Muhlenberg Botanic Society Late Spring and Summer 2010 Field Trips
Joint field trip with the PA Native Plant society
May 22-23
A Weekend Trip: Fisherman’s Paradise (Stackhouse School), south of Bellefonte, PA
Centre County. Meet at 10:00 AM Saturday
This is a joint field trip with the PA Native Plant Society
Things to bring: PA state road map, DeLorme Gazeteer, “Plants of Pennsylvania” manual, hand lens, repellants, sun block, water, adequate footwear. The sites are basically upland: no major wetlands, but it may be possible to get wet feet. Walk rating: moderate. Leader: Dr. Larry Klotz.
Saturday, May 22. In the morning we will explore the base of the cliffs along Spring Creek, then eat lunch at Stackhouse Center. In the afternoon, we will go to Big Hollow Prairies, State College. Individual participants should make overnight arrangements in State College or vicinity. Directions from Harrisburg:
Go W on Rt. 322; then N on I-99 (= Rt. 220/Rt. 26), toward Bellefonte, to Exit 73; go N on Rt. 150 (Benner Pike) ca. 0.5 mi toward Bellefonte; turn W (left) on Paradise Rd.; go ca. 1 mi. then turn W (left) on Spring Creek Rd.; go ca. 0.25 mi to Fisherman’s Paradise (Stackhouse School).
Sunday, May 23. In the morning we will meet at the Colerain Picnic Area in Rothrock State Forest, between Franklinville and Spruce Creek (village), Huntingdon County, and explore Spruce Creek, Eden Hill Rd.: Little Juniata State Forest Natural Area, then return to Colerain Picnic area for lunch. The morning's agenda will likely be determined on site, based on what is in bloom.
Directions from Rt. 322 at Boalsburg, E of State College:
Go sw on Rt. 45 ca. 21 mi. to Colerain, then left into the Colerain Picnic Area, where we will have
lunch. In the afternoon we will go to one or more of the following:
T430, north side of Raystown Branch, just below Raystown Dam breast; SGL 112: Mill Creek
Hollow Rd.; and/or Rothrock S.F., Rocky Ridge N.A.: Frew Rd., Martin Gap Rd.
Saturday, June 5:
Unionville Barrens, Chester County, PA
Meet at 1:00 PM (note this is a time change from earlier announcements of a morning starting time!.)
This will be a joint field trip with the Philadelphia Botanical Club. One of Pennsylvania's highest quality serpentine barrens, the Unionville Barrens finally received long-sought protection in 2008 from Natural Lands Trust as part of the nearly 1,100-acre ChesLen Preserve. The grasslands and blackjack oak/post oak woodlands are remnants of a landscape managed for centuries by American Indians using fire. With fire exclusion, the species-rich serpentine grasslands have shrunk from nearly 60 acres in 1937 to less than 9 acres today. That loss in area has led to species extirpation: 16 state-listed species occur there now, but 4 more seen historically are gone. The NLT plans to restore and maintain at least 40 acres of oak savanna. A 2005 report, "Protecting the Unionville Barrens" describes the site's history, flora and ecology (available at
www.continentalconservation.us under Publications). Appendix A is a survey by Janet Ebert listing 174 vascular plant species. We will see the globally rare serpentine aster (Symphyotrichum depauperatum) and many species in flower or fruit, likely including Carex bicknellii, C. richardsonii, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, D. villosissimum, Helianthemum bicknellii, Packera anonyma, Phemeranthus teretifolius, Quercus nigra and Scleria pauciflora.
Meet at 1 pm. ( Note this is a change in time) at the end of Oak School Road. Wear footgear suitable for wet walking. For directions type in "Oak School Rd., Kennett Square, PA" at maps.yahoo.com or maps.google.com, or see the directions below.
Leader: Roger Latham (rel@continentalconservation.us; office: 610-565-3405;
or cell phone--only on the morning of the field trip--4-8-4 6-8-2----9-6-4-8).
Directions:
From Lancaster area: from U.S. 30 at Gap, turn right on PA. 10; go 2.1 mi.; turn left on PA 372; go 1.3 mi.; bear right on Strasburg Rd.; go 2.5 mi.; turn right on PA 82; go 8.0 mi.; turn left on PA 842; go 1.9 mi.; turn left on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
From Philadelphia area: take U.S. 322 (from U.S. 1 or I-95); U.S. 202 (from I-76) just south of West Chester; turn west on PA 926; go 2.8 mi.; turn right on Creek Rd.; go 1.4 mi.; bear left on S. Creek Rd; go 1.1 mi.; bear left on PA 842; go 3.7 mi.; turn right on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
From northern suburbs or Pa. Turnpike Downingtown Exit #312: go south on Pa. 100 just south of
U.S. 30; bear right on Pottstown Pike; go 3.8 mi. (it becomes North High Street); turn right on W. Chestnut St. (U.S. 322 Business Rt. W.); go 5 blocks; turn left on N. Brandywine St.; go 1 block; turn right on W. Gay St. & go 1 block; turn left on Everhart Ave.; go 2 blocks; turn right on PA 842; go 6.8 mi.; turn right on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
From south: from U.S. 1 near Kennett Square, go north on PA 82 for 3.1 mi.; turn right on PA 842; go 1.9 mi.; turn left on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
Saturday, July 24:
Valmont Industrial Park Power Cut and Wetland
We will probably leave Lancaster around 7:30 AM.
