Pretty flower. Not-so-pretty name.
|
|
Skunk cabbage at Settlers Cabin Park
|
|
Skunk cabbage, or
Symplocarpus foetidus,
may not have the prettiest name for a flower, but as one of the first harbingers of spring in our region, it's a welcome sign. Look for these fanciful purple blossoms to emerge this month, one of the spring ephemerals to pop up in your nine Allegheny County parks. You'll find them in woodlands, wetlands and near streams.
The skunk cabbage gets its name from its stink! The odor attracts pollinators but fends off predators because it burns when eaten. The one pictured here was found on the banks of Pinkertons Run in
Settlers Cabin Park
last year.
Plan a spring hike on the
Waterfall Trail
to see other native flowers and plants all spring.
|
|
Hartwood Acres Sculpture Garden
|
|
T
he massive sculpture that has graced WQED's headquarters on Fifth Avenue for 50 years is getting a new home.
Tower Iron, Sculpture #5
(1967-8) by Joseph Goto was on long-term loan from Carnegie Museum of Art, which is now making a long-term loan to Allegheny County for placement in the
Hartwood Acres Sculpture Garden.
The sculpture was moved recently and will remain in storage until ground conditions permit its placement on a new pad below the Hartwood Acres Park visitor parking lot. This piece is of the same time period and genre as the original sculpture collection and is a significant addition to the Hartwood Sculpture Garden.
|
|
Round Hill Park Animal Shelters
|
|
The four livestock shelters at
Round Hill Park
are on full display in this fun video created by Allegheny County. The
Parks Foundation
, in partnership with
Allegheny County
, constructed four shelters to protect the sheep, cows and horses from summer heat and winter's cold.
The Parks Foundation secured funding from the Peaceable Kingdom Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation and it was matched by Allegheny County.
|
|
Pour at the Park South
Tickets on sale March 9
|
|
What better way to spend a spring evening than sampling local beers and spirits? Throw in food tastings from regional restaurants and it's a night to remember!
Pour at the Park South
is a family-friendly event with food, drinks, live music and proceeds benefit your nine Allegheny County parks. Join us!
Pour at the Park South
Museum Building at the Fairgrounds
Saturday, May 30
5:30-8:30 pm
$55 covers all tastings.
$20 for designated drivers and youth 8 and older.
Become a sponsor
-
get free tickets and lots of visibility. Email
Barbara Brewton
or call her at
724.327.7627
for details.
|
|
Upcoming community events
|
|
International Women's Day - Boyce Park
|
|
The Allegheny County Park Rangers are holding a women’s trail building and maintenance project to celebrate
International Women's Day
on Sunday, March 8 in
Boyce Park
.
They will be highlighting the work of women who have made an impact in the Natural Resources/Ecology fields throughout the event. A female Ranger will lead this project, which is designed for women to take action and advocate for their parks.
Volunteers will meet from 9 to 12 pm at the
Green Trail
behind the soccer fields. All skill levels can participate. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle.
The activity is free but requires registration.
Let your friends know!
|
|
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures - "Early Bird" Tickets for Park Fans
|
|
Cedar waxwing in Harrison Hills Park by Dave Brooks
|
|
Ever wondered what it's like to be a bird? Here's your chance to find out.
Noted naturalist author and illustrator
David Allen Sibley
will be lecturing from his new book,
What it's Like to be a Bird
, at the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures series Wednesday, April 29.
Parks fans who buy a ticket to the event will also get an advanced copy of the book.
Pre-sale tickets to parks fans are available now! Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 28 at 10 am. Full details on the ticket site.
|
|
Adult Easter Egg Hunt - North Park
|
|
Easter eggs aren't just for kids! Join park supporters at an
Adult Easter Egg Hunt
at the
North Park Ice Rink,
with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Parks Foundation.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket!) to this event, hosted by the North Allegheny Women's Association. Hundreds of eggs will be filled with raffle tickets good for gift baskets and more.
$25 tickets also includes heavy appetizers and one drink following the hunt.
Hurry! Tickets sell out fast!
When: Friday, April 17, 6-9 pm.
Where: North Park Ice Rink, Pearce Mill Road
(Bring your ID. This is a 21+ event.)
|
|
Garden and Landscape Symposium - Master Gardeners of Allegheny County
|
|
Ken Druse, author, master gardener, photographer, speaker
|
|
The New York Times calls Ken Druse "the guru of natural gardening" and he's bringing his tips and methods to Pittsburgh as the featured speaker at the
Garden and Landscape Symposium
benefiting the
Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County.
Druse has written 20 books on a variety of topics including planting a scented garden, how to landscape in a changing climate and finding unusual plants for a shade garden. Landscape professionals and home gardeners will benefit from this one-day educational horticulture event.
Free admission is extended to all visitors of the Marketplace, which features a wide variety of local vendors of plants, gardening tools and gifts. Registration and fee is required for the lectures.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Where:
New location!
Hampton Community Center, 3101 McCully Road, Pittsburgh 15101
|
|
Project Bee Watch - Boyce Park
|
|
Volunteers are needed for
Project Bee Watch
, a citizen science program to help survey pollinators in Allegheny County. Gain a deeper appreciation for the role pollinators play in our local ecology with this interesting informal talk.
Prof. Matthew Opdyke of Point Park University will be on site to train volunteers. No experience is necessary. Dress for outdoor activity.
When: Thursday, May 21, 6-8 pm.
Where:
Indian Hill Meadow,
Boyce Park
. Meet at the Patrol Shelter across the street from the meadow.
Registration is required. Email
Barbara Brewton
or call her at
724.327.7627
.
|
|
|
|
Whenever you make a purchase on
Amazon Smile
, select the
Allegheny County Parks Foundation
as your charity recipient. At no cost to you, the AmazonSmile Foundation will make a donation to the Parks Foundation! It's a simple click away.
|
|
|
|
Boyce Park | Deer Lakes Park | Harrison Hills Park | Hartwood Acres Park
North Park | Round Hill Park | Settlers Cabin Park | South Park | White Oak Park
|
|
Allegheny County Parks Foundation | 675 Old Frankstown Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15239
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
