Backyard Nature

06/03/2026

Come join us this Saturday!

Let your wings flutter at the library at The Magic of Butterflies on Saturday June 6th at 10:30am, where Dr. Maria will teach us all about butterflies. 🦋✨

Please register at the link below or by calling the library at 412-775-4700.
https://pennhills.librarycalendar.com/event/magic-butterflies-17414

06/01/2026

Thank you SO MUCH to this amazing local teacher who donated a full carload of supplies and equipment to Backyard Nature! We are ready to rock and roll with new field guides, water quality test kits, new crafts, and so much more. Our community is absolutely the best 🥹🎉🎉🎉💜💚

05/30/2026

Awesome morning with Penn Hills Parks and Recreation!! We looked at water quality and aquatic macroinvertebrate community in our Creek Critters program! 💚

05/17/2026

Tackled some knotweed and garlic mustard on my little property today! And I took a moment to just take it all in. This our little spot, folks - you all helped make this happen. It's only the first acre for now, but it's the first of many more 💚

I need one more bit of help though - what should we call this place?? I have a few ideas, but what do you think?

1.) Littletown.
Spend a few minutes there, and though it may be a small space, it's and entire little town of interacting plants, birds, insects, and so much more. Plus, I'm a Disney nerd, and it's like Belle sings "Little town, it's a quiet village..."

2.) Something as a reminder that this is a learning space.
I'm working on land management skills, so something to say "classroom" or "

3.) Little Earth
I'm also an LOTR nerd. This wouldn't be "Middle Earth" but it could be "Little Earth." You never know if you might find a hobbit!

4.) Something hopeful.
I bought this property with hope for the future. Hope that it will be the first of more land to protect. Hope that a bit of love and a bit of land can inspire change. And hope that we can make a positive difference for the planet.

Thoughts?

05/08/2026

Don't forget to sign up with Penn Hills Parks and Rec for Creek Critters! We will be looking for teeny aquatic invertebrates and testing out the water quality!

Spring & Summer Recreation Program Calendar
We will continue to update as new events are added
SummerFest info to be announced soon!

05/03/2026

There is always more to learn! I have been signing up for different land management classes to help me take care of my new property and any future ones down the road. This weekend, I learned how to manage dead and falling trees through a chainsaw class with Hollow Oak Land Trust and Penn State Extension.

I can already see mistakes in my form, but gotta start somewhere!

05/01/2026

Here are a few of the programs we have coming up later this spring! Hope to see you at one of them! 💚

04/26/2026

We had a great time at the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission Arbor Day celebration! Thank you to Kathy and all of the commission's volunteers for making a wonderful afternoon, and thank you to the mayor and deputy mayor of Penn Hills for supporting a tree city!

04/26/2026

Come on out!! Let's celebrate the amazing work the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission and all of their volunteers do, and have a wonderful time in our own greenspace 🌳💚

The Penn Hills Arbor Day Celebration is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2-4 pm at the Sycamore Pavilion in Penn Hills Community Park. Come help us plant 15 trees and watch a Northwood Tree Care Arborist rescue Pikachu from the top of a tree! We will give away 15 trees and deer fencing left over from our Tree Adoption for a $10 donation. We will also have a raffle for many pieces of art, nature crafts for the kids, face painting, free refreshments and PHSTC t-shirts and hats for sale. Bring the family and help us celebrate Arbor Day and Penn Hills being designated a Tree City USA for the 7th year in a row!

04/25/2026

Got some work done in my new little kingdom!

Planted a blackgum tree in a canopy gap left from a fallen older tree, removed some garlic mustard, and started cleaning the litter! And admired all the mayapple flowers ☺️