This Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) tree is part of the historic tree collection at Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA.  The tree is part of the Painter Tree Collection and planted some time between 1830 and 1873 by Jacob and Minshall Painter.  The fence was recently constructed around the base to prevent visitors from walking on the shallow root system of the tree, in hopes that minimal human interactions will increase the longevity of this plant specimen.

Because of the underground coal mine fire in Centralia, PA, a 0.7 mile section of Route 61 was closed, and a new segment of Route 61 was created to detour drivers around the area of active burining.  The asphalt is currently buckled, cracked, and occasionally will have smoke billowing out, reminding visitors of the hazard burning below.

Citizen science projects present opportunities for students to engage in authentic science projects that have them learn about and engage with their local environment, then share their findings with a larger population.  One example of a citizen science project is the Picture Post project, which uses digital photography for environmental monitoring.  Learn more about this project at the Picture Post website and how you can set up a post at your own school.  You can also check out how students at Penn State Brandywine have brought the Picture Post project to their campus at their website: http://sites.psu.edu/picturepost/.

Building stones and boulders used for decorative landscaping are always a welcomed site to the eyes of a geologist, especially when it is different than the predominant rock type of the region.  In an area dominated by schist, these cross-bedded sandstones are a nice teaching tool to show students another rock type.  However, it is also important to share with students that these non-local rocks came from a sandstone quarry owned by Russell Stone Products in central Pennsylvania, and were brought down to southeastern Pennsylvania.

Glen Providence Park, the oldest park in Delaware County, PA, engages in streamside buffer plantings on Earth Day every year. These native trees, shrubs, ferns, and perennials, along with limestone blocks brought in from outside the area, help to stabilize the stream bank and control serious erosion. This project also creates a riparian buffer, improving wildlife habitat and water quality.

A view across the Monongahela River of exposed rock and soil on the slope of Mt. Washington.  Also visible are tracks for the incline, a mass-transit mode for the mountains.