Events: Nature Series

Wonderful Woodpeckers

Image of a man with light skin wearing a green shirt and outdoor hat. On right, image of a hairy woodpecker eating a suet log.
Dan Hinnebusch (left) and a hairy woodpecker (right). Photos courtesy of Dan Hinnebusch.

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum to kick off the 2026 Nature Series with a presentation on “Wonderful Woodpeckers”! Dan Hinnebusch, ornithologist for Wild Birds Unlimited, will discuss these feathery friends, their habitats, and how you can attract woodpeckers to your backyard.

Dan Hinnebusch is the Area Manager and store Ornithologist for Wild Birds Unlimited in Lancaster, Mechanicsburg, and York. His passion for birds is built on more than three decades of recreational birding experience and a strong interest in the natural world. Hinnebusch has more than ten years of experience as a professional wildlife biologist and environmental scientist, including four years with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, PA. Currently, Hinnebusch teaches classes about birds and ecology for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Cedar Crest College.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Wonderful Woodpeckers” will take place on Saturday, January 24 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

January 24, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members
Get Tickets

Tree & Shrub Pruning Techniques

Image of an older man with light skin rigged up in a tree for pruning the branches.
Tom Kopf

Pruning is a normal part of garden maintenance, but it can be a source of anxiety if gardeners are afraid of pruning incorrectly. Master Gardener Tom Kopf will share his knowledge of tools and techniques for safely pruning trees and shrubs, while maintaining overall tree health, promoting growth, and preventing disease. If you’ve ever been afraid to take too much (or too little!) off of a plant, this is the program for you!

Tom Kopf has always enjoyed climbing trees, even scaling the 80-foot-tall Sycamore on his parents’ property in his boyhood. Tom graduated from Franklin & Marshall College and worked as an arborist. Later, Tom changed his career to risk management and continued to serve the Lancaster community on a part-time basis. In 2018, he became a Penn State Master Gardener and continues to spend time volunteering with several non-profit organizations.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Tree & Shrub Pruning Techniques” will take place on Saturday, February 28 from 10-11:30am in the Carriage House 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.

Note to Attendees: Weather permitting, a portion of the program will take place outdoors with demonstrations on nearby trees or shrubs. We encourage attendees prepare to be outdoors for a short period of time by wearing weather appropriate clothing for February.

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!

In-Person Event Nature Series Program

February 28, 2026 The Carriage House at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11:30am $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members
Get Tickets

Spring Ephemerals of the Susquehanna River Hills

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!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

March 21, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members
Get Tickets

Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor Day

A view of the Black Maple’s branches and bright green leaves.

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum on Saturday, April 18 from 10am – 12pm for a special April Nature Series extravaganza, “Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor Day!” This new, two-hour event features programs for all ages, including a nature Storytime and craft for kids, a tree dedication for America250, and an “all about trees” education program and tree walk of the Tanger Arboretum with Lancaster County Senior Naturalist Lisa Sanchez!

A more detailed schedule to come!

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Leaf & Learn: A Celebration of Arbor Day” will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 10am-12pm at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Registration opening soon! Please check back later.

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-12pm 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
Get Tickets