MENU

Sections

More

July 13, 2025

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

Ecosystem Eco Notes

Something of the Marvelous Explores Hope House

by
Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s Something of the Marvelous spring fundraiser for 2025 is a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge with every dollar being matched up to $70,000!
These funds support Pickering Creek’s science and nature education programs in Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester counties for students from at least one grade level in each school system, ensuring that every student in the grade level, regardless of background, has great outdoor learning experiences with Pickering’s talented staff of educators and scientists.
In addition to supporting school programming, these matching gifts help connect adults and families with the habitats and wildlife that call the midshore home, and support summer EcoCamp scholarships.  And finally, generous gifts provided by the community to this matching challenge ensure that Pickering is open to the public for free everyday to enjoy the center’s beautiful trails!
Two marvelous donors have stepped forward to collectively offer this year’s dollar for dollar match.  Both are long-term supporters of the Center’s work to connect people to nature.  Each supporter who contributes over $125 before June 2 will be eligible to explore Peter Stifel’s Hope House as well as the magnificent grounds.
Dr. Peter Stifel has been supporting Pickering Creek Audubon Center for over thirty years, holding Pickering Creek’s first large scale Dine and Dance fundraiser twenty-two years ago as well as Tour Toast and Taste in 2015.  That first event was the beginning of a deepening awareness in the community about the important work Pickering Creek Audubon Center does on behalf of its citizenry, especially youth.  The programs Pickering provides connect children with birds, wildlife and the Chesapeake Bay watershed while encouraging them to become active participants in restoration efforts to help the Bay.
When asked why he would invite over 200 people to see the inside of his home, Dr. Stifel said he agreed to host the event for the same reason as he hosted Pickering Creek’s first event.  “It is important to get these kids out of the classroom and into open spaces with rocks, frogs, crickets, eagles, orioles and mud,” said Dr. Stifel, referencing the many youth education programs Pickering Creek offers.  “Peter has supported Pickering Creek in more ways than we could ever count.  He is truly a champion of our mission to connect people with nature in this community,” said Pickering Creek Director Mark Scallion.
Attendees will enter the property across from Fairview just outside the village of Tunis Mills.  Along the 1.8 mile wooded lane guests will pass the former state champion Loblolly Pine and Cherrybark Oak and sweeping views of Woodland Creek.  The final curve brings into view one of the great historic mansions of Talbot County.
Home to illustrious members of the Tilghman and Lloyd families, Hope is one of the genuinely unique dwellings of its day and one of the best executed restorations of the early 20th century. Hope resembles Mt. Clare Mansion, in Baltimore, the home of Charles Carroll and his wife, the aunt of the builder of Hope.   Constructed about fifty years after Mt. Clare, Hope’s original configuration consisted of the present central section with shorter roof, with two frame wings connected by “ogee-roofed hyphens.”
The property was surveyed in 1804, and became known as “Hope” in its entirety. Upon the death of Peregrine Tilghman in 1807, the property was willed to his eldest son, Robert Lloyd Tilghman, a wealthy and prominent citizen of the county. Robert Lloyd Tilghman died in 1823, at young age.  His widow, Henrietta Maria, and his eldest son, Robert, remained on the estate and managed it until 1863.
“Hope” was then sold to Thomas Crane in 1863, and from that time, the estate passed through many hands. Time did not treat the house well, but William J. Starr rescued it in 1905 for $13,000.  At that time, the building was practically open to the weather, and Mrs. Starr complained that her husband had bought little more than a staircase.  The Starrs stabilized the central portion of the house, made extensive additions to the hyphens and wings ending up with a structure over 200 feet from end to end. Mrs. Starr laid out a magnificent garden on the waterside.  Without their work the house would probably have been lost.
