Still Life

A moment of levity: Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates celebrated with the Nittany Lion after commencement ceremonies, held May 5 at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa.

Commencement across Penn State: Spring 2012

New graduates of Penn State's Eberly College of Science listened to the commencement address provided by United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu during spring 2012 graduation ceremonies held May 5 at the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.

Spring commencement 2012 under way

A Moroccan farmer taught Penn State students about the properties of vetiver grass, including its ability to clean wastewater. The grass could be used as part of a solution to water-quality problems being experienced in Assoul, Morocco, where students spent time recently.

Penn State, Moroccan students problem-solve together

Anjelica Fortunato, left, and Jeffrey Lu reviewed for their Anatomy 129 final exam on May 1 on the HUB-Robeson Center Lawn on Penn State's University Park campus. Penn State students are preparing for and taking final exams throughout the week as spring semester 2012 comes to a close.

Finals Week Spring Semester 2012

Denae Taylor, right, tried on some electrical-safety gear with the help of Joe Dinardo, Supervisor of Facilty Resources at Penn State, during Penn State's annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on April 26. Denae is the granddaughter of Penn State Outreach employee Betty Lose, and attends Bellefonte Middle School.

Children explore career options at University Park

Featured Video

Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium

Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium

Did They Get It Right? - RedTails

Did They Get It Right? - RedTails

Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012

Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012

We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)

We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)

Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal

Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal

Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone

Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone

Updates:
Penn State Promise

Faculty Senate recaps 2011-12 activity for Board of Trustees

Frazier provides update on Special Investigations Task Force

Board of Trustees meeting to be streamed live

Penn State donates more than $2.6 million to abuse prevention efforts

A spring update from President Rodney Erickson

Hort Woods rehabilitation project to begin soon

Monday, February 13, 2012

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The rehabilitation of the historic Hort Woods, located on Park Avenue next to North Halls on Penn State's University Park campus, is scheduled to begin soon. The University's Office of Physical Plant will be removing invasive plants this winter and will replant the area with native woodland trees, shrubs and herbs in late spring. The goal of the project is to enhance and maintain an example of a diverse Pennsylvania forest on central campus.

Hort Woods is a 4-acre remnant patch of oak-hickory forest. The oldest trees in this grove existed prior to the start of campus construction in 1859. Like many urban woodlots, invasive plants have taken hold, making it difficult for native plants to reproduce. The invasive plants decrease biodiversity and change the character of the forest.

The first step in the rehabilitation process will be to eliminate all invasive trees and shrubs mature enough to reproduce. Next, invasive seedlings will be removed, as well as lawn areas beneath the tree canopy. The newly created gaps in the canopy, on the forest floor and at the wood’s edge will be planted with native species such as white oak, pignut hickory, serviceberry, spicebush and black cohosh, to name a few.

The School of Forest Resources and the Horticulture Department are providing technical assistance along with oversight from the University Tree Commission. Invasive plants are persistent and aggressive so monitoring and removal work will be ongoing but should lessen with time. These rehabilitation efforts will help sustain Hort Woods for generations to come.

Hort Woods has long been considered an important campus green space. In 2001, it was given special protection through University's Heritage Trees and Groves policy, designed to protect specimen trees or groves on campus that have exceptional historic, cultural and aesthetic value.

For more information, contact Derek Kalp at 814-863-8740 or Paul Ruskin at 814-863-9620.

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