Green Hills Farm is a fitting name for the rolling landscape of farm fields and woodlands that make up this 118-acre conservation easement in Lycoming County. The land’s changing topography and variety of habitats support an abundance of wildlife and native species, which were on full display during Sara’s recent site visit.

Observation #1: Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a hardy, perennial herb commonly found throughout Pennsylvania. Known for its feathery leaves and clusters of small, white or pink flowers, yarrow thrives in a variety of habitats, including meadows, fields, and roadsides. Yarrow attracts a range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and its deep roots help prevent soil erosion. Historically, it has been valued for its medicinal properties, used by indigenous peoples and settlers alike for treating wounds and various ailments.

Observation #2: Indian Hemp

Indian Hemp, also known as Common Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), is a perennial herb native to Pennsylvania and widespread across North America. This plant typically grows in moist areas such as riverbanks, meadows, and open woods. It can reach heights of 2-5 feet and features slender, red stems, and lance-shaped leaves. In summer, it produces clusters of small, white to greenish flowers.

Indian Hemp is well-known for its fibrous stems, which indigenous peoples historically used to make cordage and twine. However, the plant is also toxic, with milky sap that can cause irritation. It is important for supporting various pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Observation #3: Horsenettle

Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) is a perennial plant commonly found throughout Pennsylvania. It has sharp spines on its stems and leaves, which help protect it from being eaten by herbivores. This makes it a tough and resilient plant in the wild. Horsenettle’s attractive star-shaped flowers, which bloom in shades of pale purple or white, are a favorite among bees and other pollinators. The fruit of the horsenettle resembles small, yellow tomatoes, but it is highly toxic to humans and livestock.

Observation #4: Common Milkweed

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a perennial plant native to Pennsylvania and plays a crucial role in supporting pollinators. Common milkweed is famously known as the primary host plant for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Monarch caterpillars exclusively feed on the leaves of milkweed plants. The toxins present in milkweed sap make monarch caterpillars and butterflies distasteful to predators, providing them with protection.

While monarch caterpillars rely on milkweed leaves, the flowers of common milkweed produce abundant amounts of nectar. This nectar is a valuable food source for many pollinators, including bees, butterflies (like the Great Spangled Fritillary), moths, and hummingbirds.

Catch up on other Field Journal Friday entries:
Dickey Farm Conservation Easement
Van Horn & Van Horn Homestead Conservation Easements
Bednar Conservation Easement
Joshi Conservation Easement
Lyons Conservation Easement
Richards Conservation Easement
Logue-McMahon Conservation Easement
Zaner, Overlook & Power Dam Conservation Easements
Blackwell Conservation Easement

Established in 1999, the Dickey Farm conservation easement stands as a testament to thoughtful stewardship and long-term planning. The decision to conserve their 195-acre property came after the landowners attended an ‘Estate Planning for Family Lands’ workshop hosted by NPC. Already equipped with a farm plan and woodlot management strategy, they were dedicated to enhancing wildlife habitat on their property. Recognizing the importance of conserving their land in perpetuity, they chose to establish a conservation easement.

Today, Dickey Farm remains a thriving example of productive farmland. The conservation easement not only helps conserve wildlife habitat but also conserves critical water and scenic resources. The property’s unique geography includes a ridge that divides its drainage into two watersheds. A spring originating here flows into Sugar Run, a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River, while the back portion drains into the Bald Eagle Creek watershed. Its prominent location ensures it is visible from several public roads and neighboring State Game Lands to the south.

Observation #1: Daisy Fleabane

Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus), a native wildflower in Pennsylvania, belongs to the aster family and blooms from late spring through summer. Its clusters of small, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers and white rays attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Often found in meadows and along woodland edges, this resilient flower adds a cheerful touch to Pennsylvania’s landscapes, sometimes becoming a favorite gifted bouquet picked by little hands.

Observation #2: Round-Leaved Orchid

In Pennsylvania, the round-leaved orchid (Amerorchis rotundifolia) adds a touch of elegance to moist woodlands and meadows with its distinctive features. Characterized by round, glossy leaves forming a basal rosette and a slender flowering stem bearing clusters of small, intricate flowers, this orchid blooms from mid to late summer.

Observation #3: Perfoliate Bellwort

Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata), found in Pennsylvania’s woodlands and forest edges, stands out with its distinctive perfoliate leaves. The term “perfoliate” refers to the botanical feature where the stem appears to pass through the center of the leaf. This gives the impression that the leaf is pierced or surrounded by the stem itself. In early to mid-spring, perfoliate bellwort blooms with delicate, pendulous yellow flowers that hang beneath its gracefully arching stems.

Observation #4: Sassafras

Pennsylvania’s forests showcase sassafras (Sassafras albidum) with its distinct three-lobed leaves that can vary in shape, including mitten-shaped and trilobed forms, offering a colorful display of yellow, orange, and red foliage during the fall season. Beyond its visual appeal, sassafras was historically used by Native American tribes and later European settlers for its aromatic bark, roots, and leaves, which were believed to have medicinal and culinary properties.

