The Land Speaks – The Hercules Meadow Project
Converting land to a sustainable, diverse preserve. Truly a land of learning.
You are invited to help celebrate the 9th anniversary of the Hercules Meadow. Although 10 is the more common anniversary celebration, this is anything but common!
Converting land to a sustainable, diverse preserve. Truly a land of learning.
In November 2013, the Stockertown Plant of Buzzi Unicem USA broke ground for a 20- acre meadow on land formerly mono-cropped. This would become a meadow using plants native to Northampton County and eastern Pennsylvania. And, there would be 8- acres dedicated to growing green fuel for the cement kilns.
With the assistance of Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, the meadow was established with a variety of perennials and grasses that support pollinators, birds, and butterflies. Native trees and shrubs were introduced, creating a diverse landscape and protecting the habitat for all wildlife. The site has served as an outdoor classroom for 4 local school districts. Numerous bird, butterfly, and insect species have been documented on the site since its conversion to a preserve.
We invite you to see how Buzzi Unicem USA has brought life to this landscape. You will see a thriving, mature meadow complete with an orchard, an American Chestnut experimental grove, a colonial outpost location, and learn about a local cement plant’s commitment to our environment through this effort.
Friday October 21, 2 pm to 5pm More details and registration here. There is no charge but registration in advance is required.
Bats: A Gardener’s Friend
Saturday September 24
Pennsylvania Bat Rescue’s Stephanie Stronsick will guide us through bat fact and fiction. Participants will learn about the exciting world of bats, their natural history, environmental impacts, the status of our local populations, and how you can help back in your own backyard. Learn exciting facts about bats, the vital role they play in the environment and meet some of our education ambassadors. There is no fee to attend this event but registration in advance is requested. Please bring a donation for the Bat Rescue Fund to the event. We will collect the donations at the start of the event.
Twilight Tea POSTPONED UNTIL SEPT 21
We will be brewing various teas made with native plants for you to enjoy as you stroll our gardens and browse the nursery. Participants are encouraged to bring a dessert or finger food to share.
We will have a native plant exchange. ONLY THOSE WHO BRING AT LEAST ONE PLANT MAY PARTICIPATE in the exchange. Plants must be submitted by 6 pm.
Only native plants, in good health, labelled with the plant name (common or botanic is OK) will be accepted. All submissions will be checked for health and native status. If we do not include your plant in the exchange, you may take it home again. Please bring your plant in a container.
This is an outdoor event. Bring a lawn chair if you would like to be seated. If we need to cancel due to weather, we will notify the email address that you register with.
Registration limited to 25 people. If you find you are unable to attend after you register, please cancel your registration to open up a spot for someone else. Register Here.
Nursery Tours Tuesdays at 10 am – Registration Required.
Join Edge of the Woods staff for a guided tour of demonstration gardens at the nursery. Our gardens are certified as Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and also as a Monarch Way-Stations by Monarch Watch.
We’ll scout the gardens for inspiration, butterflies, garden visitors and other surprises that present themselves to us. Attendees will learn about the importance of native plants to our eco-system. The tour is informal and allows time for questions. This is a great way to be introduced to native plants and to our nursery.
The tour lasts approximately an hour. We accept only 5 people per tour. The ensures that everyone can hear the tour leader and than there is time to answer all the questions from participants.
If you are bringing friends or others along, please note: groups larger than 5 — please make special arrangements.
These tours are designed for individuals who would like to learn more about native plants and our nursery. Tours for groups (garden clubs, school groups etc) can be held by arrangement; a fee may apply. Please call or email us to inquire.
To allow for time for questions and so you can closely follow our tour guide, registration for tours is limited to five people. Please sign up in advance to save your spot! If you find you can not attend after you have registered, please cancel your reservation to make room for someone else.
Sign Up For Nursery Tour Here
Past Events
Create a Bog Garden Planter June 18 2022
Planters will include a native pitcher plant, sundew, and several other unusual bog species including orchids (6 plants total)! Plants and planters are provided – 14.5″ diameter x 5.75″ tall (Terra cotta colored plastic, with saucer). If you wish to bring your OWN container, feel free (but please don’t bring a container too huge, as we have a limited amount of bog soil). We will also have lots of other bog plants for sale in our display area, which you can browse and purchase as well.
Learn about Our American Chestnut Orchard and efforts to restore the chestnut
Wednesday June 22, 2022 1 PM
Join Steve Delp of The American Chestnut Foundation for a workshop on the history of the American Chestnut and what The American Chestnut Foundation is doing to help restore this majestic tree to its original range along the Appalachian Mountains.
The workshop will take place at Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, in our chestnut orchard. The orchard is comprised of wild-type American chestnuts. The orchard does not contain any genetically modified trees, or trees that are hybrid back-crosses with the Chinese or Asian Chestnut.
Learn about the breeding work being done in the research orchards and the current status of efforts to restore the American chestnut to the forests of the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.
Chestnut Seedlings will be available for sale.
Dress for the weather and bring a lawn chair if you would like to sit. If it is sunny or hot don’t forget sunscreen, sunhat, water. If it is damp and rainy, bring a raincoat!
In the event of dangerous weather, we will cancel the event and notify the email address provided with your registration. Please be sure to add the following address to your address book so you see any reminders and notifications: noreply@event.eventbrite.com
For more information on The American Chestnut Foundation, visit the PA/NJ chapter website at www.panjtacf.org.
