Coming Events

 

General Meeting

Out, Out, Bad Plant! - Invasive Species 101

Tuesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Old Library by Lake Afton,

46 West Afton Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067.

	Sherwin Williams paint isn't the only thing that covers the earth. Here mile-a-minute and honeysuckle rule the land. Photo by Ian Kindle.

More and more of the local landscape is being dominated by plants that know no bounds. These plants, labeled as invasive species, will drive out wide varieties of other vegetation if they are left to flourish.

Miles of the Canal towpath and berm banks are now prime targets for invasion. The earth on the banks has been disturbed during the flood repair work, and the newly planted grass will be hard pressed to repel the seeds and runners of the "bad" plants.

It's time to understand the enemy and be prepared to take action (from plucking out the offending plants to reporting their existence to the State Park staff). At the Friends' March meeting, Michael Van Clef, an ecologist with his own consulting firm Ecological Solutions, will tell us what we need to know. During his illustrated talk, he will elaborate on why established and newly emerging invasive species are such a problem. He will reveal where the plants are likely to be found and how to identify them. Control strategies and techniques will also be discussed.

Michael Van Clef is an expert in his field, who already has been orking with the Delaware River Greenway Partnership to devise control strategies for the greater river valley. He has a Ph.D. in ecology and twenty years experience working on the evaluation and management of rare and invasive species, white-tailed deer management, forest health monitoring protocols, and natural resource policy.

Our "new" Canal will need us to be watchful, so please come out and become a better informed Friend.

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Lunch and Walk

Saturday, March 27, 10:30 a.m.

Meet in the rear parking lot of the David Library of the American Revolution, 1201 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA 18977

The Friends follow the news, so we're Washington Crossing bound for this year's Lunch and Walk.

Starting out to the north with a short tour of the David Library of the American Revolution, we'll find out what goes on there and learn why it is the leading repository of Revolutionary War-ear records -- second only to Great Britain.

From the Library, we'll follow the restored towpath to Washington Crossing Historic Park where we'll hear some stories from history and talk about the serious challenges that the facility is facing. The village's handsome pathway will lead us to the fabled Washington Crossing Inn where we'll indulge in lunch in a private dining room.

Menu

French Onion Soup

Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken or Salmon

New York Cheesecake or Chocolate Raspberry Torte

Coffee/Tea/Water

After lunch, we'll head back to the Library, checking ou the wildlife in the lagoon and Canal along the way. The round trip walk will be just over 3 miles.

Donation - $25 per person. Reservations are required.

Please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org no later than March 19th. If it's raining or snowing, we won't be walking, but we will meet at the Washington Crossing Inn at noon for lunch and lively conversation.

 

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Delaware Canal Clean-Up Day

Saturday, April 17, 9 a.m.

The flood repair contractors will probably still be be working in the area around Lumberville, but the rest of the 58.9 miles of waterway, towpath, and berm bank is going to be ready and waiting for some spring sprucing up. Even the newly completed section of the Canal need a little help. This year we are going to include invasive species as well as trash and debris among our targets.

To accomplish the Clean-Up in a coordinated fashion, the length of the Canal is divided up into sections. Community coordinators and workers are needed for the sections, particularly the Falls Township and Tullytown Borough areas.

Please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org to volunteer and watch for the Canal Clean-Up Day location lists that will be posted here. And, if you know of a group that may be able to participate, please let us know.

Many hands make light work!

 

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