The Starr’s daughter, internationally renowned lithographer, Ruth Starr Rose married in 1914 and lived at “Hope House” until the mid-20th century and began her career by painting nearby residents of Copperville and Unionville emphasizing their daily life and spirituality.  A selection of her works will be on display on June 7.
In 1950, the property was sold to Elsworth Ford and Consuelo Vanderbilt.  Ford had electric service added to the house providing heat by steam as well as lighting replacing the necessity of the home’s thirteen fireplaces.  Upon Ford’s death in 1952, Vanderbilt all but abandoned the home for a life in France.
In 1965, Mr. and Mrs. W. Flaccus Stifel bought and extensively restored the “Hope” estate which had sat largely uncared for over the prior thirteen years.  Their son, Peter, a retired University of Maryland Professor Emeritus of Geology, continues to maintain it today as a working farm, a natural haven, and one of the showplaces of Talbot County.
The exterior of the house will showcase three unique cars owned by Dr. Stifel.  A 1910 Thomas Flyer, a sister car to the one that won the Race around the World, a 1908 Maxwell and 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Tourer. Photo opportunities with these vehicles will be available.
Guests of Something of the Marvelous will tour several first-floor rooms of Hope House, which are decorated with both colonial and contemporary furniture, art and unique surprises.  Ward Bros Decoys, a weight that held the radio aerial from the Hindenburg Zeppelin and highly sought after colonial furniture from the 1760’s are just a nibble of the treasurers on view at Hope.
At the conclusion of the interior tour guests move to enjoy spacious green behind the home, exploring gardens, creek views and a delightful stroll beneath large shade trees beside Hope Cove leading to a viewpoint with expansive views of the Miles River alongside the burial ground of the Starr and Stifel families.
Timed entrances scheduled from 3-7 on June 7th will include complimentary beverages, nibbles, time to explore, and a special thank you gift.
Unlike Pickering Creek’s pre-Covid era Tour Toast and Taste, Something of the Marvelous has no tent, no auction, and no dinners for sale.  It is all outdoors- just soaking in the marvelous blooms and scenery of the amazing Hope House!
For over 30 years, Pickering Creek Audubon Center has provided environmental education opportunities to students of the Eastern Shore, moving them from awareness of their watershed to conservation action in their communities.  Since establishing a well-reputed elementary education program in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools 25 years ago, Pickering has added meaningful watershed experiences for middle and high school students to our continuum of education along with community outreach education about our region’s unique ecosystems. Pickering Creek reaches the people of the Eastern Shore throughout their academic careers outdoor learning experiences that encourage them to continue interacting with the outdoors frequently.
School groups, families, wildlife enthusiasts and photographers from far and wide visit Pickering Creek Audubon Center throughout the year to participate in hands-on outdoor learning, volunteer experiences and immersing themselves in the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore.
This year’s Something of the Marvelous is generously sponsored by Bruce Wiltsie and Bill Davenport, Matt Miller and Beth Wehrle, Coard and Sunny Benson, Richard and Beverly Tilghman, James and Ina Van Ness, Mark and Susanna Scallion, Anne and Ron Walker, the Chesapeake Audubon Society, James Olds and Robin Buckley, Steve and Julie Burleson, Kimberly and Glenn Baker, Rodger and Priscilla Waldman, Linda and Peter Yungbluth, Terry and Bill Witowsky and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hill.
More information is available online at www.pickeringcreek.org/marvelous

