Sharpsburg Summer Nature Series Part II
SHARPSBURG, PA – The Allegheny County Park Rangers will stop by Sharpsburg Community Library (SCL) Wednesday to host a nature program that’s sure to grow on you. Invasive Species with the Park Rangers takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. in the library’s Community Room and is a free event for registrants aged 18 and older. Allegheny County Parks Education and Outreach Coordinator Elise Cupps said attendees will enjoy a presentation on the history of invasive plants and take away a “better understanding of their impacts.” “Mostly, we hope that attendees will discover the beauty and benefits of our native Pennsylvania plants. The topic of invasive species is complex, but also fascinating,” Cupps said. “Invasive species are having major impacts on our local ecosystems. Beneficial native Pennsylvania species are struggling to adapt quickly enough to their introduction.” Cupps said the program will cover such topics as what makes a species invasive; how said species arrived in our area; the harms they cause once established; and what we can do to help. “Most people do not often pay attention to origins of the plants they purchase for their garden. It can be surprising to discover that a plant you grew up with is from another region of the world,” she said. “This program hopes to shed some new light on plants we consider to be common and the perhaps uncommon effects they have on our local ecosystems.” While invasive species are a “serious issue,” Cupps added, most non-native, garden plants are not invasive and don’t harm our environment. “Sometimes there is a stigma against all non-native plants and people are made to feel bad about what they have planted in their yards,” she said. “It’s amazing that we can add plants from all over the world to our personal yards, but it’s good to know what species should be avoided or added to make your yard more beneficial to our local pollinators.” The Allegheny County Parks Rangers serve as ambassadors for the Allegheny County Parks System, offering educational and interpretive programming, as well as outreach programming to local schools and communities. Rangers also provide park visitors with orientation and information, ensure park regulations are followed, and represent the ideas of conservation and stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources countywide. For more information on the Allegheny County Parks Rangers and all associated programming, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/Parks-and-Events/Parks/Park-Rangers, or contact Elise Cupps at Elise.Cupps@AlleghenyCounty.us. To register for the Invasive Species program, visit the Sharpsburg Community Library’s website at www.coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com/event/invasive-plants-33264. For more information about Sharpsburg Community Library, including upcoming programming, visit www.coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org/sharpsburg/.
For media inquiries, contact Communications & Marketing Specialist Kaylie Glaze at 412-828-9520, ext. 5012, or glazek@coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org. Sharpsburg Community Library, a branch of CooperSiegel Community Library, serves all Fox Chapel School District communities.
