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Sustainable practices for a thriving garden

“Sustainability in the garden means incorporating practices that reduce our impact through small changes and choosing the right plant for the right place,” said Maddison Perzel, former head gardener at Elm Court, a historic mansion in downtown Butler, Pennsylvania. She recently spoke at the Penn State Master Gardener’s of Lycoming County’s spring symposium “Bringing Nature Back: One Yard at a Time” on March 15 at the Klump Academic Center at Penn College. “I’m personally motivated to support our pollinators and local birds because I enjoy seeing them in my garden. A ...

US bird populations are continuing an alarming decline

Ithaca, N.Y.—The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced today at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years. Key findings from ...

Community Outdoors calendar for week of March 18

VIRTUAL FISH OF HYNER RUN WATERSHED WHERE: Online via Microsoft Teams WHEN: Thursday, March 20 from 1-1:30 p.m. NOTES: A virtual Fish of Hyner Run Watershed program at Hyner Run State Park is set to be held. This program will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams and will not take place face-to-face at the park. Join the park naturalist and learn about the many different types of fish that inhabit Hyner Run Watershed. Afterward, we may have some time to share fish stories. Registration is required to receive the link to the Microsoft Teams program. When you receive an email ...

Reflections in Nature: The signs of spring appearing are all around us now

Signs of the coming of spring are appearing everywhere. So far, I’ve seen robins, red-winged blackbirds, killdeers, herring gulls, grackles, great-blue herons, geese, chipmunks, geese and others. Humans also joined these harbingers of spring by tapping the maple trees. Mary Alice has been checking her flower beds for any green shoots. All these early spring signs will be slowed down If the weather turns cold. Along with the robin, the Canada goose and the red-winged blackbird are probably our most recognized harbingers of spring. One cannot miss the return of the red-winged black ...

PGC applauds Sunday hunting bill

HARRISBURG — Legislation that could fully repeal Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban has been reintroduced in Harrisburg. Last week Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, reintroduced Senate Bill 67, which would end the state’s prohibition on Sunday hunting and allow the Game Commission to include Sundays when establishing hunting seasons annually. The bill picked up momentum last year, when it passed the Senate and gained preliminary approval in the House of Representatives before time ran out in the legislative session. The bill now has a fresh start, and a broad base of support behind ...

Symposium seeks to restore nature, one yard at a time

“It’s easy for most gardeners to notice when birds aren’t chirping, but what will often happen long before the birds are gone is the bugs in the soil are missing.” That’s the warning from Erica Thetford, the Lycoming County Master Gardener Coordinator. On March 15, the local chapter of Penn State Master Gardeners will host a symposium entitled “Bringing Nature Back: One Yard at a Time.” National and local experts will discuss how home gardeners can promote biodiversity and restore natural ecosystems. Gardening’s Hidden Impact From excessive pesticide use to ...