Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, a 134 tract of land in Bucks County, PA, serves as a sanctuary and educational resource for conservation and stewardship. Established in 1934 as a living memorial to the patriots of Washington’s army who traveled through the area during the American Revolution, native plants are central to the Preserve’s mission and activities. Nearly 800 species of trees, shrubs, vines, perennial wildflowers and ferns native to the MidAtlantic are sheltered in Bowman’s Hill.

In 1950, The Gardeners received the Founders Fund Award to transform a low lying area into a small pond with an island to accommodate numerous aquatic plants. This feature showcased swamp magnolia and azalea, gray birch, clethra, several varieties of ferns and a seasonal progression of winterberry, green arrow-arum, march marigold, rose mallow and cardinal flower. Since its establishment, the Pond proved to be one of the most popular sites for thousands of yearly visitors but due to the constant wear and tear of tramping feet on the surrounding paths, the pond became choked with silt and plants suffered. By 2011, the ponds ability to sustain and nurture life reached crisis level. The Preserve undertook its largest project ever by creating a new pond in a separate area of the acreage.

The Old Pond, as it is currently known, will naturalize into a wetland over time, acting as a giant sponge; slowing the flow of surface water to reduce soil erosion while naturally filtering and recharging the water supply