Monthly Archives: June 2015
Signs of Summer 5: Leaves of Three
I take my dog Izzy for a short walk every morning right after she has her breakfast. We try to get out before the dog across the street (who is either Izzy’s arch nemesis or her boyfriend, I am still … Continue reading
Signs of Summer 4: Looking for Salamanders
A couple of Mondays ago Deborah and I headed out for a hike up at Harrison Hills Park in northern Allegheny County. Our plan was to do a couple of hours on the rolling terrain of the park’s trails and, … Continue reading
Signs of Summer 3: A Hike at The Todd Nature Reserve
The Todd Nature Reserve (formerly called “Todd Sanctuary”) is a rocky, stream crossed, 176 acre site owned and maintained by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. The Reserve is in Sarver in southeastern Butler County and has been, for all … Continue reading
Signs of Summer 2: Herbs and Mushrooms, Treasure in the Woods
Wild ginseng (also called “American ginseng” (Panax quinquefolius)) is a slow growing, perennial, understory plant that was once found extensively throughout our Western Pennsylvania forests. Wild ginseng makes a thick root over a period of four to six years in … Continue reading