Autumn Knepp

writer & naturalist in northcentral pennsylvania

Nature Journaling Sit-Spots

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Autumn

My break lasted longer than planned. As our wedding approached, time sped up, punctuated by frequent thunderstorms. The periodical cicadas came and went in their screaming glory. Pennsylvania has slipped into the dog days of summer, and Sirius rises high over us in the nighttime sky. The lake calls me, and I resist the urge to swim all day, every day.

When I first moved here in the summer of 2020, I worked from home each day. During my lunch breaks I would dash to the dock and slip into the water. I could take a dip at the boat launch and crawl out on the bank at the other side, undisturbed. I’ll never know if the park rangers let me have fun or chose to ignore my small-town antics.

While visiting earlier this week, the launch was quiet enough for me to sit at the end of the dock to nature journal. The sparkling summer lake was a fun challenge to capture in a pencil drawing. Beneath my feet, bluegill hovered around the dock pilings, their fins glinting gold. One snuck up to my foot to check me out, sucking in water through its nostrils to detect my scent. I drew the scene in my journal, delighted as the fish gathered near me.

Other delights found themselves in my journal. Several bass were jumping out of the water- from predation or delight, I won’t ever know. I captured the blue-fronted dancer that rested on my knee, and a green dragonfly that swept around my face. Tufts of algae floated by me, caught in the wake of a speedboat and my nature journal. After filling the page with pencil drawings, I packed my journal away to lay on the dock and watch the clouds.

Having a sit-spot, a place to sit and journal at many times over a period, is a common practice. Sit-spot recommendations include spaces that are at home, or if not, very close to home. My first sit-spot was on my porch, a safe and secluded spot where I could experiment with my journal in peace. Soon after, I started taking my journal on lunch break walks, and I developed a second sit-spot.

Bald Eagle Launch, where I was earlier this week, is my second and favorite sit-spot. I can sit anywhere on the property to journal… on the dock floating in water, under the pavilion, perched on the trail bench, or draped on the grassy hill. Every angle is beautiful, every corner of the area holds some fascinating bit of nature. Long before I kept a nature journal, I wrote in my diary here- and many, many pages of daily nature observations.

I’m not alone in having multiple sit-spots. One of my nature journal inspirations, Clare Walker Leslie, journals at several places. In her books, she shares pages from her spot at Mount Auburn Cemetery, her country home, and her city home. As she cycles through locations, the seasons pass and she captures snippets of time all over.

I know Bald Eagle Launch will remain as my most favorite sit-spot. Yet, I’m always on the hunt for a new spot- a place for me to visit every so often and witness nature throughout the seasons. The rest of this summer, I plan to attend Centred Outdoors events and journal my way through every outing. You can check out the schedule online and make a plan to join me!

Rain Meditations

Posted on May 11, 2025 by Autumn

The dry season has given way to days of rain. Almost 2 weeks ago, 36,000 were without power due to a severe storm which swept across Pennsylvania. Last weekend, I went hiking at Bear Meadows Natural Area in the rain, arriving home soaked to the bone. Each day I empty my rain gauge, recording my observations for CoCoRaHS. My coworkers lament the continuous rain in our group chat.

Yet, the rain refreshes me. All my worries from this past winter are being washed away. From my yard, I can trace them. Water flowing to Lick Run, to Bald Eagle, to the Susquehanna, to the Chesapeake Bay, finally to the Atlantic. By the time my worries come back to me, they’re transformed into nourishing rain.

Like me, the plants needed a good, soaking rain to flourish. The sunny azalea has erupted into full color, loaded with magenta flowers. The shaded azalea has buds but is not yet blooming. My neighbor’s lilacs burst forth in frothy bunches of blossoms. The roses are budding, and I’m waiting for the David Austen Poet’s Wife to reveal its first pale bloom.

Despite the rain, I’m still getting outside. Armed with my raincoat, umbrella, and knee-high boots, I look more like the Morton’s Salt Girl than woman. As the Finns say- no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. I’m on the hunt for a new coat, something lighter than the vintage PVC one I wear today. My initial eBay searches have been unsuccessful, but I know I’ll find one soon.

