Events: Nature Series

Spring Ephemerals of the Susquehanna River Hills

  • March 21, 2026
  • LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster
  • 10-11am
  • $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members
Image of a woman with light skin wearing a baseball hat, glasses, and bandana on the left. On the right, an image of Dutchman's Breeches, which look like delicate little white pantaloons, upside down, on a stem.
Image of a woman with light skin wearing a baseball hat, glasses, and bandana on the left. On the right, an image of Dutchman's Breeches, which look like delicate little white pantaloons, upside down, on a stem.
Peggy Eppig (left) and a photo of Dutchman’s Breeches (right).

Trilliums, wild columbine, Dutchman’s Breeches. These are a few of the delicate spring ephemerals, early season wildflowers, that are the stars of woodlands and meadows for a short window of time. Peggy Eppig, Conservation Education Ranger for the Lancaster Conservancy, will connect the dots between ephemerals, the pollinators who rely on them, the landscapes in which they thrive, and where you can find them in the man Lancaster Conservancy preserves throughout the lower Susquehanna Valley.

Peggy Eppig is a Conservation Education Ranger for Lancaster Conservancy and works with youth, adults, and groups to learn about conservation practices and natural history on the Conservancy’s over 50 nature preserves. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental History, and teaches undergraduate and graduate programs in Environmental Studies and Natural Resources Management at Goucher College.  Peggy practices botanical illustration/nature journaling and is an avid backpacker.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Spring Ephemerals of the Susquehanna River Hills” will take place on Saturday, March 21 from 10-11am at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults (18+) and Free for Children 17 and Under (must be accompanied by an adult). 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 2026 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Pine Brook Farm, Inc. and Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care.
Their support enables us to offer these programs for the community and free tickets for children! Thank you for your generosity!

Featured Event Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor Day

Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor day graphic with watercolor illustrations of a variety of trees.Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum on Saturday, April 18 from 10am – 2pm for a special April Nature Series extravaganza, “Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor Day!” This new, four-hour event features programs for all ages, ranging from an Arbor Day Storytime and craft for kids, a tree dedication commemorating America250, and tree walks of the Tanger Arboretum! All programs are free and open to the public, but advance registration is greatly appreciated to help us plan. Check out our complete schedule below and register for events.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10AM – TREE WALK: Join Lancaster County Senior Naturalist Lisa Sanchez on a tree walk about the Tanger Arboretum! Discover the different varieties and gain a deeper appreciation for our leafy friends. All ages welcome. Limited to 30 people.
Register for the 10am Tree Walk

10AM – ARBOR DAY STORYTIME & CRAFT: Bring the little ones and enjoy a storytime featuring “Tell Me, Tree” by Gail Gibbons. We’ll then create leaf and tree bark finders to help you discover nature in your backyard, plus take a peek at some tree specimens up close and personal. Suggested for ages 3-7. Registering in advance helps us gather enough support and supplies.
Register for Nature Storytime

11:15AM – AMERICA250 TREE DEDICATION: Let’s all gather to celebrate America’s 250th birthday by planting a tree in the nation’s honor! We’ll get together for brief remarks before each attendee gets to shovel a small scoop of dirt to help plant our new Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis). No registration necessary. Dedication is rain or shine.

12PM – “TANGER’S AMERICA250 TREE & THE PATRIOT OAK”: Join us in Ryder Hall for a short lecture by Len Eiserer on the Tanger Arboretum’s newest addition, the Bitternut Hickory, and learn more about Lancaster’s “Patriot Oak,” the oak that has been alive since the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
Register for Lecture

12PM – NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT FOR KIDS: Want to go on an adventure? Are you good at riddles? You’ll need to exercise your brain to decipher nature-themed hints and clues around the Tanger Arboretum! Suggested for ages 6-12. Registering in advance helps us gather enough support and supplies.
Register for the Nature Scavenger Hunt

1PM – TREE WALK: Didn’t get to attend our 10am tree walk? Join Lisa for an encore walk about the Tanger Arboretum to discover the different varieties of tree species that call it home. All ages welcome. Limited to 30 people.
Register for the 1pm Tree Walk

PLUS THERE’S EVEN MORE TO DO!

We’re excited to welcome the Nodding Onion Band from 10am – 12pm, who will jam out to ambient, post-rock music led by electrical frequencies from plants!

Light refreshments and vendors will also be available from 10am-2pm. Vendors include:

  • Hickorytown Gardens, featuring a pop-up plant fundraiser with native plants, every dollar of each plant sold goes to the Tanger Arboretum! (cash and card accepted)
  • The American Chestnut
  • Earthbound Artisan
  • Lancaster County Parks & Recreation Environmental Education Center
  • Lancaster/York County Penn State Master Gardeners

The event is rain or shine. In pleasant weather, most programs will be between the Museum and Carriage House at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster. In the event of rain, all programs will be pulled inside either the Carriage House or Museum.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor Day” will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 10am-2pm at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is free and open to the public. We appreciate registrations in advance so we can be prepared to accommodate visitors as best as possible. All the links to individual activities are above.

If you have questions about “Leaf & Learn,” please contact Emily Miller, Director of Operations, at emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org. Thank you!

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.

“Leaf & Learn:” A Celebration of Arbor Day is sponsored by Pine Brook Farm, Inc. and Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care.
Their support enables us to offer this new program to the community for free! Thank you for your generosity!

Children's Program Dedication/Memorial Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Outdoor Program Tour

April 18, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am-2pm FREE | Registration Requested

For the Love of Sunflowers

On left is an image of an older woman with light skin and gray hair. On the right is a small bright yellow sunflower.
Holly List (left) and a sunflower (right).

Everyone loves sunflowers! These sun-following plants have spanned the globe and sprouted up throughout history, capturing our hearts (and gardens) to this day. At this Nature Series program, Master Gardener Emerita Holly List will discuss the history of sunflowers, how to nurture this iconic plant of summer, and how to grow your own “sunflower house.”

Holly List is a long-time gardener and an avid bird watcher who gardens to attract and support birds. List loves helping others pursue similar interests and enjoys sharing research, trends, and best practices to support everyone’s love of nature. List is a Master Gardener Emerita. She is an experienced business educator and is retired from banking and consulting. List lives with her husband and cat in Willow Street, PA.

HOW TO REGISTER
The program, “For the Love of Sunflowers” will take place on Saturday, June 13 at 10am at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults (18+) and Free for Children 17 and Under (must be accompanied by an adult). 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 2026 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Pine Brook Farm, Inc. and Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care.
Their support enables us to offer these programs for the community and free tickets for children! Thank you for your generosity!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

June 13, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members
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