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SPRING EPHEMERALS
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) are a few of these jewels of spring. These spring ephemerals announce their presence in the early spring before the canopy and shrubs leaf out taking full advantage of the high-light period. Within two months they have completed their above ground growth which includes their fruit production.
These native perennial wildflowers of deciduous forests have high photosynthetic rates that allow them to rapidly accumulate carbohydrates. To sustain these rates they must be able to absorb water efficiently at low soil temperatures and allow large amounts of nutrients to the shoot to compensate for lower enzymatic activity at low temperatures (Lapointe, L.). Their high nutrient needs restrict them to rich forest soils. Their annual growth rate is very slow. The rest of the year they live their lives underground and are believed to have life spans of tens to hundreds of years, like the trees around them (Whitaker, B.).
These beauties of the forest floor are under siege. Devastation from ravaging deer and crowding out by invasive plants are two of the reasons for the decline in our area. Human developments (housing & commercial) pollution, changes in forest densities and non-native worms also effect their growth and sustainability. According the Sally Anderson, president of the Virginia Native Plant Society, "the seeds of a lot of our spring ephemerals are transported by ants, so if confined by roads and driveways and houses, the plants are not going to move as easily, and they are going to lose the genetic intermixing that keeps them healthy." Beyond the threat to wildflowers there is a larger ecological concern. The decline and loss of biodiversity of these native wildflowers and other understory plants will make a huge difference in the health of our forests.
We are very fortunate to have many of these and other spring wildflower species thriving in Bucks County. Many parks, preserves and recreational areas have forests where these ephemerals can be found. Take some time this spring to search for these not to be forgotten jewels of spring. As the warmer days of spring progress retrace your paths to see the transition to spring wildflowers such as Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and other outstanding delights.
MAPLE SUGAR
A Primer
We all depend on the bounty of nature for our existence. As winter deepens its grip, the days seem to be grayer, the darkness more intense, the longing for warmer sunny days creeps into our minds. For these reasons many folks with the means and motive make a pilgrimage to warmer climates and sunshine.
In our area mid-February begins a noticeable countdown to spring. Harbingers include blooming skunk cabbage, the return of Red-winged Blackbirds, burgeoning buds and the flow of sap. One tree that most folks and many animals prize is the sugar maple (Acer saccharum). This provider of syrup, candy and many tasty treats has been tapped for human use for hundreds of years. It is believed that perhaps Native Americans discovered the sweetness of the maple tree by eating "sapsicles". These icicles form from frozen maple sap at the end of a broken twig. As the ice forms some of the water evaporates leaving a tasty sweet treat. Squirrels can also be heard and observed gnawing on the branches of maple and other trees, then lapping up the sap as it flows. They will often return to the same place for repeated tasting.
In the old days most of the bounty of these trees was preserved as "sugar", not syrup. It was much easier to store, trade and barter. The three types of sugar were "grain sugar"; much like brown sugar, "cake sugar"; sugar that was poured into molds to become hard cakes or blocks, and "wax sugar"; the sap was boiled extra thick, then poured on snow. Today we know this as "sugar on snow".
This sweet product of the forest was important as an economic factor. It was used to trade, barter, and provided extra income for the settlers. It is often associated with the increase in the fur trade. Traders included makuks (large heavy birch bark containers) of maple sugar with their wares for trade. In 17th & 18th Centuries in North America maple sugar was as common on the dinner table as salt is today.
In 1788 the Quakers promoted the manufacture of maple sugar to protest the use of cane sugar made by slaves of the West Indies. Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Benjamin Rush, James Fennimore Cooper and George Washington favored this protest. Due to the high import tax on cane sugar by 1818 maple sugar was selling for half the price of cane sugar. 1860 was the peak year of production of 40 millions pounds made in 23 states (USDA). By 1880 cane sugar and maple sugar were equal in price. With the repeal of the import tax on cane sugar in 1890 the use of maple sugar declined. Beet and cane sugar took over as America's sweetener and maple sugar became a hard-to-find item. Today maple sugar production has shifted to maple syrup and is classified as a luxury item, selling for more than twice the price of beet and cane sugar syrups.
Amazingly the process and method for this delicious treat has changed very little in the last 100 years. The syrup still needs the heat for the flavor to develop. The Native Americans dropped hot rocks into hollow logs of sap, the settlers used heavy iron pots and cauldrons, then the evaporator was invented and flat bottomed pans were used. The latter is the basic method that is used today.