My lunch break walks have a different flavor in the rain. Unlike sunny days, the sidewalks are emptier and quieter, but I’m never alone. There are always others out, like me, dressed in gaudy jackets and umbrellas. Some are galloping along for their step counts, most are moseying along. We all enjoy the break from our desks to soak in the fresh, cleaned air.

I know that soon the rain will give way to another long, hot, Pennsylvania summer. In our post-industrial, climate-changed world, cool summers are a thing of the past. I remember summers so cool I wasn’t allowed swimming, lest I caught a cold. Now, I sweat on the back porch and plan to jump in the lake the moment I’m through with work.

Dwelling on climate change is difficult. On days like today, climate change feels like a distant enemy hovering on the horizon. The reality of our fluctuating jet stream and unpredictable conditions is harsh. While the climate in Pennsylvania is still moderate, it is only in comparison to other places. I worry about tornadoes, derecho, and wildfires- all have happened in the past month. The weather wreaks havoc among our native plants, ushering them into a new era of struggle.

While I write and gaze out the window into the inky darkness, adaptation is on my mind. There’s hundreds of articles and videos on what to do to stop climate change. Much of it is things to buy to stop buying things (ironic, right?) or where to spend your money to send a message… instead, I want to focus on things within my ability. I will continue to serve my community in public office, voters be willing. I buy less, and when I do buy, I search for secondhand first. I buy bulk groceries and cook from home, eating fresh veg from my grandfather’s garden. I reduce my driving, choosing not to drive at all on the days I work from home. I’ll wait to put in air conditioners until the last minute, and use LED lightbulbs. Turn off everything when I’m not using it, etc. etc.

Above all, I look for hope. I keep tabs on good climate news and review favorite reads. I note the blooming flowers and migrating birds in my phrenology notebook. I continue to track precipitation and report it daily. I will always walk in the rain. Above all, I will enjoy the outdoors and observe in my nature journal. I capture the world as it is today, and leave a record for those that come tomorrow. I hope, that then, they will know cool summers too.

A Weekend at Gifford Pinchot State Park

Posted on May 4, 2025 by Autumn

In April, I attended the Pennsylvania Outdoor Content Creator Meetup at Gifford Pinchot State Park. This event was organized by Christian from the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast and sponsored by Explore York PA. The drive, while long, was easy. I listened to The Ghost Furnace Podcast and The American Birding Podcast. A little after 1 o’clock, I rolled up to the camping cottage to unload my stuff.

Dragonfly Cottage is at the back of the campground on the shore of the lake. As I hopped out of my car, a Bald Eagle took off from a snag across the water. Spotting the eagle felt like a good omen for the weekend. In a flash, I unloaded my bags and set up my bunk. I was set to share with Sara from Hiking Outdoor Family, Britt from Britt Around Town, and Michele from Adventures Abound.

A little later, I headed over to the Conewago Day Use area to meet everyone. I explored the area around our pavilion, finding lots of spring ephemerals. My favorites in this area were Virginia Springbeauty and Azure Bluets. Moss and lichens covered the diabase rocks scattering the area. Introductions were made, and before dinner we went on a hike along Lakeside Trail. Dinner was had, and then we loaded up to visit the vernal pools of Gifford Pinchot.

As Park Educator Beth spoke about vernal pools, I resisted the urge to dip my hands in the dark water. I wanted to hold tadpoles in my hands like a little girl. After she finished speaking, Beth let us explore the pool. I checked out the two citizen science projects there. On the far end is a CrowdHydrology station, and the near end a Chronolog station.

After we finished exploring, I headed back to our cabin to head to bed. I fell asleep fast – as I drifted off, I could hear the night calls of birds and a light patter of rain on the cottage roof.

The following morning started with a shower and coffee. One of the creators, oneeyewanderz/itravel4coffee, brought an espresso machine. Yes, you read that right- an ENTIRE, ACTUAL espresso machine. He made me a latte, which energized me for our hike to Boulder Point.

Boulder Point is a unique geological feature at the park. It’s a “balanced rock” created by spheroidal weathering and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. About 200 million years ago, molten rock shot through Triassic-aged materials. Thousands of years of erosion revealed the diabase rocks. Keeping age in mind, these rocks may be a periglacial feature. 75 thousand years ago, a huge part of Pennsylvania lie under a glacier. The proximity to permafrost and dramatic freeze-thaw cycles would have accelerated erosion… leaving behind the rocks we see today.

