Good to Know / June 2018

Get out your garden tools because bees and butterflies need your help. The National Pollinator Garden Network is on a mission to register one million bee-friendly gardens in time for National Pollinator Week, starting June 18th. These gardens provide essential habitats and food for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats—animals that fertilize our crops. Since 2015, over 700,000 new pollinator gardens have been planted and registered. Now it’s your turn. Register your garden at Pollinator.org.

Ever been intrigued by a flower you found? Or wondered about the name of the tree sprouting in your backyard? Now with PlantSnap, you can solve the puzzles with a single button. Using a database of over 316,000 species, the app lets you snap a picture of a mystery mushroom, wild flower, shrub or tree and identify it in seconds. A fun app for gardeners, hikers and junior horticulturalists. Buy your plant companion at PlantSnap.com.

Time to stretch those legs—June 2nd is National Trails Day. There’s no better place to celebrate than Chester County, which maintains over 21 miles of beautiful trails, including the Struble and Schuylkill River trails. Plus, the well-kept and well-lit Chester Valley Trail is expanding to connect with “The Circuit,” a developing 750-mile trail network throughout Greater Philadelphia. Grab your pets, family and friends and hit the trails to celebrate the great outdoors. More on Chester County’s parks and trails at ChesCo.org/Parks.

West Chester’s acclaimed Resident Theatre Company has announced its 2018–2019 line-up. The season launches in October with Evita—an ambitious musical pick with a soaring Latin-inspired score from Andrew Lloyd Weber, based on the life of Eva Peron. December brings a classic Ken Ludwig farce, Lend Me a Tenor, and the season wraps up in March with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a musical based on the 1988 film. Start planning your night out today! RTCWC.org.

June 17th is Father’s Day and the West Chester Rail Road is offering a limited-time train trip for families and fathers on the Father’s Day Express, a 90-minute round trip from West Chester to Glen Mills. The Glen Mills stop offers a chance to explore the historic train station and bring or buy a picnic lunch to eat alongside the scenic Chester Creek. Start this Father’s Day with a treat, and climb aboard! 12 to 2 p.m. Dads $5, Other adults $15. Tickets at WestChesterRR.net.