PEEC: Pocono Environmental Education Center

Summer Solstice

Natural Events
June:

During the first week of June look for Painted Turtles and Snapping Turtles that have left the water to excavate their nests. Also look for disturbances of nests by predators.
Mountain Laurel blesses us with magnificent pink and white flowers and overwhelms our séance of smell early in June, before the official beginning of summer. It comes as no surprise that this amazing flower was chosen to be Pennsylvania’s state flower in 1933. Mountain Laurels favorite habitat is well drained soils in woodlands.
During the third week of June male song birds actively sing, showing off trying to attract a mate and establish territories in preparation for breeding season in June and July.
Twinkle-twinkle little firefly …your dazzling displays have only a one week life span. There are 30 species of firefly (lightning bug) in the Northeast. Female fireflies do not fly but produce light to attract mates.

July:

In the first week of July the butterflies begin to emerge from their chrysalises, seeking the sweet nectar of colorful summer wildflowers. These stunning insects love the sun; In fact they need the sun because their bodies need to be at least 80ºF to fly.
As July progresses Gypsy Moths begin to Emerge from their brown pupae. Only Male Gypsy Moths fly…females are too heavy with eggs. The female attracts a male to mate by secreting pheromones, similar to a person wearing perfume or cologne in hopes of attracting the opposite sex.
The berries are back the berries are back!! Look for blueberries, huckleberries, raspberries, blackberries and dewberries. These berry baring bushes are low growing and accessible to wildlife making their seeds easily dispersed.
As July ends, the chorus of cicadas, grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids can be heard. The songs produced by these insects emanate from the rubbing and vibrating or various body parts against one another and are designed to attract mates and compete for territories.

August:

As summer comes to a close millions of shorebirds head south. Roughly 30 different species pass through our region during the fall migration. During this time be sure and keep a look out for shorebirds such as solitary sandpipers.
During the second week of August look for spiders that are active in late summer. Search for webs around fields, forests – just about everywhere! Fishing spiders are still very active; preying on very small fish, tadpoles, and salamanders.
After a late summer rain be sure and search for mushrooms, or fungi in forests and fields. There is a very rich diversity, but one should never eat a mushroom unless they are positive it is edible.

The last week of August is when twenty different species of Northeastern Snakes give birth. At birth baby snakes are completely independent and as summer comes to an end must find a place to hibernate. Many different species of snake may choose to hibernate in together in a den or rocky out crop.

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Celestial Events
June:
Libra when translated means, The Beam Balance, it is also one of the thirteen zodiac signs and can be seen best during the month of June at 9.00pm.

Ursus Minor or The Lesser Bear contains the group of stars commonly known as the Little Dipper. The most famous star located within Ursus Minor is Polaris or the North Star. In order to find Polaris you must first locate the Big Dipper then follow the two stars at the end of the cup upwards, the next bright star in the sky is Polaris which in turn is the end of the handle of The Little Dipper. The best time to see Ursus Minor is During June around 9.00pm.

July:
Hercules is the fifth largest of the eighty-eight modern constellations. Named for the Greek mythological hero Hercules can best be seen during the month of July around 9.00 pm.

Draco is a far Northern circumpolar constellation. Draco which literally means The Dragon was named so by the Greeks because the its long snake like shape resembling that of a Dragon. Even though Draco is a circumpolar constellation seen throughout the year the best time to see it is during the month of July around 9.00pm.

August:
Sagittarius means The Archer and is associated with the centaur Chiron. In Greek mythology Chiron was an adventurous, brave and wise tutor of various heroes. Sagittarius can be seen best during warm August nights around 9.00pm.

Lyra is a very small consolation and its named for a stringed musical instrument similar to that or a harp. This musical constellation can best be seen during the month of August around 9.00pm.

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PEEC Events
View our calendar of events by Date to see the programs available at PEEC for the summer season.

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