While hiking, the huge variety of spring ephemerals growing at the park delighted me. I saw many species, including: Jack-in-the-Pulpit, trilliums, Wild Geranium, and Wild Pinks. Virginia Bluebells grew in masses- some of the plots also had pink and white varieties. White bluebells are rare, and carry the scientific name Mertensia virginica forma berdii. I saw many clumps of white bluebells, again feeling it was a good omen.

Back at the pavilion, we lunched and enjoyed a variety of interesting talks and programs. Our highlight was DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. She stopped to visit with us on her way to check on the forest fires in Michaux State Forest. Her words filled me with inspiration, and I thought about them often throughout the rest of the day.

During a break, I needed to rest and dry my feet. I attempted to take a brief nap, but instead relaxed at the picnic table at Dragonfly Cottage. With my polarized sunglasses, I watched bluegill and bass dart in the water close to shore. Further off, a Green Heron stalked the shallows. The air was full of the calls of Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Red-winged Blackbirds. My heart and soul felt restored while enjoying the peace around me.

Later after dinner, we met Dr. Reigner from the Office of Outdoor Recreation and Executive Director Blischke from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Their session was a facilitated discussion, and I learned a lot from the others in our group. Compared to everyone else, I’m a “baby” creator. The mentorship I was receiving from this session alone… priceless.

The following morning, we packed up and carried on in own ways- and I decided to go birding. At Boat Mooring Area #1, I picked up new lifers: Northern Parula and Yellow-rumped Warbler. On the drive between areas, I saw a Brown Thrasher in a bush! At the Quaker Race Day Use Area, I watched a Cooper’s Hawk get mobbed by a huge flock of crows.

I continued on to the Dam Overlook, hoping to spot more wilderness and forest species. I only saw and heard Tree Swallows. A tall chain-link fence separated visitors from the actual dam area. The fencing eliminated the chance for a scenic overlook. I understand safety concerns, yet it felt out-of-place. Disappointed, I left as a group of peppy flyfishermen started their hike down to the water.

Once I finished birding, I set off for home. I listened to more podcasts- my favorite one from was a Ghost Furnace episode on a sasquatch sighting. I also re-listened to Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation. I made an impromptu stop at another park, which I’ll share about soon. I stopped at Red Rabbit for lunch, turned off the GPS, and cruised home to my cat, fiancé, and hot shower.

I recommend visiting Gifford Pinchot State Park. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. With plenty of water, you can kayak, canoe, and fish to your heart’s content. A variety of hiking trails will entertain any level of hiker. Be sure, though, to pack a padded sleeping bag- the camping cottage bunks are unforgiving!

Have you visited Gifford Pinchot State Park before?

Noticing April Yard Flowers

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Autumn

On my quest to explore the nature close to me, I have spent a lot more time in my own yard than I expected. A long-standing tradition of grass lawns in America has taught many generations that our backyards are devoid of nature, not full of it. Of course, I know better than that! Yet, I still found myself trapped in the belief that nothing exciting or interesting grows in my yard.

Two things have changed how I view my backyard:
1. I’ve been spending more time in my own yard
2. My lawnmower needed repaired

In the months I’ve been spending more time outside, my yard has transformed from a brown, barren wasteland to thriving blanket of plants. In years past, I would be dragging the mower out, spending two hours on a weeknight cutting the grass lower than the neighboring yards. This year is a little different- our aging mower needed repaired, delaying the “first cut” by a few weeks.

Coupled with my increased time spent on the patio- primarily doing “back porch birding” and reading after work- more subtle changes jump out at me. Early last week, a tiny blue flower popped up in the time between lunchtime birding and evening reading. A day later, smoky purple stalks shot up and revealed speckled flowers. By the weekend, violets erupted across the yard.

On my 0.33-acre property, I found 9 species of flowering forbs: Moss Phlox, Ground-Ivy, Little Mouse-Ear, Philadelphia Fleabane, Hairy Bittercress, Lesser Periwinkle, Grey Field-Speedwell, Birds’-eye Speedwell, and Common Blue Violet. In early- to mid-April, only a handful were blooming. Most are nearly budding and will most likely bloom in another week or so, revealing their flowers to the world.

