Events: Tanger Arboretum Nature Series

Butterflies & Moths As Pollinators

A woman with light skin and mid-length blonde hair. She wears glasses, butterfly earrings, and a blue button up shirt.
Debra Carman

Discover the worlds of some of our favorite pollinators, butterflies and moths, at July’s Nature Series program! Master Gardener Deb Carman will present on the niche that lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) occupy among other insect pollinators. Learn about the similarities and differences between dazzling butterflies and marvelous moths, as well as what native plants attract certain species.

Debra Carman is a Penn State Master Gardener (York County), Chair of the Native Plant Habitat Committee, and a butterfly and moth habitat specialist. Carmon’s mission is to inspire others to make positive environmental changes in their gardening practices. She enjoys teaching the importance of creating environmentally friendly habitats with native plants that foster food webs for all wildlife.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Butterflies & Moths As Pollinators” will take place on Saturday, July 26 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

July 26, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11:30am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Thyme to Grow: A Guide to Herb Gardening

A young woman with light skin and short brown hair. She wears glasses and a purple dress with a green cardigan in front of a greenhouse.
Madison Walter

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum as we welcome August Nature Series presenter Madison Walter for “Thyme to Grow: A Guide to Herb Gardening.” Discover the wonderful world of herbs in this hands-on program. Explore various herb types, learn essential care techniques, and delve into the best practices for growing, harvesting, and preserving your herbs. Whether you are a beginner or looking to grow your green thumb, you’ll leave with practical skills and a new appreciation for our flavorful friends!

Madison Walter is the urban agriculture coordinator for the New Castle Conservation District, chair of the Delaware Urban Farm and Food Coalition, and a content developer and guest instructor for Longwood Gardens’ Continuing Education program. Leveraging her background in horticulture and Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, Madison has presented to local, national, and international audiences to build an understanding of how connections developed through farming and gardening build stronger communities. Her passion for plants and an equitable local food system are what drive her to encourage others to believe in a brighter, greener future.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Thyme to Grow” will take place on Saturday, August 23 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

August 23, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11:30am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Rethinking Fall Gardening & Cleanup

A headshot photo of a man with light skin wearing a black and white t-shirt.
Adam Barkafski

Cutting back stems and raking out flower beds may feel therapeutic after summer, but the stems, sticks, and leaves we take away are vital to the wildlife and insects that call our gardens home. Join Master Gardener Adam Barkafski for our September Nature Series program, “Rethinking Fall Gardening and Cleanup” and discover new ways to tackle your fall gardening that have positive effects on the health and survival of pollinators, wildlife, and even the soil itself!

Adam Barkafski has been a Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Lancaster County since 2018. A web designer and former public school teacher, Adam is a home gardener by hobby. His gardening interests began with perennials and later focused on native plants. Adam now gardens with an intention to preserve and create pollinator and wildlife habitats, and observing pollinators interacting with plants are some of his favorite gardening joys.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Rethinking Fall Gardening & Cleanup” will take place on Saturday, September 13 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

 

In-Person Event Nature Series Program

September 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog

A man with light skin leans on a railing outdoors. He wears a life-vest, a hat, and sunglasses.
Jeff Lapp

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum for the ‘spooky’ Nature Series program, “Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog.” Pitcher plants are silent but deadly hunters, utilizing pitfall traps to secure their prey. Learn about pitcher plant habitats, the types of pitcher plants, and how you can grow your own ‘carnivorous crew’ in your garden!

Jeff Lapp is a Senior Science Policy Advisor at the National Association of Wetlands Managers (NAWM). Before joining NAWM he spent over 32 years with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), primarily in the wetlands program. An avid botanist and horticulturalist, Jeff designed and constructed the EPA’s Philadelphia Flower Show exhibit for 29 years, earning several awards including Best in Show, gold and silver medals, the Buckley Medal, American Horticultural Society award, and the Chicago Horticultural Society award. At his home in Lancaster, Jeff raises a multitude of plants, including Sarracenia, Rhododendrons, Hosta, and a host of other rare and unusual species in his greenhouse and shade houses. Jeff currently serves on the Boards of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and LancasterHistory.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog” will take place on Saturday, October 18 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

October 18, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Orchids 101

A photo of an older man with light skin and a gray beard. He is wearing a green t-shirt and standing in a greenhouse.
Trey Pyfer

Delicate and colorful, orchids are the stylish residents of many greenhouses and capture the eye of many garden-goers and nursery visitors. If you’ve ever wanted an orchid but have been intimidated by its care, this November Nature Series program is for you! Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum as we welcome speaker Trey Pyfer manager of Little Brook Orchids, for a fun and informative talk on orchids. Learn about basic care for a variety of orchids, as well as how to identify orchids, properly water them, and monitor their growth patterns.

Trey Pyfer is the manager of Little Brook Orchids, an eight-greenhouse orchid nursery and retail store in Lancaster, PA. For more than 21 years, Trey has responsibly supervised and cared for a large number of orchids, including “boarded” orchids and tropical plants kept for customers in the winter or non-blooming seasons. Little Brook Orchids has received over 35 national awards from the American Orchid Society, including having raised orchids recognized as ‘Best Plant in Show’ in several regional orchid shows.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Orchids 101” will take place on Saturday, November 1 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

In-Person Event Nature Series Program

November 1, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11:30am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Owls of Lancaster County

A woman wearing a green t-shirt and hat stands in the forest.
Lisa Sanchez

On Saturday, December 13, get to know our local owls with the help of Lancaster County Park Senior Naturalist Lisa Sanchez for our final Nature Series program of 2025! Learn about the unique features of owls, their life cycle, and the various sounds they make. After the presentation, we’ll go outside for an ‘owl prowl’ to look and listen for the owls that may live in and around the Tanger Arboretum.

Lisa J. Sanchez has been a naturalist at the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Center for 30 years. Teaching students of all ages to explore and value the wonders of nature is her passion. She enjoys helping people reconnect with the earth through education and observation. Lisa can often be found in her garden or kayaking on the river.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Owls of Lancaster County” will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 6:30pm at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Since the program is both indoors and outdoors, registrants should dress appropriately for the weather, wear close-toed shoes, and bring a flashlight (if available).

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Outdoor Program

December 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 6:30 - 7:30pm $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets