Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 11:30 AM (lunch) Noon (walk)
Pleasant Hills Arboretum, Pleasant Hills , Allegheny County
Leader: Meg Scanlon; 724-612-6192
Established in 1950, the Pleasant Hills Arboretum is home to 65 species of trees – some more than 200 years old – as well as a variety of shrubs and other plants. Arboretum founder A.W. Robertson, who also helped establish the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, found his inspiration for the place from the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
Walking the trails gives visitors opportunities for reflection and study as well as the ability to take in the many tree species including Beech and Oak. Tree plantings have included memorial trees, Arbor Day plantings, and select specimen trees like the recently planted Veteran’s Shingle Oak.
Rain or shine, this leisurely paced, easy walk will have us looking closely at how to identify trees, shrubs and meadow plants in this winter season. Gazebo and picnic tables for those that wish to come at 11:30 for lunch, 12 noon for start of walk. Port-a-john on site.
Directions: The Arboretum is located south of Pittsburgh at 199 W. Bruceton Rd., Pleasant Hills, PA, 15236.
Arrive at 11:30 AM to eat lunch at the gazebo, weather permitting. We will start walking at 12 noon. Handicapped parking and porta-john at this shelter.
GPS coordinates: 40.32925, -79.96644 Google Maps Link
Saturday , February 1, 2025, 1:00 PM
Search for Penn Tree, Richland Park, Richland Township, Allegheny County, PA
Leader: Loree Speedy – 724-518-6022; loreespeedy@gmail.com
Directions: Penn Tree is a majestic oak considered the oldest tree in Allegheny County, and perhaps the oldest in all of western Pennsylvania. A count of trunk rings after a lightning strike showed it to have taken root in 1598.
We will meet along Van Velsor Drive in Richland Township Community Park, across from the soccer fields. The tree is a quarter mile away along a wooded path (that could be muddy). If time permits, we can visit other bicentennial trees in the area.
GPS Coordinates: 40.65529, -79.92653 Google Map Link