Welcome to another special edition of Outdoorsy.
Here’s what we’re getting into today:
John Bartram’s legacy: The founder of America’s first botanical garden dedicated his life to studying plants.
Wildfire season: Why New Jersey officials anticipate an “active fire year.”
Breaking a sweat — and records: It feels like July outside, but April is still a month for all seasons.
⛅ Your weekend weather outlook: A mix of sunshine and showers.
— Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)
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Bartram’s Garden is a favorite of many nature-loving Philadelphians. Named after John Bartram, the lush green space is now nearly 300 years old and rich with history.
🌱 A man of many firsts: Bartram is considered America’s first botanist. He also started the first subscription box for gardeners.
🌱 A lasting legacy: Bartram’s sons John and William continued his work after his death. The garden became a public park in 1891.
🌱 Honoring Bartram: This Saturday, the Philadelphia Historic District will celebrate his garden at its weekly “firstival” day party.
Learn more about Bartram’s studies and his impact.
News worth knowing
Philadelphia broke temperature records this week. Resident weather expert Tony Wood explains what April’s hot spell means, if anything, for summer.
A nearly 140-year-old fountain in West Fairmount Park is getting a reboot thanks to an $18 million restoration in the works.
Philly Parks & Rec has introduced a summer camp lotto at five in-demand locations, but some parents are unhappy with the rollout.
There’s a funky springtime smell stinking up Philadelphia, and we tracked it down to Bradford pear trees. Here’s the reason for the stink.
Registration is now open for the Delco 10 Miler race. Now in its second year, organizers hope it will be bigger and better thanks to some new changes.
🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to environmental reporter Frank Kummer.
Spring may green New Jersey’s forests, but it also primes them for wildfires and state officials are watching to see if it flares into another intense season.
New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief William Donnelly said officials can’t predict how bad this wildfire season will be, but it typically peaks from mid-March through mid-May.
Spring is prime time for fires because there are so few leaves on trees, which contain moisture that can slow the spread of a blaze. At the same time, low humidity and dry air masses tend to dominate with strong wind gusts.
This past winter was marked by snow cover that helped suppress fires, and kept people inside. People are the number one cause of wildfires. — Frank Kummer
Keep reading to learn why New Jersey is more prone to wildfires than some other states.
Paola’s picks
🎵 A song: “April 5th” by Talk Talk — “Let me breathe the colour of spring.”
🌎 A history lesson: Earth Day is April 22. Its Philly roots are in Fairmount Park.
🌷 A piece of art: Philly-based visual poet @gardenfullofslugs’ reminder that we survived winter.
👨🌾 An activity: Complete a monthly gardening checklist; celebrate Trails Day on April 25.
A blooming view
🌳 Your outdoorsy experience
Where do you go for a moment of calm? What sight takes your breath away? In 200 words, tell us about your favorite outdoor adventures or special memories. If you have photos, we’d love to see them — you might even be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
👋🏽 Expect Outdoorsy to return to your inbox every Friday starting May 15. I’ll see you then!
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