom

• Glen illustrates the difference between grasses and sedges, their growth patterns, and the beneficial qualities of each.
• Cat introduces the Black Cherry and its important hosting for over 400 caterpillar varieties on which nestling birds feed.
• Numerous Aspen log walkways at ChicoryLane allow visitors to better explore the wetlands.
• The Saturday group stopped to consider the Willow grove recently installed, thanks in part to the Ten Million Tree Project sponsored by Interfaith Power and Light in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
• Cat identifies examples of poison ivy and how to manage dermatitis infection. Also discussed was best eradication practices in both small and large scale infestations.

Photos from the ChicoryLane Collection

June Workshop:

Improving Natural Environments

John Smith will lead ChicoryLane's Ecological Enhancement workshop on June 15th. Landowners will learn how to select a doable-sized area on their own properties, document existing features and plants, and then plan and execute a design based on native plants especially beneficial for wildlife, including birds. James Lesher will lead a tour of completed and work-in-progress projects. Greg Williams will explain the combined Interfaith Power and Light's and Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Ten Million Tree project. (Free Trees!)

June Workshop: Plein Air Painting with Elody Gyekis

Elody Gyekis, artist and experienced art educator, will offer a two-day workshop June 22 and 23. Saturday she will be at ChicoryLane and Sunday at her Sirona Falls location near Loganton. Additional information about both days is available in her flyer, accessible through the button on the left.

Elody has an MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art and regularly offers on-line courses for them. Additional information about Elody and her art is available on her website. If you wish to attend either or both workshop days, contact Elody directly.

ChicoryLane is an ecological reserve near Spring Mills, protected by a Conservation Easement held by Clearwater Conservancy. It is 68 acres of very diverse lands that we are actively enhancing ecologically. We hold outdoor events throughout the year.

The landscape is natural, but scenic. It includes wetlands and meadows, several streams, remnant and successional forests, and a grassland. This diversity of habitats is especially inviting to birds and butterflies. A system of mowed trails makes most of it accessible to walkers.

If you wish to visit ChicoryLane, email us a request including the time, date, and number in your group.

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"Walking Willow" at ChicoryLane in Summer