WINTER NEW YEAR JANUARY 19, 2014 AT PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM Photos by Alan Casline

On a cold Sunday after a few inches of snow the night before, I woke to sunshine and white clouds in a blue sky. I drove over the few miles I live from Pine Hollow Arboretum and photographed some of the landscape, trails and trees. I saw rabbit, squirrel, and mouse tracks there ahead of me but it was obvious I was the first person to be walking over a lot of the fields since the last snow anyway. The ponds all had a white snow sheet (not deep enough to be a blanket) and the trees themselves only a light layer of snow. I did find one set of footprints in the area near Russian Pond. I put my shoe up next to them to try and measure their size. They were bigger than mine but I can’t be sure if these were the footprints of the legendary “big foot” or not. The sun went behind clouds and it was cold enough numb my fingers. My plan of having nice shadow and sun patches didn’t work out. Of course when I got back to my house the sun was shining again. I did take some interesting pictures I liked. Here is a sample I’d like to share.



--Alan Casline



View of Visitors Center Patio




Let me get this straight




Japanese Hill Dusted With Snow




Proof: Green Grass in January




Snow White Pond Surface




Bird's Food, A Few Small Red Berries



ARBORETUM TOURS NOW ON YOU--TUBE

Snow and freezing weather got you stuck indoors?  Take a John Abbuhl led tour of Pine Hollow Arboretum on YouTube anytime of the year.  Enjoy the images of the Arboretum while learning more about the natural history and individual trees on the grounds. Use the link below or go to the arboretum website home page (pinehollowarboretum.org) and click on the Pine Hollow Arboretum Video Tours heading under "Links".  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mfve12JiBFpYuWWCEPTJw

Channel 13 News Interviews John Abbuhl About Pine Hollow Arboretum

Phil Bayly of Sunday Forum 13, Channel 13 News interviews John Abbuhl about Pine Hollow Arboretum. Show is set to air Sunday, November 24 at 6:00 a.m. If you're not an early riser you can watch it from the WNYT website (www.wnyt.com) once the T.V. station posts it later that day. Look for it under the Forum 13 heading off the home page.
Congratulations John and thank you Helen Figge for making this happen!

BIRD WATCH AT PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

The Pine Hollow Arboretum is happy to announce that we have partnered up with the Audubon Society of the Capital Region for our first bird watch which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 @ 9:00 a.m. at the Visitor Center.   Craig Thompson, Audubon member and recently retired director of Five Rivers Environmental Education Center will lead the walk around the arboretum and will teach us techniques about finding and identifying birds.  He will also answer questions you may have about attracting birds to your own yard. Craig recommends bringing along a notebook and pencil to jot down notes and identifiable bird features so you can look them up in a bird book afterwards. This event is free and open to the public.  Please bring binoculars if you have them but if you don't they have a some to share.  Also, make sure to wear long, comfortable pants and closed toe shoes.  We will have some breakfast treats and beverages as well.   **Please note, if there is a steady rain on the morning of the event we will have to reschedule.**

Also, during the month of September, the Bethlehem Public Library will be showing artwork created by our very own members and friends who have been artistically inspired by their visits to the arboretum.  There will be over 30 works of art displayed including photographs, oil and acrylic paintings and drawings.  It is something you will not want to miss!  The work will be on display starting Tuesday, September 3, 2013 during library hours.

We hope to see you soon and thank you for your continued supportrday, Sept. 7 @ 9:00 a.m. at the Visitor Center.   Craig Thompson, Audubon member and recently retired director of Five Rivers Environmental Education Center will lead the Craig recommends bringrt

ARTWORK BY BETHLEHEM CENTRAL STUDENTS HANGING-OUT AT PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM

We are fortumate to have some of the art work from the Bethlehem Central School District hanging in our Visitors Center for the summer.  The art works are from a cross section of the School grades and in a variety of styles.  The Visitors Center is open on weekends from  10 - 4 for you to enjoy .  A good thing to do on a rainy day!  

Students with work available to view are: 
Calla Meyer, Zoey McCarthy, Emma Edgar, 
Kamryn Lezatte, Anna Kranson, Lilah Chase, 
Camilo Ibanez-Granados, Emily Mueller, 
Satjiv Kanwar, Corinne Anderson, 
Catherine Jennings, Tressa Hornbeck, 
Patrick Lenden, Larissa Engel-Flores,
Olivia Fottrel, Eliana Sanders, 
Mikeala Arena, Melissa Cathone.

A sample of their wonderful work is posted below.

 Calla Meyer

  Corinne Anderson

  Patrick Lenden

 Tressa Hornbeck

SIGN IN PLACE FOR PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM

  Anyone driving on New Scotland Ave. in Singerlands has now the chance to see directions to Pine Hollow Arboretum on the signpost marking the intersection of New Scotland Ave and Maple Avenue. We hope that many who have said they knew we existed but did not know where will come across our sign and make the turn. There is a sign marking the Arboretum and parking information off of Maple Ave. as well. Pine Hollow Arboretum is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk.

  Pine Hollow Arboretum volunteer, Jerry Deighan was instrumental in getting the sign in place.
Thanks to him for his help.

 -- Alan Casline

SUN AND RAIN AT PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM

The 2013 season is moving along into June with a past week of rain showers, hail storms, thunder and lightening mixed with periods of  blazing hot sun. All of the rain water has the ponds filled and ditches running and a few low areas too wet to walk about in. No significant wind damage has been reported at Pine Hollow Arboretum and the moisture has been good for our new tree plantings and understory growth. It is a green environment at the arboretum these days. Figure out how to dress for the weather (your guess is as good as mine) and stop by for a June visit. here are some photos from my June 2, 2013 visit.
                                                                                                  ---  Alan Casline