Can you find the following native species in the Penn Valley Mural?
Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum)
Host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly depicted here which will only lay eggs on native spicebush or sassafras trees.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Spring ephemeral found in rich woodlands
White oak (Quercus alba)
Supports over 500 species of butterflies and moths! Most ecologically valuable tree in our area. Acorns support animals such as this Eastern grey squirrel. Squirrels are tree planters as some of the nuts they leave in the ground germinate to help regenerate our forests.
American Sycamore tree (Platanus occidentalis)
Majestic tree with beautifully mottled bark. Usually found near water.
American dogwood (Cornus florida)
One of the most beautiful trees in the Eastern forest. Birds like this cedar waxwing love the berries! Plant native berry bushes such as dogwood, serviceberry, hawthorn, and winterberry to attract these birds.
American beech tree (Fagus sylvatica)
Sign of a mature woodland
American serviceberry (Amelanchier species)
Berries for birds like this fruit-loving Baltimore oriole.
Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
A nearly evergreen native fern found on cool, wooded slopes
Goldenrod (Solidago species)
Top perennial for late-season pollinators. Does not cause allergies.
Violets (Viola species)
Only host plant for fritillary butterflies
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Native vine and host for caterpillars of this 8 spotted Forrester moth. Berries for birds. Beautiful red fall color when grown in sun.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepius incarnata)
Possibly the favorite milkweed of monarch caterpillars in the mid-Atlantic. Plant this to support the monarchs on their great migrations between the U.S. and Mexico. This is a species of concern due to diminishing numbers.
Perennial sunflowers (Helianthus species)
Late season pollinator favorites! Easy to grow and return year after year.
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
Beautiful purple flowers for butterflies, deer resistant
Mushrooms
Abundant and spectacularly diverse in Eastern North America
Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Our smallest woodpecker. Leave dead tree trunks for nesting cavities. Eats insects, seeds and berries. A natural predator of the European corn borer.
Spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon)
Females lay eggs in the buds of native Dogwood (Cornus florida) trees. Caterpillars can also use blueberries and native viburnums as host plants.
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Charming and solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, and other small game.
Green metallic sweat bee (Halictidae)
A native bee and important wild pollinator of commercial crops and native plants in our woodlands. Tiny and non-aggressive.
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)