Call or email for carpooling: Call or email me for carpooling:
jsking1@lycos.com or 717-284-5239. There are no bathroom facilities here.
This site has Platanthera ciliaris (yellow fringed orchis), P. blephariglottis (white fringed orchis),
and a hybrid between the two. There is also walking fern, and we might see Gentiana linarias in
bud. It's in a power cut, so prepare for sun and wet feet. Walk rating: easy. You can take your
lunch along on the trail or go back to the cars and eat (the site isn't far from where we park). Call/
email me for carpooling: jsking1@lycos.com or 717-284-5239.
There are no bathroom facilities.
From the Lancaster area: take. Rt. 22 north to Reading, then Rt. 61 north to Frackville; I-81 north
to Exit 145 at SR 93. Go right off ramp (east) to Deer Run Road, right onto Deer Run Road to
Jaycee Drive; take a left onto Jaycee Drive, follow to HT powerline crossing. Park in the gravel lot
on right at abandoned industrial facility. Follow the powerline easment to SE, across from parking
area about 100 yards to bog.
Saturday, August 21:
Farmingdale Trail (Noel Dorwart Park and Nature Area Township Park)
East Hempfield Township, Lancaster, PA
Meet at 10:00 AM Leader: Joan King: jsking1@lycos.com or 717-284-5239.
NOTE: There are no bathroom facilities here.
We will do a 'before" look at these 70 acres of land that was once a city dump, but has been
reworked into a multiuse park. There are woods, a wildflower meadow and trails along wetlands
and the Little Conestoga Creek. The area is currently heavily covered with invasive plants. A fiveyear
plan has been developed to restore native vegetation and improve wildlife habitat. There are
no bathroom facilities at this park. Walk rating: easy.
Directions: From the intersection of Rt. 741 (Rohrerstown Rd.) and Rt. 23 (Marietta Pike), go east
on Rt. 23 for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Good Drive. Go 0.2 miles; just north of the railroad track,
turn right into parking lot (on east side, across from Park Lawn Ct.). The park sits back from the
road. GPS Coordinates N 40 03.256, W 76 21.196.
May 22-23
A Weekend Trip: Fisherman’s Paradise (Stackhouse School), south of Bellefonte, PA
Centre County. Meet at 10:00 AM Saturday
This is a joint field trip with the PA Native Plant Society
Things to bring: PA state road map, DeLorme Gazeteer, “Plants of Pennsylvania” manual, hand lens, repellants, sun block, water, adequate footwear. The sites are basically upland: no major wetlands, but it may be possible to get wet feet. Walk rating: moderate. Leader: Dr. Larry Klotz.
Saturday, May 22. In the morning we will explore the base of the cliffs along Spring Creek, then eat lunch at Stackhouse Center. In the afternoon, we will go to Big Hollow Prairies, State College. Individual participants should make overnight arrangements in State College or vicinity. Directions from Harrisburg:
Go W on Rt. 322; then N on I-99 (= Rt. 220/Rt. 26), toward Bellefonte, to Exit 73; go N on Rt. 150 (Benner Pike) ca. 0.5 mi toward Bellefonte; turn W (left) on Paradise Rd.; go ca. 1 mi. then turn W (left) on Spring Creek Rd.; go ca. 0.25 mi to Fisherman’s Paradise (Stackhouse School).
Sunday, May 23. In the morning we will meet at the Colerain Picnic Area in Rothrock State Forest, between Franklinville and Spruce Creek (village), Huntingdon County, and explore Spruce Creek, Eden Hill Rd.: Little Juniata State Forest Natural Area, then return to Colerain Picnic area for lunch. The morning's agenda will likely be determined on site, based on what is in bloom.
Directions from Rt. 322 at Boalsburg, E of State College:
Go sw on Rt. 45 ca. 21 mi. to Colerain, then left into the Colerain Picnic Area, where we will have
lunch. In the afternoon we will go to one or more of the following:
T430, north side of Raystown Branch, just below Raystown Dam breast; SGL 112: Mill Creek
Hollow Rd.; and/or Rothrock S.F., Rocky Ridge N.A.: Frew Rd., Martin Gap Rd.
Saturday, June 5:
Unionville Barrens, Chester County, PA
Meet at 1:00 PM (note this is a time change from earlier announcements of a morning starting time!.)
