Join us as we continue our exploration of the vegetative communities of the Piedmont region of the Eastern United States. In this ongoing series of blogs, we will spotlight specific vegetative communities, define their historic structures, describe the processes that created them, examine past and ongoing threats to their survival, and provide suggestions for long-term, sustainable forest management to help steward them into the future.

The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of its land trust accreditation. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. As part of the reaccreditation process, a public comment period is now open for Brandywine’s application.

Introduced in New England in the 1600s during European settlement, dame’s rocket established quickly and has spread throughout the entirety of the United States, except for several states along the southern border. Its long-standing establishment has led to the misconception that it is a native wildflower, reflected in the fact that it is often a component in commercially available wildflower mixes used today. With no natural predators or diseases in North America, this invasive can out-compete natives, leading to a decrease in diversity.

Winter is officially upon us. Crops have been harvested and now is the time to prepare for next season’s yield. Some may think that this is when farmers slow down and take a break, but there is never a lull in the life of an agriculturalist. Work continues throughout the colder months to ensure the next growing season is just as successful, if not more, than the last.