Home › Category Archives › Nature

Good Riddance to Hurricane Irene

admin August 29, 2011 Nature Comments Off on Good Riddance to Hurricane Irene

Overall, Harrisburg weathered Irene pretty well, although three men did die in separate incidents as a result of the hurricane.  The men were in campgrounds, campers and a car.  Governor Tom Corbett, who appeared today with Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley and PEMA Director Glenn Cannon, has sent a letter to President Obama requesting federal emergency disaster funds.

In total, 11 counties have experienced difficulties as a result of Hurricane Irene. These include: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Wyoming and Wayne. Fortunately, Mr. Corbett was able to reassure the public that none of the power plants in the area, of which there are four, had suffered “adverse effects” from the storm.

The worst is certainly passed us in Harrisburg, but it is still possible that there will be high flood waters.  Motorists should make sure not to drive through standing water. Drivers should drive slowly and should pay attention to road surfaces that might have been damaged from the flooding and to slippery conditions.

For those trying to get beyond Harrisburg, things seem to be returning to normal.  The mass transit system in Philadelphia which was shut down starting Saturday is not back and running; and the Philadelphia International Airport is also back to full operation.

Let’s say goodbye to Irene..and hopefully keep her friends at bay for quite awhile.

Let Your Harrisburg Garden Grow

admin July 11, 2011 Nature Comments Off on Let Your Harrisburg Garden Grow

It’s great to make meals with fresh ingredients. It’s even greater if these are to be found right outside! Well, apparently that’s exactly what’s been happening in our neighborhood. According to a recent Penn Live article, chefs all around Harrisburg – as well as the layman just wanting to make a nice tomato and basil salad from home grown herb plants – are now picking “herbs and vegetables from a garden beside the Olmstead Building, home to Stacks Market, the campus food court.” This is where Paul Motter is the head chef. The garden was planted by the campus Conservation Committee but is now available for use Motter is head chef there. The campus Conservation Committee developed and planted the garden, which students, professors and staff can also use.

According to assistance director of Housing and Food Services Greg Schiavoni, the garden is “sustainable, fresh and healthy.” Much produce can be found in the 25 by 45 foot garden, including parsley, chives, eggplants, dill, rosemary, thyme, peppers and more. As well, recycled materials were used and a home-made looking trellis ties four tree branches together. Planters have been made from old trash receptacles.

For those eating in the Penn State Harrisburg food court, there is encouragement to “compost appropriate foods and the compost eventually helps the herb garden.” So clearly, the garden in Harrisburg is set to benefit everyone…and looks to the future to protect the environment as well.

Harrisburg Bluebirds Fail to Nest

admin May 30, 2011 Nature Comments Off on Harrisburg Bluebirds Fail to Nest

Just a few months ago, we became home to the successful nesting and laying of five eggs from a couple of our very own Harrisburg bluebirds.  At first we could only see four of them, but then by altering the camera lens a little, five were seen.  This was very exciting for all those waiting with baited breath for the hatching.

Bluebird Blues

However, it wasn’t exactly plain-sailing from there on out.  Unfortunately, only two of the five eggs actually hatched.  This suggested that the Harrisburg home wasn’t quite the best environment for hatching.  Of course, no one can be sure why exactly something like this happened, but it was definitely disappointing nonetheless.  Much speculation abounded at the time, but again, there is no certainty as to why this happened, rendering the city of Harrisburg somewhat hatch-less.  It could have been the weather – and all of us in Harrisburg can attest to that, especially with the storms we’ve been encountering.  Apparently it becomes significantly harder for them to “find food and feed young” when the weather isn’t good. Their treks are longer which increases their vulnerability to danger too.

Hope for Harrisburg?

So what’s the story now?  Is there any hope left for the Harrisburg lovebirds?  According to experts there is a chance that they may try and re-nest but if Harrisburg keeps encountering poor weather conditions, another attempt may be just as futile.

Only time will tell.  But for those of us praying for a miracle, we might want to turn our voices upward and request an improvement in the weather in our city so that at least we can give the bluebirds the best chance possible of making this happen for all those Harrisburg onlookers.