After a few years without beavers in this section of French Creek (but apparent both upstream and downstream) beavers have once again built a dam…

Meet the prescribed grazing crew at Crow’s Nest for 2013. Duffy the goat blends in pretty well with the Jersey steers, and is holding his…

Here is tonight’s sunset from the preserve. I like that autumn evenings are relatively mild, that the cold of frost doesn’t settle until morning. These…

Patchy frost in the yard this morning. We’re in a cold hollow in a cold part of the region, so your conditions may vary. We’re…

Right now the sassafras trees are an intense burning orange; Virginia creeper a deep crimson, and dogwoods starting to turn a rich burgundy. Other plants—spicebush,…

I haven’t kept up with all the blooms that have exploded over the last month, and the preserve has been beautiful. Here are a few…

We’re not talking about my mind, here, though sometimes I wonder. I found nodding ladies’ tresses orchid here for the first time in years. Above…

Not wines, vines. Although some of the vines are grapes. This poison ivy vine recently cut at Crow’s Nest is not quite as old as…

Consider the simple hand-pushed reel mower. Crow’s Nest Preserve is 600 acres, has miles of trails, and not insignificant lawns around several historic houses on…

At Crow’s Nest this week the campers are cool in the creek and we’re doing vine control in land management… and snapping a few photos.…