Catch up on other Field Journal Friday entries:
Van Horn & Van Horn Homestead Conservation Easements
Bednar Conservation Easement
Joshi Conservation Easement
Lyons Conservation Easement
Richards Conservation Easement
Logue-McMahon Conservation Easement
Zaner, Overlook & Power Dam Conservation Easements
Blackwell Conservation Easement

Together, the VanHorn and VanHorn Homestead Conservation Easements conserve 148 acres in Lycoming County. Donated to NPC by the same owners in the late 1990s, these easements feature mature woodlands and wetlands adjacent to Big Run, a high-quality native trout stream and tributary of Muncy Creek.

On the VanHorn Homestead, a swamp supports a variety of animals, plants, and aquatic life. One unique aspect is its drainage pattern: it flows both east to Lake Run and west into Big Run!

During her annual visit to these conservation easements, Sara spotted a big, green frog perched on a log in the swamp, among other highlights.

Observation #1: Ghost Pipe

Ghost pipe is a native perennial that is all white and can be found growing in clusters up to 8 inches tall across most of the US. Each stem has a single flower. It’s also known by other names such as Indian pipe, corpse plant, or ghost plant. What makes this plant so unique is that it does not contain chlorophyll! Most plants contain chlorophyll, which converts the sunlight into carbohydrates (energy for the plant), this process is known as photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is also what makes plants green. Lacking chlorophyll, ghost pipes get their carbohydrates and nutrients from tree roots, via their relationship with myccorhizal fungi.

Observation #2: Partridge Berry

Partridge berry is a native, sprawling evergreen vine on the forest floor, found throughout woodlands in the eastern United States. A pair of small, white, fuzzy flowers grow at the end of its creeping stem and produce a single red berry.

Observation #3: White Water-Lily

White water-lily – also known as fragrant water lily – this native, aquatic floating flower is accompanied by its round leaves, which grow up to 10” across. Rhizomes and roots anchor each plant to the bottom of the ponds where they are found. The fragrant flowers close at night and on cloudy days. Seeds from the flower are a great source of food for birds and other animals. The flower and lily pads provide habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates and refuge for small fish

Observation #4: Reishi

Reishi is a large, reddish-brown fungus that grows in a fan-shape from wood, with a lacquered appearance. There are over a dozen species of reishi in the US, all having a very similar appearance. Each species is particular about the trees that they grow from, in the eastern US, they are primarily found growing on eastern hemlock.

Observation #5: Green Frog

Green frogs can be found living in lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands in every county of Pennsylvania, and throughout the eastern half of the US. Sometimes mistaken for American bullfrog, size can help differentiate the two species, the American bullfrog is the largest true frog species in eastern North America.

Catch up on other Field Journal Friday entries:
Bednar Conservation Easement
Joshi Conservation Easement
Lyons Conservation Easement
Richards Conservation Easement
Logue-McMahon Conservation Easement
Zaner, Overlook & Power Dam Conservation Easements
Blackwell Conservation Easement

The Bednar conservation easement conserves a variety of habitats, including a small wetland, open fields, old fields reverting to forest, stone walls, and extensive acres of mature forest. These support a wide array of wildlife and plants. The property’s high point offers stunning views across rolling hills and valleys, adding to its scenic appeal.

Here are few of Sara’s finds from her recent visit:

Observation #1: Oak Besma Moth

Oak besma moth (besma quercivoraria) is native to PA and can be found throughout North America.  Its name translates to “oak-eater”. Common in deciduous and mixed woodlands, the larvae feed on leaves of oak, elm, poplar, and willow. Their pale brown lines and speckles create the illusion of tree rings and texture, which is a beneficial camouflage to hide from predators.

Observation #2: Eastern (red-spotted) Newt

The Eastern (red-spotted) newt has a fascinating life cycle! Seen here in its “Red Eft” stage, this PA native amphibian embarks on a remarkable journey of transformation, that takes it from water, to land, and back to the water!

• Egg Stage: It all begins as tiny eggs are laid in shallow, freshwater habitats like vernal pools.
• Larval Stage (Aquatic): Hatching from the eggs, Eastern newt larvae emerge, resembling small tadpoles. They breathe through gills and spend their early days in the water.
• Red Eft Stage (Terrestrial): After several months, the larvae undergo a transformation into their land-based stage known as “red efts.” The red eft is easily recognizable with its bright orange coloring and rows of black-ringed spots. While that coloration may look pretty to us, it serves as a warning to other animals that these guys are not a tasty snack! They develop lungs for breathing air and begin their adventures exploring the forest floor.
• Adult Stage (Aquatic): As they mature, red efts transition back to the water. Their skin darkens, and they transform into the adult phase of the Eastern newt. Returning to forest ponds, they spend the rest of their lives in the water, where they reproduce and continue the life cycle.

Observation #3: Sounds of Nature

While observing this mature Eastern (red-spotted) Newt swimming around the pond, Sara heard a chorus of several other species, including a Redwing Blackbird, Ovenbird, Gray Catbird, and the single croak of a green frog.

