Friends of the Wissahickon in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties is hosting two Valley Talks in April and May—one on the flora of the Wissahickon and another on the mysteries of Philadelphia’s sewer system.

The talks are sponsored by Valley Green Bank and are free and open to the public. A complimentary wine and cheese reception is offered at the talks.

On April 21, at 6 p.m., arborist Ken LeRoy will give a presentation called a “Virtual Walk in the Woods” on the Wissahickon Valley’s woody flora, in all its glory and diversity.

LeRoy will identify the massive sycamores to the quaking aspens of the Wissahickon and talk about the ecosystems in which they exist. He will also discuss the animals and insects in the park, as well as the ecology of the forest.

LeRoy has been an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist since 1991 and is dedicated to integrating trees and plants into the urban and suburban environments. He is a graduate of Temple University, School of Horticulture and served as a staff horticulturist at the Morris Arboretum. He is an arborist representative with John B. Ward & Co. Arborists.

On May 19, at 6 p.m., Adam Levine will present: “Philadelphia Underground: the Surprising Story of the City’s Sewers.”

Levine manages the Philadelphia Water Department’s historical collection and has done extensive research on the historical topography of Philadelphia.

Adam Levine has done extensive research on the historical topography of Philadelphia, mostly as a consultant to the Philadelphia Water Department. As part of this work, he manages the PWD Historical Collection and maintains a website about watersheds.

Levine’s illustrated lecture will focus on the history of Philadelphia’s sewer system and will detail how hundreds of miles of surface streams were obliterated to create the city’s 3,000-mile underground sewer system. These massive alterations to the city’s landscape, undertaken over the course of two centuries, have environmental repercussions that are still being felt today.

Levine, a former staff writer with New Jersey’s Gloucester County Times, also writes about gardening and is the author of many articles and four books, including A Guide to the Great Gardens of the Philadelphia Region (Temple, 2007).

Valley Green Inn is located on Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon Valley Park. Valley Talks are free and open to the public. There is a complimentary wine and cheese reception at the lectures. 

Register for the lecture by contacting Sarah Marley by sending email to: marley@fow.org or call 215-247-0417 x109. Spaces are limited.

For more information on activities and events, visit the Friends of the Wissahickon website for more information.

3/30/2015