Prairie to be near full bloom Saturday
BRADY TWP — Saturday will be a reunion at Jennings Environmental Education Center.
The prairie is about to enter “peak bloom,” a period when the majority of the flowering species at the state park are in full bloom, which program coordinator Miranda Crotsley said is when many people decide to visit the park.
“It's fun to run into folks who come on ‘Celebrate the Bloom’ day,” Crotsley said. “It's really fun for me to see a large number of folks enjoying the prairie on a single day.”
Jennings had its first event to mark the prairie bloom in 2013, and Celebrate the Bloom has been a tradition every year since — except for 2020 and 2021, when it was canceled due to COVID-19.
The event includes live music, several vendors that sell natural products, and walking tours of the prairie throughout the day. Crotsley said the event is hosted in conjunction with 3MJC, a nonprofit friends group associated with Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Environmental Education Center. The group provides volunteers who help make the day’s activities run smoothly.
Crotsley also said Celebrate the Bloom is typically the busiest day of the year at Jennings, which is good because it introduces many people at once to the 290 plant species and variety of wildlife at the park.
“Most of the blazing star are blooming, which also leads to beautiful scenery in the prairie, but also butterflies and wildlife,” Crotsley said. “I think a number of people are basically aware the prairie exists, but don't know much about it, but want to learn.”
Walking tours of sections of the prairie will commence every hour, on the hour, according to Crotsley, led by park experts who have knowledge of the natural resources. Visitors can also get a sneak peek of the Foltz School House, which is currently being renovated.
There will also be children’s activity books available, which are meant to teach readers about the prairie by having them interact with their surroundings.
All of the activities at the event are free, and Crotsley said it is also a good opportunity for people to just take in the “calm at the prairie.”
Additionally, she said she hopes people come to learn about the park, so they can leave the event with a deeper appreciation of nature and wildlife.
“It's kind of a calm festival; it's really a nice way to spend the day,” Crotsley said. “We have many things going on during the day.”
Celebrate the Bloom takes place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township. For more information, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/JenningsEnvironmentalEducationCenter.
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