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The magic of frogs and forts at Pickering Creek EcoCamp

by
Leave a Comment

Meander through mud, wallow in the wetland, and frolic in the forest at our summer EcoCamp! Our exciting, unique, and hands-on activities allow campers to engage with nature at their own pace, by providing a welcoming and safe environment to explore. Campers learn about nature and gain outdoor skills through hiking, swimming, playing games, fishing, and creating crafts. Small groups of campers will discover the wetlands, forests, creek, and pond along with an experienced counselor and EcoCamp alumni (our enthusiastic Junior Naturalists). Test your skills at spotting wildlife, playing camouflage, catching frogs, building forts, and canoeing.
Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s EcoCamp has a philosophy that campers will have rich learning experiences in a fun and safe outdoor environment. EcoCamp’s small groups and low student to instructor ratio provide for an exceptional outdoor summer camp experience. Camp leadership has significant experience leading the Center’s ever popular summer programs and this summer’s camp staff features a number of excellent returning staff.  Pickering Creek offers exceptionally well-trained and experienced instructors and leaders for all its programs.
Each camp is one week long and focuses on a unique nature-inspired theme. Pickering Creek offers camps for two groups: Fledglings (students entering K-1st next fall) and Larks and Shrikes (these groups are mix of students entering 2nd -7th grades). All camp days operate from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Fledglings will get a gentle introduction to the outdoors through hikes and activities especially tailored for their abilities. Walks are shorter in length and activities vary throughout the program to keep them interested and active.  Fledglings spend some quiet time outdoors away from the older, more active campers after lunch and have an optional snack time in the afternoon.
The Larks and Shrikes campers engage nature with longer hikes, free explorations, and lessons on identifying the many animals that call Maryland home. Campers hike and play throughout the Center’s 450 acres, and seine for aquatic wildlife in Pickering Creek.  These older campers will hone their survival skills with shelter building, orienteering, canoe trips, tracking, and camouflage games.
Week 1 (June 16-18+20): Pollinator Power: The bees are buzzing, and the butterflies are fluttering! Come explore the world of pollinators as the summer flowers bloom all around us! Along with our usual camp explorations and water days, enjoy games and activities designed to help campers learn how important pollinators are to the world we live in and observe the beautiful varieties that call Pickering Creek home; from the bright Tiger Swallowtail to the bee-utiful honeybees! Note that this is a four day camp with no camp on Juneteenth.
Week 2 (June 23-27): Science Explorers: Who says science is boring? Naturalists are a kind of scientist who explore the world of nature! Campers will explore nature through experiments, observations and science-based games.  Dig through an owl pellet to decide what it ate; keep count of animals we see in our habitats and discover the biodiversity all around us.  Join us for a week of discovery and hands-on science fun!
Week 3 (July 7-11): Secret Forest: Walk where few have walked before and explore the lesser-known spaces of Pickering Creek. Campers will find spaces where the wild things are, the trees are taller, and the mud is deeper! We’ll try to spy new wildlife and use navigation skills to make maps and keep track of the places we explore. Campers will visit off-trail parts of the New Forest, yet to be explored by any camper!
Week 4 (July 14-18): Nature Ninjas: We are Nature Ninjas! This week, we’ll practice the art of camouflage and close observation. Answer questions like: What kind of wildlife lives here, how can we tell, what does it eat?   We’ll learn how to be calm, quiet, and prepared. We will be “One with Nature” and learn to activate our Quiet Mind.
Week 5 (July 21-25): Unhuggables: This week we will explore our forests in search of salamanders and bugs, our wetlands to find frogs and crayfish and our creek front in the hopes of catching fish and turtles! Join us as we celebrate all the creatures that call Pickering Creek home, including reptiles, amphibians and insects. Campers this week will have a special animal talk about reptiles and the ways they move!
Week 6 (July 28-Aug 1): Wet & Wild: It’s getting hot! Come explore the muddy freshwater wetlands, look for the little streams and puddles to play in and fish in Pickering Creek. This week campers will spend a lot of time playing water games and cooling off in all the different kinds of water at EcoCamp. Be prepared to get wet and muddy as we wade through these habitats collecting and watching wildlife, creating dams and new pools, and learning how water is the center for all habitats – big and small!
Week 7 (Aug 4-8): EcoCamp Village: Imagine a home-away-from-home for campers. If we lived at Pickering Creek, how would we live? We’ll build shelters in the forest, make baskets from vines and gather acorns and walnuts in the forest. As we seine in the creek, we will learn about all the animals that depend on the fish in the water for food. Skills like knot-tying and face-painting will abound as we learn to work together in our exploration of Pickering Creek!
Optional van transportation for a fee will be available from the Kohls parking lot in Easton to Camp each day on the following weeks:  June 23-June 27, July 14-July 18, July 28- Aug 1.
Online registration will begin on March 3, 2025 at 10:00am. Find information on transportation, registration, and scholarships at www.pickeringcreek.org. Contact Susanna Scallion, camp registrar at [email protected] for questions. Spaces will fill fast so don’t wait!

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Flock Together for the Great Backyard Bird Count: Find birds in your community and share the joy

by
Leave a Comment

Share in the joy of birds during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) at Pickering Creek Audubon Center and help make your community stronger for you and the birds. Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over these four days.  Visitors are welcomed enjoy bird walks guided by experienced birders at the Center on Friday February 14 from 8-10am. Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring —whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.
The 28th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place February 14 through 17, 2025.
“The GBBC continues to bring together millions of people every year,” said David Bonter, co-director of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. More than a half-million people participated during the 2024 GBBC—double the number of participants in the past five years. They reported 7,920 species of birds from 200+ countries and subregions.
“Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is an easy and great opportunity to bird with your friends and neighbors,” said Brooke Bateman, senior director of Climate and Community Science at the National Audubon Society. “More and more we see how birds can bring communities closer all across the world. The more we enjoy birds together, the more likely it is that we take steps to protect them and the places they need.”
“This free annual event also acts as a stepping stone for people looking to contribute to our understanding of bird populations around the world,” says Jody Allair, director of communications at Birds Canada.

