James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State

Schools are on break, and if you’re looking for some family fun forest experiences near you to keep busy these next couple of months, be sure to check out PA DCNR’s calendar of events! From educational programs to arts and crafts, to a wide variety of outdoor experiences, browse and see if there’s an upcoming event in a state park near you to partake in here: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a to share, but we’re back with one for June! Have you spotted this in your woods at all? It’s Wavyleaf Basketgrass (Oplismenus undulatifolius), a perennial grass native to southern Europe and Asia that is shade-tolerant and forms dense monocultures that cover forest floors and block out native flora. Notice the hairy stems, and flat, dark green leaves that have a rippling wave across the blade.

In mid-September to November, the grass blooms and spikes form long sticky awns. It’s a relatively new invader to Pennsylvania, most commonly reported near the southern parts of the state along the Maryland border, but one we should be keeping an eye on.

➡️ Get more information for correct identification and control measures on Wavyleaf Basketgrass here: https://extension.psu.edu/wavyleaf-basketgrass

💻 And to really deep dive into this invasive, tune into Penn State Extension’s upcoming webinar on July 10th – register for free here: https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-invasive-species-wavyleaf-basketgrass

📷: Photos by Kerrie L. Kyde, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org

The Vermont Land Trust is hosting a free presentation and discussion with Paul Catanzaro and Anthony D’Amato, authors of “Tending Your Forest: A Guide to Ecological Forest Stewardship,” on Monday, June 22nd, from 6:00-7:15 p.m. ET. Don’t miss this opportunity to get acquainted with Paul and Tony who are set to be keynote speakers at our 2027 Forest Landowners Conference next spring, and dive deep into ecological forest stewardship!

Learn more in this session about how forests grow and change over time, how management can support both ecological health and landowner goals, and how stewardship decisions play out on the ground. Register to join in for free via Zoom at Vermont Land Trust’s site:

https://vlt.org/events/a-conversation-with-the-authors-of-tending-your-forest-a-guide-to-ecological-forest-stewardship/

Upcoming free event and open to the public! Join the Northwest Pennsylvania Woodland Association in Allegheny National Forest for an educational program on Ruffed Grouse habitat in Northwest Pennsylvania from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13th. Aaron Lewis (Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society), Greg Sanford (USFS – Allegheny National Forest), and Taylor Chamberlin (DCNR – Cornplanter District) will give a guided tour of grouse habitat while explaining the silvicultural process for sustainable timber harvesting that creates that habitat. Come and learn how to preserve and grow ruffed grouse populations in NW PA; get details and directions here: https://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/centers/private-forests/events/efforts-to-preserve-and-grow-ruffed-grouse-populations-in-nw-pa

Another opportunity coming up to join a panel of Forestry and Wildlife Extension educators and faculty as they tackle participant-submitted and frequently asked forestry-related questions and scenarios. Register (for FREE!) for the “Advice from the Woods: Ask Our Experts” webinar that goes live on June 10th at noon ET. Get the details and submit your questions here: https://extension.psu.edu/advice-from-the-woods-ask-our-experts

It’s the first Tuesday of June, so we’re back to ask: Can You ID this PA Native Tree? Here are some photos of how it appears in the woods right now, along with a few clues:

🔎 Clue 1: This understory tree has obovate or spoon-shaped leaves with finely serrated margins that are a dark, glossy green on top and a pale green underneath in the summertime, and turn vibrant shades of orange, scarlet, and purple-red in the fall.

🔎 Clue 2: It’s just ended or near the end of its flowering stage right now – in May you’ll find it covered in white clusters of blossoms which turn into small red fruits later in the year.

🔎 Clue 3: Watch out for thorns! This species can have unusually long thorns, up to 4 inches, though there are also naturally occurring varieties of this species that lack thorns as well.

Don’t be shy, take a guess and share it in a comment! And then be sure to check back tomorrow (Wednesday) at the end of the day when we reveal the answer in a comment of our own here. Good luck!!

Celebrating that it’s Friday with a forest flower!

Pictured here is the PA native (and currently in bloom) Geranium maculatum, also known as wild geranium or spotted geranium.

What flowers are you seeing in the woods right now? 🌸 Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

💻 Upcoming FREE webinar to add to your calendar! Discover how modern trail cameras help forest landowners monitor wildlife, track landscape changes, and guide management decisions, with practical insights on camera types and real-world use in this hour-long Forest Seminar: Using Trail Cameras on your Forest Land. Start times are at noon and 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 9th. Register now: https://extension.psu.edu/forest-seminar-using-trail-cameras-on-your-forest-land

Tips to protect against ticks!

Pennsylvania consistently ranks as one of the top states in the nation for reported cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses

Erika Machtinger, associate professor of entomology in Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, answers common questions about ticks in Pennsylvania and how to best prevent poor outcomes.

🔗 : https://bit.ly/4uIwkZR