Resources:
http://www.massmaple.org, http://www.prippssugarbush.com
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VOLUNTEER FEATURE : SPRING 2008
George & Mariana Hoffman
George and Mariana Hoffman are long time members and volunteers of PVNC. They discovered the nature center in the late seventies when they started coming to the Saturday morning bird walks led by former Assistant Naturalist and birder extraordinaire Fred Mears. (George used to go golfing on Saturday mornings, but he says that he "lost his tee time to the bird walks!") They have participated in numerous birding field trips and also went on birding vacations with nature center founder Carolyn Jarin to the Dry Tortugas and Big Bend National Park.
George served on the Friends of PVNC Board for five years, including three as Treasurer. During his term on the board he was a member of the Investment Committee. He liked it so much that he continued working with the committee for a number of years after his board term was up. George also spent time as a trail keeper, clipping back multiflora rose branches and removing debris. Mariana has for many years been totaling (and sorting) the hundreds of receipts the nature center receives from people who shop at Acme. The Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center receive a 10% donation from Acme for the total of these receipts, so it is a valuable fundraiser.
George and Mariana look forward to autumn not only for the great birding and color, but for football! They are season ticket holders for Penn State football and enjoy making the trip from their home in Doylestown to State College to attend games. Jazz is another passion George and Mariana share, with Dave Brubeck being one of their favorite musicians.
George and Mariana celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January. Congratulations!
Thank you for all you have done for Peace Valley Nature Center!
THANK YOU
Donations:
B & B Beverage
David Stout Inc. for donating a beautiful Douglas Fir Christmas Tree
Betty Minnucci
Floyd Glenn
Stephen Berkson
Kristi & Robert Hauser
The North Branch Watershed Association
Service Projects:
Eastern Mountain Sports (Warrington)- Boardwalk placement.
Motorola Inc.- Trail work and construction of maple tree barricades.
Temple Judea Doylestown- Trash clean up by bridge and along streams
Central Bucks School District Work Based Learning Program -
cleaning the building and helping with the mailing.
Tree Planting Day:
Boy Scout Troops 6, 36 and 52
Central Bucks East High School "See Green" Club
2007 Eagle Scout Projects:
Jacob Smith-, Troop 6, Reroute Habitat Trail and moved the trail signs.
Cameron Bergstresser, Troop 175- Platforms at Persimmon Pond and new trail signs.
Andrew Sooy, Troop 24- Post and Rail Fence off Sunrise Trek.
Tom Achilles, Troop 24- Snake Fence outside Solar Building main windows.
2008 VOLUNTEERS
5 Years of Service:
Gretchen Brough
Rick Colello
Cody Garges
Dave Horne
Mary-jo May
Bill Preston
Bob Shaffer
Joe Szwajkowski
Agnes Ware
Volunteers:
Phil Ash
Kent Baird
Courtney Baker
Alexandra Baty
Stephen Berkson
Phil Ash
Kent Baird
Courtney Baker
Alexandra Baty
Stephen Berkson
Tim Betts
Rob Betts
J. Harold Betts
Joan Bitzer
Karen Bizzaro
Gale Blum
Ellen Boucher
Sharon Brauer
Gretchen Brough
Melanie Brownell
Jeff Bruni
Barbara Burdack
Dolores Burns
Frank Burns
Susan Charkes
Cliff Cole
Rick Colello
Carol Connard
Carolyn Constable
Cody Crooke
Chuck Crunkleton
Diana Decker
Donna DiMella
Marianne DuBresson
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Paul Dworakivsky
Pat Eberhard
Nancy Evers
George Franchois
Ron French
Dylan Garges
Kerrie Garges
Cody Garges
Phil Getty
Mike Gimpel
Floyd Glenn
Denise Glick
Grace Gottschall
Sean Greene
Jane Gregoire
Tony Gryn
Lynn Gulla
Trish Harrington
Chuck Heckenberger
Ray Hendrick
Barbara Hiebsch
Gail Hill
Leah Hill
George Hoffman
Mariana Hoffman
Dave Horne
Carolyn Jarin
Andy Jarin
Betty Kitson
Ken Kitson
Leonard Knapp
Chris Knight
Gale Knight
Joan Kovar
Mike Kozempel
Jim Krick
Alice Laquer
Louise Lehman
Mike Line
Cindy Long
Jane Mauer
Melissa Mauer
Mary-jo May
Don McClintock
Lise Ann McGalliard
Harry McGarrity
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Ginny Melick
T.J. Miernicki
Chris Minnich
Augie Mirabella
Judy Mirabella
Margarita Mohler
Rosemarie Montgomery
Betsy Moore
John Morrell
Janet Moyer
Heather Mueller
Sally Nangeroni
Monica Norman
Craig Olsen
Vicki Olsen