“Joining your community to count birds means that we can track the long-term changes in bird populations,” says Bonter, “and we wouldn’t be able to do that without you. The world is changing fast, and birds often reflect the impact of environmental change first.”

Anyone can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. To take part in the 2025 GBBC, each participant or group counts birds for any length of time (but for at least 15 minutes) and enters the birds they can identify at each site they visit. That could be their backyard or neighborhood or locally at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. All are invited to participate in guided bird walks led by experienced birders at the Center on Friday, February 14 from 8-10am. Enjoy watching birds along our trails and contribute to the effort as extra eyes on the sky spotting birds.  Sign up to participate at https://pickeringcreek.org/programs/upcoming-programs .
First-timers should make it a point to read complete instructions on the GBBC website where they will also find helpful birding tips and birding app downloads. The GBBC website also features a new map for marking local GBBC community events like the guided bird walks at Pickering Creek Audubon Center.
You’re also invited to tune in to a special webinar about how to participate in the GBBC. Register for one of two free events happening on Thursday, February 6, at 7:00-8:00 p.m. Eastern Time or Wednesday, February 12 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Register: https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/2025gbbcwebinar.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Pickering Creek welcomes school year seasonal staff

by
Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek’s school year programming with students from Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Wicomico counties kicked off this fall.  Center staff typically see two school groups per day comprising of four classrooms.  In addition to fantastic outdoor experiences at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, staff also lead or co lead programming at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, Tuckahoe State Park, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Pemberton Park, Izaak Walton league Forest as well as at our partner schools. Four full time program staff and three part time program staff are joined this year by two full time seasonal staff.
On field experiences, kids have delightful exploratory experiences in the wetlands, meadows and forests at Pickering and wander widely across the Center’s 450 acres. Each visit is tied to a larger learning experience and to school system science curriculum. Our two seasonal staff play a role in delivery of those programs.
Andrew Niemann joined Pickering Creek this summer as an EcoCamp counselor and has continued as a seasonal school year educator. Before Pickering Creek, he double majored in environmental science and biology at Washington College which gave him experience with working in nature and a familiarity with the environments of the Eastern Shore.
He was drawn to working in environmental education because he has always liked to learn and explore in nature. He wanted to work with kids since their curiosity and enthusiasm is infectious. Andrew hopes continue working with kids in nature after my time at Pickering Creek. Andrew shares, “I have had great experiences at Pickering Creek, starting with camp where I was able to watch kids become more comfortable in nature over the course of the week and get opportunities to freely and safely play in such a cool setting. It’s always great to help a kid catch their first fish or meet their first frog. The opportunity to work with such knowledgeable people, as well as other opportunities for learning like visiting a bird banding station or meeting a herpetologist from the DNR have helped me gain a lot of knowledge on a much wider range of subjects than before. I’m looking forward to all of the things I will continue to experience while living and working here over the next months!”
Hugh Bennett is a self-proclaimed musician, environmentalist, and the newest members of the seasonal staff at Pickering Creek. His background of study is in environmental conservation, so he is excited to be a part of the team and put his education into action. After exploring the country in a van for many months earlier this year, planting roots on the eastern shore has been a delight. As Hugh began searching for somewhere to pursue his career, Pickering Creek’s seasonal opportunity crossed his radar. Hugh says, “From the eastern shore locals, I heard nothing but amazing things about Pickering Creek and what it has to offer as an organization. I applied for the school year educator position and am so happy I did.”
Growing up on a healthy plot of land in piedmont North Carolina, ecocentrism was on the back doorstep. Time spent in nature helped Hugh develop a love and appreciation for the outdoors. “Pickering has the same aura that takes me back to my childhood wonder. Being able to have a job in environmental education is an opportunity in which I am very grateful. Learning occurs EVERYDAY… And that is special”, exclaims Hugh, “The experiences I am having at Pickering are invaluable. Working in the outdoors, learning new skills, and being a environmental educator are building blocks to a future I seek. “
Seasonal staff play an important role as educators at the Center and four of the six full time staff at the Center got their start as seasonal staff. Pickering Creek seasonal staff have graduated to full time positions at the National Aquarium, Delaware Sea Grant, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PA Dept of Environmental Conservation and Massachusetts Audubon to name a few.  If you are interested in a seasonal position our next application period will begin in February for summer 2025 positions.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

