Berks Nature

05/22/2026

Time is a thief and suddenly today we find ourselves on the last day of Preschool... But we are so grateful for every day we get to spend with these bright minds and generous hearts. Onward and upward for our graduates of the Nature Preschool and happy summer to all! 🎓☀️🎉

05/18/2026

It’s a saying with which most gardeners are familiar; if a plant is misbehaving in your bed, it’s not a bad plant, it’s just growing in the wrong place. Turns out, the same rules apply to native gardening!

Read on to learn what Holly and Suzanne did after a beloved native plant began acting out >> https://berksnature.org/right-plant-right-place/

05/15/2026

Today is National Endangered Species Day, which is a good reminder to think about the wildlife that we share with Berks County.

Wetlands and grasslands are some of the most important habitats, but they’re also some of the most at risk. Practices like improper development, intensive farming, drainage, pesticide runoff, invasive plants, and a lack of restoration are slowly taking away what makes them so special.

As we lose our native plants, we also lose the animals that depend on them. Species like the northern bog turtle, upland sandpiper, short-eared owl, northern goshawk, and black-crowned night heron are all locally endangered species that rely on these habitats to survive.

Native habitats are worth taking care of. Let’s keep looking out for the wildlife and natural spaces that make Berks County feel like home!

05/12/2026

🌼🍓🐝 Spring has officially sprung in The Nature Place's Teaching Garden! 🐝🍓🌼

Each year we kick off a new growing season with the Family Garden Day, where our Nature Preschoolers and their families - from parents and siblings to grandparents and aunts! - spend a morning weeding, mulching, and planting with us! It is always a highlight of our year and today was no exception.

Thank you to the wonderful support of our Nature Preschool families for a truly joyful morning! Many hands certainly make light work!

05/12/2026

Hop on the bus, hang tight, and get ready to grow!
Join the Berks Agricultural Resource Network for a fast-paced, feel-good bus tour through nine of Reading’s vibrant community gardens—where every stop tells a story and every minute is packed with inspiration.

What to expect:
A lively, on-the-go experience with quick stops, plenty of learning, and behind-the-scenes looks at some unique Urban farms maintained with passion and purpose.
We’ll wrap up with a picnic lunch —perfect for reflecting, connecting, and soaking it all in.

Space is limited! Register for free today to save your spot at berksag.org/urbanagbustour



-----------------

¡Sube al autobús, agárrate fuerte y prepárate para crecer! Acompáñanos en un dinámico y gratificante recorrido en autobús por nueve de los vibrantes jardines comunitarios de Reading, donde cada parada cuenta una historia y cada minuto está repleto de inspiración. Qué puedes esperar: Una experiencia animada y en constante movimiento, con paradas breves, mucho aprendizaje y un vistazo entre bastidores a algunas granjas urbanas únicas, mantenidas con pasión y propósito. Concluiremos con un almuerzo tipo pícnic: el momento perfecto para reflexionar, conectar y asimilar todo lo vivido. ¡Las plazas son limitadas! Regístrate gratis hoy mismo para reservar tu lugar en berksag.org/urbanagbustour

05/08/2026

Are you a community gardener in Reading? Then stop by the City Park Greenhouse THIS SATURDAY, May 9th, from 2:00 – 4:00 to pick up FREE plants (with proof of your community garden agreement)!

These Seeds of Change plants are the result of an incredible partnership between the City of Reading Public Works Department, Keep Reading Beautiful, and Reading Environmental Advisory Council who have grown lots of vegetables, annual flowers, and native flowers specifically for our community gardens and green spaces in the City of Reading.

05/05/2026

Thank you Kimberton Whole Foods and to all our friends and neighbors who rounded up at the register in April! All those extra cents added up to a whopping +$7,300 (thanks to Kimberton Whole Foods generous match) - all of which will stay in Berks County to maintain public trails and nature preserves, protect and regrow forests, and ensure our environment is healthy for people, wildlife, and future generations!

Thank you, Wyomissing! 🌎 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 $𝟑,𝟔𝟓𝟗.𝟑𝟔 𝐟𝐨𝐫 Berks Nature 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡, 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 $𝟕,𝟑𝟏𝟖.𝟕𝟐🌻

Learn more about our Rounding Up at the Register program here https://bit.ly/2MIoop0

05/01/2026

Your Mom's not the only one who likes flowers... 🐝🌷🐝

Adopt a Bee for your Mom this Mother's Day - these adorable bumbles and your Mother were meant to BEE!

Plus, every Adopt a Bee donation directly supports The Nature Place’s pollinator, native, and teaching gardens, supporting real bees in the wild! Visit The Nature Place during our public hours and bring your bee home today!

The Nature Place
575 Saint Bernardine Street, Reading
Open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

04/28/2026

If you scroll through any social media platform nowadays, you’ve probably encountered “life hacks” where vegetables like lettuce, bok choy, or celery magically regrow from little more than scraps. But perhaps lesser known are the native trees growing right here in Pennsylvania that can complete similar feats from naught but a trimmed branch!

Read on to learn now ecologists are tapping into this talent as a simple and inexpensive way to regrow our streamside forests >> https://berksnature.org/and-for-my-next-trickthis-branch-will-grow-roots/

04/25/2026

The Challenge is officially ON! Head outside this weekend and help make Berks Best by submitting your plant and animal findings to iNaturalist!

Follow along at and City Nature Challenge Berks!