Stephanie Paridiso
Cheryl Paridiso
Ruth Pfleiger
Ellie Reader Pop-joy
Mark Pop-joy
Bill Preston
Charlotte Preston
Ethel Quiring
Alice Rauschenberger
Dave Rauschenberger
Dan Reenock
Virginia Riffitts
Debbie Risko
Adrienne Risko
Russ Risko
Dottie Ritter
Bob Rutt
Susan Sandberg
Emily Sarantschin
Jill Sarantschin
Carolyn Schaupp
Dot Scheingold
Bob Shaffer
Heidi Shiver
Betsy Simmons
Brian Snyder
Erin Snyder
Tom Sparks
Joe Steindl
Leah Strouse
Bill Strunk
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Mitch Sturn
Diane Crooke Szwajkowski
Joe Szwajkowski
Melissa Taragna
Boyd Taylor
Kate Thompson
Phyllis Toren
Jane Vacca
Carl Wagner
Molly Walter
Agnes Ware
Pat Witek
Andy Young
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FRIENDS OF PEACE VALLEY NATURE CENTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President:
Michael Line
Vice-President:
Sean Greene
Treasurer:
Pat Witek
Corresponding Secretary:
Stephen Berkson
Directors:
Rick Colello
Kevin Cornwall
Robin Folkerts
Floyd Glenn
Mary-jo May
Betsy Moore
Bob Rutt
Andy Young
TEACHER NATURALIST TRAINING
DO YOU HAVE:
6 afternoons, love the outdoors, enjoy being around and teaching children?
Then this training is for you! You will learn the programs and techniques we use to bring environmental education to life for pre-school, elementary and secondary students. Completion of this training and subsequent program observation could lead to a part-time paid teacher naturalist position.
Tues, Wed, & Thurs.
APRIL 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10
1:00-3:00 pm
To register or for additional information contact Gail Hill 215.345.7860. ghill@co.bucks.pa.us
YOU CAN HELP BRING BACK
THE AMERICAN ELM
The arrival of Dutch Elm Disease from Europe decimated the American Elm and drastically changed the look of our cities, towns and villages, but you can help bring them back! The Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center still have a very small supply of American Liberty Elms. These Elms are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.
These special 6' trees cost $150 apiece. PVNC can also provide a highly recommended planting kit (stakes, wire, etc.) to protect the tree, for an additional $15. A limited supply of larger 8-10' Elms are also available for $250 each.
Call Peace Valley Nature Center at
215-345-7860 to check on
availability and price.
Each Elm tree comes with a lifetime warranty against Dutch Elm disease from the Elm Research Institute in New Hampshire, where we get our baby American Liberty Elms. The American Liberty Elm is not available from commercial nurseries. The proceeds from this program are used to fund environmental education programs at the nature center.
You can help re-establish the American Elm!
ADOPT A GARDEN
Like Gardening?
Garden volunteers needed!
Plant new wildflowers as needed. Weed and clean on a weekly basis. Water as needed. Volunteer gardeners also participate on workdays where we tackle special projects
Contact director/Naturalist Craig Olsen at 215-345-7860 or caolsen@co.bucks.pa.us
REMEMBERING LEW MASON
There are times in our lives that we meet folks who truly stand out in many exemplary ways. Lew was such a man. He was a treasured volunteer at the desk and store for many years. He brought a diversity of experiences, a great sense of humor and a positive presence to all that he met and greeted. We are saddened by his passing.
A Sugar Maple tree has been dedicated as a living memorial for his years of service and goodwill to the nature center.
IN MEMORY OF:
Barney Jarin
Frederic & Delores Barth
Dr. Thomas & Edith Woodman
Jerry & Joan Miller
John & Vicki O'Toole
Rebecca & Martin Brooks
The Gretz Beer Family
Susan & James Bingler
Charles Pfanstiel
William Preston
Christopher & Diane Brown
Susan McMahon
Frank & Jacqueline Cooper
Dorothy Scheingold
Dr. Carl & Marion Shetzley
Clara M Stock
J. Rex Hoover
Christopher A. Smith
Georgeanne Watkins
Mary J. Bishop
George & Thelma Sharp
Betsy & Ray Mumbauer
The Swingalong Dance Club
William Sharp
Richard Henry
Sarah & Christopher Debelle-Bull
James & Laurie Mirales
Jonathon & Theresa Kifolo
Anita Weiss
Jeffrey P. Anderson
Mellon, Webster & Shelley
Pauline and David Woodbury
Mrs. Anne Woodbury through the Vanguard Endowment Program
Lew Mason
Trish Harrington
Roberta, Chirstine & James Heimer
Click [HERE] to view back issues of our newsletter.
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