New solar panels power Pickering Creek campus

by
Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek has installed a 45-kW solar system consisting of 89 solar panels in two separate arrays this fall.  The panels were installed by Solar Energy Services of Millersville, MD during September and October of this year.
The first array is visible to all who enter the Center’s main parking lot.  Perched on the roof of the Center’s tractor and hay wagon storage barn are 43 solar panels.  The second array, consisting of 46 panels is adjacent to an agricultural field and is visible from Sharp Rd, but largely hidden behind an emergent meadow near the center’s garden.
These panels will power all the electrical needs of the Center’s six primary buildings as well as electrical needs of the rest of the campus.  The Center recently converted many of its structures to energy efficient heat pumps for both heating and cooling, so the energy generated from these panels will support the use of those new heat pump systems.
“We’ve thought about solar panels for a long time and we are excited to bring them online and share any of our experiences with other nonprofit partners who might benefit from installing solar at their locations,” said Mark Scallion, Director of Pickering Creek.  We are also thankful to Easton Utilities and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation for their assistance in facilitating the process.
The Center will host a tour of the panels for those interested in learning more on November 13th at 9am.  At the tour we’ll connect nonprofit leaders to financial incentives offered by the federal government through the Inflation Reduction Act.  We’ll have an installer on site to answer any technical questions about using solar at non-profit facilities.  We’ll look at both roof and ground mounted systems.
If you are interested in attending the tour, please RSVP to Mark Scallion at [email protected]

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center Unveils New Autumn Wetland Trail Guide

by
Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek Audubon Center is excited to announce the debut of its new Autumn Wetland Overlook Trail Guide, available October 1st. This trail guide enhances the visitor experience along the Center’s mile-long wetland trail, which winds through over 90 acres of shallow water wetlands and meadow habitats and features four scenic viewing platforms.
The trail is marked by knee-high, numbered posts that correspond with the newly released interpretive brochure. The guide highlights seasonal attractions such as blooming wildflowers and potential wildlife sightings, making it an ideal tool for families and nature enthusiasts alike. “Using our new guide is the perfect way to introduce kids and adults to our local ecosystems, with fall being one of the best times to enjoy these trails,” says Michele Johnson, Pickering Creek Educator.
Located in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway, Pickering Creek’s wetlands are a vital habitat for birds. These wetlands provide crucial nesting grounds and migratory resting points for millions of birds each year. “Our bird monitoring data shows us that when habitat is improved, the birds eventually show up. This trail is one of the best places on the shore to observe birds throughout the year. The viewing platforms are especially great for seeing wading birds and waterfowl in the fall,” says Mark Scallion, Director of Pickering Creek.
Visitors walking the trail can observe the benefits of the wetland restoration efforts that began in 2002. These efforts, carried out in collaboration with the Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, local students, and volunteers, have focused on restoring and maintaining healthy habitats for the diverse wildlife species that inhabit the wetlands.
“We want visitors to feel that Pickering Creek is a place for everyone and every season, where each visit offers a new adventure. This trail is a testament to community-based conservation and education, which we’ve highlighted along the Wetland Overlook Trail,” says Megan Swadley, Pickering Creek Educator.
Pickering Creek is open daily in October from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, check the Center’s website for November hours. Trail guides are available to pick up at the trailhead and in the Welcome Center.  Visitors are advised to wear boots, as periodic wet spots may occur on the trail, especially later in the fall season.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Pickering Creek’s Native Plants and Pollinators Mural Underway

by
Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek is nearing the completion of an update to its garden area with a reimagined native plant and pollinator garden which will have its ribbon cutting next spring. As part of the reimagined native plant and pollinator garden, the Native Plants and Pollinators Mural is a captivating artistic project led by talented artist Sue Stockman at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. This mural, measuring 24 feet long by 16 feet tall, depicts colorful pollinators and native plants, representing the surrounding natural environment as a vibrant visual representation.
Situated on the garden shed opposite the new pollinator garden, the mural creates a striking focal point for visitors, drawing them into the beauty of the garden and encouraging appreciation for native flora and fauna. Supported by grant funds and community donations, the project exemplifies the intersection of art, conservation, and education.
The mural project enhances the aesthetic appeal of the center’s garden and contributes to its mission of environmental stewardship. By showcasing the importance of pollinators and native plants through art, Pickering Creek Audubon Center inspires visitors to engage with nature and take action to protect biodiversity.
When the pollinator garden project was conceived last year and received a grant to support interpretive panels, walkways, tree pruning, additional soil, and native plants the Center had not considered the mural as a possibility.  As discussions with partners happened and the plans came together the mural entered the plan as a logical extension of the garden itself, drawing people off the center’s farm lane and into the pollinator garden to enjoy the plants and the painting.  We’ve raised all but $2,000 to support the mural.  If you’d like to support the mural and be included in the ribbon-cutting invite list, visit the Pickering Creek website and click the donate now button on the upper right corner.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Something of the Marvelous Challenge features tour of Wye House

