Tag: news-import
The First Wildflower of Spring
April 16, 2015 By Mike Weilbacher, Executive Director
All kinds of extraordinary things happen in a springtime forest: animals like woodchucks and insects emerge from of their long winter’s naps, birds return from migration, tree buds pop open, and wildflowers begin blooming on the forest floor.
And those flowers appear in an elegantly orchestrated parade, blossoming in a predictable order. The parade always begins with skunk cabbage, in full bloom now in several wet spots in the Schuylkill Center’s woods.
Except their flowers are not quite as colorful as tulips and crocuses, and they are very differently scented.
While many of us know…
Has it really been 15 years?
April 2, 2015By Mary Salvante
Editor’s note: 2015 marks the Schuylkill Center’s 50th anniversary along with the 15th anniversary of the art program. As part of our ongoing celebration of this milestone, we invited Mary Salvante, the founder of the art program, to write a reflection on the past 15 years.
Where does the time go? Seems like just recently I was visiting the Center for the first time. My first impression then was the notion that it would be a perfect location for an art program, and more specifically, an installation at the front entrance.
In 1999, the Schuylkill Center had…
Open-ended learning in nature
March 31, 2015By Shannon Dryden, Nature Preschool Manager and Sweet Gum Classroom Lead Teacher
Crack, splash, plop, and snap – followed by sounds of children laughing as they explore the melting ice at Polliwog Pond. “Look at this piece, I can see through it!” Next up, “I’m selling ice. Who wants a piece?” as an ice display is quickly assembled. A group of nearby preschoolers responds, “I do. I do.” Then, the adventures begin as the children carefully select the perfectly shaped piece of ice for their next escapade. A natural material provides inspiration and imagination amongst the children. (more…)
Nature in the City Photography Contest Winners
March 26, 2015This winter we had a blast with the Nature in the City photo contest. Dozens of pictures were submitted, from Philadelphia's skyline, framed by dried coneflowers in a field, and the glory of those late-seasons now storms. It was quite a challenge to choose the winners. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo.
Winners
Hard & Soft, Richele C. Dillard
Taken in the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia, Richele Dillard’s photograph captures the intimate level at which winter can interact with the world around us. Not even these fuzzy, spent wildflower heads could escape the clutches of winter’s…
Wildlife Clinic Rescues Owl Tangled in Net
March 19, 2015By Ezra Tischler, Public Relations and Environmental Art Intern
As the seasons transition from winter to spring we are fortunate enough to witness the flora and fauna of our region busily prepare for warmer weather and new beginnings. This time of year also brings many patients to the Schuylkill Center’s Wildlife Clinic, sometimes harshly illuminating the clash between our own activities and those of the natural world. Over the weekend the Wildlife Clinic dealt with one of those clashes when a great horned owl was brought in after being tangled in a soccer net.
[caption id="attachment_266156" align="aligncenter" width="377"] Michele with…
Terranean drama
March 12, 2015By LandLab Resident Artist Jake Beckman
Spring is just around the corner and with its arrival comes the fragrant, earthy smells of thawing soil. As my residency investigating the myriad aspects of soil formation at the Schuylkill Center enters its final phases, I ‘m finding myself reflecting on the terranean dramas that will begin unfolding in earnest as the temperatures rise.
The rock cliffs on the southern border of the property will shed their icy tentacles, exposing to sun and rain new fissures pried apart during the winter months. After a long winter of freezing and thawing, boulders will have…
Dreaming of Springtime
March 11, 2015By Claire Morgan, Volunteer Coordinator & Gift Shop Manager
As warmth begins to creep into the air, many of us are dreaming of spring. With this in mind, I recall the fond memories of the Schuylkill Center’s Community Gardens and the 80-plus families that soon will be preparing their garden beds for planting in the spring. There’s nothing like beating the winter blues with thoughts of warm days working the soil, seeing new seedlings emerge from the ground, watching bluebirds swooping down, red-winged blackbirds cackling in the tree tops, and toads croaking in the ponds.
The five acre property comes…
Nature Above the City
February 25, 2015By Ezra Tischler, Public Relations/Environmental Art Intern
The sun was starting to set as we stood on the 8th floor rooftop looking at the rising towers of Center City just a few blocks to our east. A breeze swirled across the helipad, weaving through massive HVAC units, across a garden of ornamental grasses and perennial natives. It was mid-September and the low-growing succulents of the PECO Green Roof created a nice contrast with the yellow blooms of Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulee’ and the pinkish-red Gaura lindheimeri. Bees and butterflies buzzed and fluttered about the varied vegetation. It was hard to believe a city…
We’re thinking about renovation a lot these days
February 19, 2015By Anna Lehr Mueser, Public Relations Manager
We’re now 18 days into our building renovations, with the entire east wing of our visitor center closed off. On the first day, a wall went up to keep noise and dust down. Behind that wall, floors and bathrooms are being replaced, some classrooms renovated while others refreshed, windows updated with more energy-efficient versions, and the antique HVAC replaced.
So here, six things we’re looking forward to about the new spaces:
Elisabeth, our public programs manager, is looking forward to the new aesthetic, with modern colors and an auditorium scaled up for big events…
What does a photo of nature in the city look like?
February 18, 2015By Anna Lehr Mueser, Public Relations Manager
As submissions come rolling in for our "Nature in the City Photography Contest" this month, we wanted to share a few examples of what nature in the city means to our community. From images of the traffic through the trees to wildlife in an urban forest, the images show all sorts of things.
Want to share some of your own? Send us up to three photos! All the details are here.
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