While beautiful, some of these species are not native to my ecoregion. Veronica polita, the Grey Field-Speedwell, was most likely introduced by settlers in Europe. White-tailed deer and Eastern cottontail don’t appear to favor the plant, and it will continue to spread in areas that have thin soil and are infrequently mown. Another plant in my yard, Glechoma hederacea, Ground-Ivy, was introduced as a medicinal plant by European settlers and left to grow wild.

On the flip side, two species I’ve noticed are native to Pennsylvania- violets and Moss Phlox. Violets are a favorite of mine, and in my ecoregion grow as the Common Blue, or if I’m lucky, the Northern White. My yard lies low and retains water well, great habitat for Common Blue violets. Near my grandmother’s house, in a patch of wood, Northern White Violets grow up from the leaf litter. The other native flower, Moss Phlox, is often cultivated as a ground cover in my area. While I’ve never purposefully planted phlox, I appreciate volunteering to crowd out unsavory species.

Right now, the lawn is over 6 inches tall, and over 9 inches tall in especially lush areas. My lawnmower is due to be returned any day, and I dread it. I’m torn between allowing my lawn to grow into a meadow and keeping it trimmed. I’ve always wanted to grow a native grass meadow for a lawn and am free of homeowner’s authorities to prevent me- yet the knowledge that a lawn meadow will attract ticks holds me back. Keeping a trimmed lawn will permit me to be outside more often and enjoy what is there. A compromise my partner proposed is to simply mow less, and when we do mow, trim the grass on the highest blade setting.

I’m going to attempt to hold out to see some of the other flowers before trimming the yard. The Little Mouse-Ear, Philadelphia Fleabane, and Hairy Bittercress are only days away from bloom. Even then, I may attempt to wait even longer to allow the native species to pollinate and grow seeds. Yet, I know I can’t wait forever. Eventually I will need to trim the lawn and carry on with my explorations beyond the yard.

Lichen Love Affair

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Autumn

*Flavopunctelia soredica*, Powder-edged Speckled Greenshield

In February, I attended Community Nature Journaling at Shaver’s Creek. The day’s lessons focused on the biology and ecology of lichens. This event opened my eyes to lichenology and has been a source of many hours of study.

Lichens are the product of a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. The fungi is the dominant partner- dictating the lichen’s thallus to fruiting body. The algae is a type of cyanobacterium and provides food for the fungi. Lichens will grow on many substrates, and we will see them often on trees and rocks. Lichens are among the first colonizers of bare rocks. They aid in the development of better habitat for mosses and other plants.

*Flavoparmelia caperata*, Common Greenshield

Lichens grow on many different substrates in a vast array of environments. Lichens occur everywhere in Pennsylvania. Lichens are often accessible for study- my favorite place to find them are in parking lots! Even though lichens are common, they are very slow to grow and develop. It’s best to snap a picture and move on. Disturbing any lichen, especially a large one, will damage years or decades of growth.

My favorite lichen species is Flavoparmelia caperata – the Common Greenshield Lichen. This species is among the most common species of lichens in North America. On a tree, it has a bright, limey green foliose thallus. The edges of the leaves are smooth and feel tough and leathery to my touch. My second favorite is Parmotrema hypotropum – the Powdered Ruffle Lichen. This lichen reminds me of the tops of lettuce with their deep ruffled surface. The colors of the Powdered Ruffle Lichen aren’t as intense as my favorite, but are still beautiful to me.

*Xanthoria parietina*, Common Sunburst Lichen

Despite the variety of lichens, I’ve had a difficult time finding a definitive field guide. I’ve been relying on the Pennsylvania Bryophyte and Lichen Diversity Project on iNaturalist. I post my pictures and rough identifications, and a member of the project checks my work. I learn a lot from their corrections, and have become better at identification.

With the summer months coming, it will become more difficult for me to spot lichens. My favorite species’ preferred habitats are on trees. Once leaves emerge, I’m not sure if the lichens will be so easy to spot. Plus, any exposed rocks will soon cover with brush and vines. I’m hoping to spend the “off” months looking for a good field guide. One book exists, Urban Lichens by Jessica Allen and James Lendemer. There’s many websites that appear promising but are difficult to navigate.

The last few months have been full of lichen-related exploration and learning. I look forward to more en-lichen-ing discoveries as the seasons progress!