by
Leave a Comment

The Orangery, which predates the Wye House is the most complete surviving structure of its kind in the United States.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s Something of the Marvelous spring fundraiser for 2024 is a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge with every dollar being matched up to $50,000.

These funds support Pickering Creek’s science and nature education programs in Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, and Wicomico counties for students from at least one grade level in each school system, ensuring that every student in the grade level, regardless of background, has great outdoor learning experiences with Pickering’s talented staff of educators and scientists.

In addition to supporting school programming, these matching gifts help connect adults and families with the habitats and wildlife that also call the midshore home, and support summer EcoCamp scholarships.  Finally, generous gifts provided by the community to this matching challenge ensure that Pickering is open to the public for free every day to enjoy the center’s beautiful trails!

Two marvelous donors have stepped forward to collectively offer this year’s dollar-for-dollar match.  Both are long-term supporters of the Center’s work to connect people to nature.  Each supporter who contributes over $100 before June 6 will be eligible to explore several historic buildings at Richard and Beverly Tilghman’s Wye House as well as the magnificent grounds.

Wye House is one of Maryland’s most historic homes. It is located along the Wye River on land acquired by Edward Lloyd in 1659.  The current house was constructed between 1784 and 1790 by Edward Lloyd IV and is currently occupied by the 12th generation of the Lloyd family to live on the property.  The house is in the Palladian style and is often referred to as the finest example of late 18th-century Palladian architecture in the United States.  Many of the original furnishings and other objects remain in the house. The Orangery, a garden structure, predates the house and is the most complete surviving structure of its kind in the United States.  The property contains numerous early 19th-century outbuildings. The Lloyd family cemetery’s earliest grave is dated 1684.

The evening begins with a leisurely drive down a long, beautiful tree-lined drive. Upon arrival, guests tour four first-floor rooms where guests of the house are traditionally greeted and received. The rooms feature significant original woodwork and other detail features as well as artwork that have remained with the house over the course of several generations.  Two generations of the family will be on hand to share the history of the house as well as how it got to its present state of perfection.

After the house tour, guests will stroll through the home’s tree-lined garden alleyway having a chance to experience live birds with ornithology expert Michael Callahan and view the family cemetery.   At the end of the alleyway sits the exquisite Orangery used to maintain citrus fruit trees throughout the winter.  Outside the Orangery guests may enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling water and accompanying nibbles.  Your self-guided outdoor tour then affords views of Lloyd Creek and the impressive living shoreline that is part of the Wye House estate.  The final treat of the tour is a visit inside the Captain’s House.  The Captain’s House is the oldest structure on the property, with a magnificent hearth highlighting the building’s previous use as a kitchen for the estate.

Timed entrances scheduled from 3:30-6 on June 8th will include complimentary beverages, time to explore, and a special thank you gift.

Unlike Pickering Creek’s pre-Covid era Tour Toast and Taste, Something of the Marvelous has no tent, no auction, and no dinners for sale.  It is all outdoors- just soaking in the marvelous blooms and scenery of the amazing Wye House!

For over 30 years, Pickering Creek Audubon Center has provided environmental education opportunities to students of the Eastern Shore, moving them from awareness of their watershed to conservation action in their communities.  Since establishing a well-reputed elementary education program in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools 25 years ago, Pickering has added meaningful watershed experiences for middle and high school students to our continuum of education along with community outreach education about our region’s unique ecosystems. Pickering Creek reaches the people of the Eastern Shore throughout their academic careers and outdoor learning experiences that encourage them to continue interacting with the outdoors frequently.

School groups, families, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers from far and wide visit Pickering Creek Audubon Center throughout the year to participate in hands-on outdoor learning, and volunteer experiences and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore.