Observation #4: Gray Catbird

Gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) are relatively common throughout most of the United States. They are particularly abundant in areas with early successional forests, which include abandoned farmland, thickets of young trees, and dense shrubs. These habitats provide the dense cover and abundant food resources that gray catbirds prefer.

Observation #5: Northern Maidenhair Fern

The northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) is easily identifiable by its unique structure, which features pinnae (divisions of compound leaves) forming a nearly perfect horizontal circle. This distinctive arrangement makes it stand out among other ferns. It is a native, deciduous perennial that thrives in cool, moist, and rich woods as well as shaded areas.

Catch up on other Field Journal Friday entries:
Joshi Conservation Easement
Lyons Conservation Easement
Richards Conservation Easement
Logue-McMahon Conservation Easement
Zaner, Overlook & Power Dam Conservation Easements
Blackwell Conservation Easement

Today, we are exploring NPC’s Joshi conservation easement in Lycoming County. As you may recall from last week, this 87-acre property borders NPC’s Lyons Farm conservation easement. Connecting conserved lands is important because it creates large, continuous areas where animals and plants can live and move around freely. These connected areas help wildlife find food, shelter, and mates. Additionally, these connections help conserve the natural resources that keep the water and air clean for your communities.

Here are a few observations from Sara’s annual visit to the Joshi conservation easement.

Observation #1: Indian Cucumber

Indian cucumber (Medeola virginiana) is native to Pennsylvania and can be commonly found in the state’s forests. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils and shady environments, often under the canopy of mature hardwood trees. The cucumber part of the common name comes from the two to three-inch-long tuberous white root that smells and tastes like cucumbers. Native American tribes in PA traditionally gathered them as food and used the plant for its medicinal properties.

Observation #2: Common Milkweed

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the only host plant for monarch caterpillars. Monarchs lay their eggs on common milkweed, and when those eggs hatch into caterpillars, they eat the leaves, which contain a compound that makes them toxic to their predators.

Observation #3: Web of a Grass Spider

Grass spiders tend to be fast and shy, making it uncommon for them to bite humans. The web of this native Pennsylvania arachnid is seen more often than the spider itself. As you could guess from the name, their webs are often found in the grass, weeds, and other ground cover, in a horizontal orientation.

Catch up on other Field Journal Friday entries:
Lyons Conservation Easement
Richards Conservation Easement
Logue-McMahon Conservation Easement
Zaner, Overlook & Power Dam Conservation Easements
Blackwell Conservation Easement

A true sportsman understands and champions conservation.  In fact, hunters have been some of the conservation movement’s biggest advocates since the beginning.  After all, it was President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid hunter himself, who went on to create the United States Forest Service and conserved approximately 230 million acres of public land.  Roosevelt recognized that in utilizing the country’s natural resources, we also had a responsibility to ensure that those same resources were sustainable for generations to come.  He wrote, “We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” 

This past year, the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) had the opportunity to work with a like-minded sportsman committed to doing his part through the conservation of his 64-acre property in Columbia County.  The landowner grew up hunting in the Berwick area, and through friendly connections had the opportunity to hunt this particular plot of land on Knob Mountain Road in Briar Creek Township over the years.  Sitting at the base of Knob Mountain, this stretch of land acts as a highway for white-tailed deer, turkey, bear, and other wildlife.  As the landowner explains it, the neighboring farmland is the “refrigerator”, the mountain to the north is the “bedroom,” and the property serves as the “hallway,” connecting the habitat for the wildlife to roam.  So when the property came up for sale in 2004, he jumped at the opportunity to call this piece of woodland his own.

He quickly set to work stewarding the land and enhancing the wildlife habitat.  He worked with a forester to develop and implement a forest management plan, collaborated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create wetlands, installed nesting boxes, conducted timber stand improvement activities, built brush piles for wildlife, and planted trees.  And while he connected himself more and more to the land, he created opportunities for others to connect as well.  Just as those had done for him in past, he invited friends and family to traverse and hunt the land with him.  It became a place of respite for a military friend on leave.  A learning ground for the grandson of a dear friend.  A cultivator for friendships and bonds forged like none other than during hunting season.

Places with the ability to connect people with the land and with each other are special like that.  Knowing that he wanted to conserve the wildlife habitat for generations to enjoy beyond his lifetime, he thought back to a conversation he had with NPC Executive Director, Renee’ Carey, nearly 15 years ago.  At that time, the landowner was a member of the Fishing Creek Sportsmen’s Association.  The Association worked with NPC to establish conservation easements to ensure public access to Fishing Creek.  With that positive experience in mind, the landowner reached out to NPC to explore donating his land into a conservation easement with NPC as well.

Fast forward to December of 2023, the ‘Knob Mountain’ conservation easement is officially a part of the landowner and NPC’s legacies! 

The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) is a land trust devoted to conserving and enhancing the lands and waters of Northcentral Pennsylvania to support the environmental well-being and recreational needs of local communities. They operate in 12 counties and take on a variety of conservation projects, including working with private landowners to establish conservation easements. Thanks to the generosity of its members and donors, NPC has conserved over 5,400 acres across 52 properties through its conservation easement program. You can help support NPC’s initiatives and make a difference by donating today.