This will be a joint field trip with the Philadelphia Botanical Club. One of Pennsylvania's highest quality serpentine barrens, the Unionville Barrens finally received long-sought protection in 2008 from Natural Lands Trust as part of the nearly 1,100-acre ChesLen Preserve. The grasslands and blackjack oak/post oak woodlands are remnants of a landscape managed for centuries by American Indians using fire. With fire exclusion, the species-rich serpentine grasslands have shrunk from nearly 60 acres in 1937 to less than 9 acres today. That loss in area has led to species extirpation: 16 state-listed species occur there now, but 4 more seen historically are gone. The NLT plans to restore and maintain at least 40 acres of oak savanna. A 2005 report, "Protecting the Unionville Barrens" describes the site's history, flora and ecology (available at
www.continentalconservation.us under Publications). Appendix A is a survey by Janet Ebert listing 174 vascular plant species. We will see the globally rare serpentine aster (Symphyotrichum depauperatum) and many species in flower or fruit, likely including Carex bicknellii, C. richardsonii, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, D. villosissimum, Helianthemum bicknellii, Packera anonyma, Phemeranthus teretifolius, Quercus nigra and Scleria pauciflora.
Meet at 1 pm. ( Note this is a change in time) at the end of Oak School Road. Wear footgear suitable for wet walking. For directions type in "Oak School Rd., Kennett Square, PA" at maps.yahoo.com or maps.google.com, or see the directions below.
Leader: Roger Latham (rel@continentalconservation.us; office: 610-565-3405;
or cell phone--only on the morning of the field trip--4-8-4 6-8-2----9-6-4-8).
Directions:
From Lancaster area: from U.S. 30 at Gap, turn right on PA. 10; go 2.1 mi.; turn left on PA 372; go 1.3 mi.; bear right on Strasburg Rd.; go 2.5 mi.; turn right on PA 82; go 8.0 mi.; turn left on PA 842; go 1.9 mi.; turn left on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
From Philadelphia area: take U.S. 322 (from U.S. 1 or I-95); U.S. 202 (from I-76) just south of West Chester; turn west on PA 926; go 2.8 mi.; turn right on Creek Rd.; go 1.4 mi.; bear left on S. Creek Rd; go 1.1 mi.; bear left on PA 842; go 3.7 mi.; turn right on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
From northern suburbs or Pa. Turnpike Downingtown Exit #312: go south on Pa. 100 just south of
U.S. 30; bear right on Pottstown Pike; go 3.8 mi. (it becomes North High Street); turn right on W. Chestnut St. (U.S. 322 Business Rt. W.); go 5 blocks; turn left on N. Brandywine St.; go 1 block; turn right on W. Gay St. & go 1 block; turn left on Everhart Ave.; go 2 blocks; turn right on PA 842; go 6.8 mi.; turn right on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
From south: from U.S. 1 near Kennett Square, go north on PA 82 for 3.1 mi.; turn right on PA 842; go 1.9 mi.; turn left on Glen Hall Rd.; go 0.6 mi.; turn left on Oak School Rd.; go 0.2 mi.
Saturday, July 24:
Valmont Industrial Park Power Cut and Wetland
We will probably leave Lancaster around 7:30 AM.
Call or email for carpooling: Call or email me for carpooling:
jsking1@lycos.com or 717-284-5239. There are no bathroom facilities here.
This site has Platanthera ciliaris (yellow fringed orchis), P. blephariglottis (white fringed orchis),
and a hybrid between the two. There is also walking fern, and we might see Gentiana linarias in
bud. It's in a power cut, so prepare for sun and wet feet. Walk rating: easy. You can take your
lunch along on the trail or go back to the cars and eat (the site isn't far from where we park). Call/
email me for carpooling: jsking1@lycos.com or 717-284-5239.
There are no bathroom facilities.
From the Lancaster area: take. Rt. 22 north to Reading, then Rt. 61 north to Frackville; I-81 north
to Exit 145 at SR 93. Go right off ramp (east) to Deer Run Road, right onto Deer Run Road to
Jaycee Drive; take a left onto Jaycee Drive, follow to HT powerline crossing. Park in the gravel lot
on right at abandoned industrial facility. Follow the powerline easment to SE, across from parking
area about 100 yards to bog.
Saturday, August 21:
Farmingdale Trail (Noel Dorwart Park and Nature Area Township Park)
East Hempfield Township, Lancaster, PA
Meet at 10:00 AM Leader: Joan King: jsking1@lycos.com or 717-284-5239.
NOTE: There are no bathroom facilities here.
We will do a 'before" look at these 70 acres of land that was once a city dump, but has been
reworked into a multiuse park. There are woods, a wildflower meadow and trails along wetlands
and the Little Conestoga Creek. The area is currently heavily covered with invasive plants. A fiveyear
plan has been developed to restore native vegetation and improve wildlife habitat. There are
no bathroom facilities at this park. Walk rating: easy.
Directions: From the intersection of Rt. 741 (Rohrerstown Rd.) and Rt. 23 (Marietta Pike), go east
on Rt. 23 for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Good Drive. Go 0.2 miles; just north of the railroad track,
turn right into parking lot (on east side, across from Park Lawn Ct.). The park sits back from the
road. GPS Coordinates N 40 03.256, W 76 21.196.
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