This year’s Tour, Toast & Taste is generously sponsored by Richard and Beverly Tilghman,  Bill and Mary Griffin, Ron Ketter and Janet Mackey, Steve and Julie Burleson, Linda and Pete Yungbluth, Robert Roach and Nancy Reid, Anne and Ron Walker, Donald and Margaret Engvall, Catherine Liebl, Bruce Wiltsie and Bill Davenport, the Dock Street Foundation, Richard and Ellen Bodorff, James Olds and Robin Buckley, Rodger and Priscilla Waldman, Kimberly and Glenn Baker, Matthew Miller, and Beth Wehrle.

For more information, please visit www.pickeringcreek.org

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Pickering Debuts New Trail at New Woods

by
Leave a Comment

At the Center’s annual donor Pig Roast this autumn Pickering debuted the first trail loop in the new woods they acquired in fall of 2022. Thanks to the generosity of many community members the Center was able to purchase 63 acres of woods adjacent to the Center’s main campus in September of 2022. Over the course of the past year staff and stakeholders have enjoyed free form walks in the new woods as they considered potential trails and highlights along those trails. The first result of that effort is the New Woods Loop. The loop begins at the conclusion of one of the Center’s wetlands boardwalks, following a path along the wooded shoreline overlooking the head of Pickering Creek.

After a short walk you enter the new woods, dominated by mature oaks, tulip poplar, beech and hickory. The first stop along the walk is Barred Owl Circle, a delightful set of benches built by the Center’s volunteer crew that are set up in a natural clearing in the woods that provide a wonderful place to rest and contemplate the quiet around you. Aptly named for the regularity that you hear Barred Owls calling Who cooks for you, who cooks for y’all at this location, summer EcoCamp groups enjoyed this location all summer as one of their starting points for exploration of the new woods. Camp groups began exploring the new woods with their group leaders during the second week of our seven-week camp. It quickly became the most popular place that campers wanted to go. They have adopted their own name for it, Echo Woods Circle, because of the interesting echo of voices that occurs as sound bounce across the creek and back. The circle is slightly short of the halfway point of the walk.

The trail continues and casually meanders amongst big trees and runs alongside a wooded wetland. A small bridge crosses a seasonal stream as the trail curls left beneath towering tulip poplars. From here you enter a grove of American Holly before exiting the woods into the Center’s meadow. The trail links up with the center’s next newest trail, the meadow loop. You can turn right and continue on for further adventure through the meadow and onto the meadow viewing platform or turn right and head towards the farm pond and back to the parking lot.

“I’ve seen something new every time I taken this walk,” says Pickering Board President Tom Sanders. This is the first of several trails that will enable community members to explore the woods over the next few years. Debut of the next section of trail is planned for mid 2024.

The trail is three quarters of a mile long from the parking lot, through the woods and back along the meadow trail to the parking lot. Allow 40 minutes for the walk depending on how much time you want to spend enjoy marveling at the big trees or relaxing along the trail at one of the benches. During the winter months Pickering is open daily from 7AM -5PM. Check the website if you would like to sign up for a guided walk in the new woods, www.pickeringcreek.org

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail at Pickering 

by
Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek Audubon Center will debut its Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail on Saturday November 18th.  The trail circles the Pickering Creek pond and features eleven stops that encourage kids and families to explore nature through short fun activities.  The trail is self guided and starts at the Center’s main parking lot. At the stops it asks kids to do interactive activities like: “Hop like a rabbit down the trail, if you see a Hawk or Eagle overhead freeze until it passes.”  Each location asks students to engage a different sense as they explore nature around them.  

“This is a great way to explore the fall season as a family while engaging kids and giving adults a chance to stretch their legs a walk off some of the Thanksgiving Feast,” says Pickering Creek Director Mark Scallion.  The trail will be in place from Saturday November 18th through Sunday December 3rd.  Keep an eye on the weather and remember boots if it has been rainy!

After enjoying the Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail, further explorations lie beyond, with over four miles of trails and several beautiful vistas over Pickering Creek and the Center’s expansive wetlands, Pickering Creek has miles of trails for exploration and enjoyment.

Pickering Creek’s Trails are open daily from 7am to 5pm during the winter months.   

For all our guidelines please check:  https://pickeringcreek.org/visit/planning-a-visit/

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.