The FOHW Blogs

A Compendium of Blogs…

FOHW's president, Steve Hiltner, has three long-running blogs where he posts about nature, history, and the people of Herrontown Woods.

Friends of Herrontown Woods Blog

Vignettes from FOHW's activities and events in Herrontown Woods.

Veblen House Blog

Restoring a forgotten house and its legacy. History of the Veblen House and Cottage, and those who lived there.

Princeton Nature Notes

More than 1,500 posts on nature in Princeton, dating back nearly 20 years.

FOHW News & Updates…

And, some old blog posts that were transferred over to this new site…

Stephen Hiltner 6/4/22 Stephen Hiltner 6/4/22

A Reading of Roxaboxen

At 10am on Saturday, June 4 at Herrontown Woods, a Princeton Public Library Youth Services librarian will read the timeless picture book "Roxaboxen" by Alice McLerran.

Stephen Hiltner 6/2/22 Stephen Hiltner 6/2/22

Recent Sightings at the Barden

One thing people love about the Barden is that there's always something new. In that respect, it is a dynamic landscape like a beach, or a river. Here are a few recent sightings.

Stephen Hiltner 5/5/22 Stephen Hiltner 5/5/22

1st Annual Earthday Celebration a Great Success

Graced by a beautiful day, the first annual Earthday celebration at Herrontown Woods was a delight beyond all expectations.

Stephen Hiltner 4/21/22 Stephen Hiltner 4/21/22

Spring Flowers at Herrontown Woods

Herrontown Woods is starting to shake off winter and generate some color.

Stephen Hiltner 1/10/22 Stephen Hiltner 1/10/22

Princeton ECHO Features Herrontown Woods

The Princeton ECHO is starting 2022 with a wonderful feature article on Herrontown Woods.

Stephen Hiltner 12/3/21 Stephen Hiltner 12/3/21

May's Barden Cafe returns this Sunday, Jan. 2 (and Feb. 6)

Stop by as May's Barden Cafe welcomes the new year at Herrontown Woods this Sunday morning, Jan. 2, 2022 from 10am to noon.

Stephen Hiltner 10/29/21 Stephen Hiltner 10/29/21

May’s Barden Cafe is Born

There's a delightful new happening at the Barden in Herrontown Woods. Nicole Bergman, with help from Joanna Poniz, is hosting May's Barden Cafe.

Stephen Hiltner 10/8/21 Stephen Hiltner 10/8/21

The Barden: Building a Better Bridge to the 21st Century

At the Herrontown Woods Barden (short for Botanical ARt garDEN), we like to think we're building a better bridge to the 21st century.

Stephen Hiltner 6/20/21 Stephen Hiltner 6/20/21

A Week of Magical Moments at the Gazebo

The leadup to a magical moment can seem mundane enough: a ladder leaned against the gazebo at the Barden at Herrontown Woods. The Barden, short for Botanical ARt garDEN, has become magical in and of itself, but this past week had a series of magical moments.

Stephen Hiltner 6/12/21 Stephen Hiltner 6/12/21

The Many Gifts of Girl Scout Troop 71837

Herrontown Woods was the recipient this year of what surely is one of the most ambitious and multifaceted efforts by a girl scout troop to have a beneficial impact on a nature preserve. Girl Scout Troop 71837, with girls 10-11 years old led by Danielle Rollmann and Heather Harnley, contacted the Friends of Herrontown Woods back in August of 2020. Since then, they have contributed their time and effort to the preserve in many ways.

Stephen Hiltner 5/22/21 Stephen Hiltner 5/22/21

Disadvantaged Woody Species Find a Home in the Barden

A post at the PrincetonNatureNotes blog tells the story of disadvantaged woody species that are finding a place to thrive in the botanical art garden (nicknamed the Barden) at Herrontown Woods.

Stephen Hiltner 4/29/21 Stephen Hiltner 4/29/21

Some Photographic Perspectives

Thanks to Joan Marr for her photographic perspectives on Herrontown Woods, up close and personal.

Stephen Hiltner 3/19/21 Stephen Hiltner 3/19/21

Spring Cleaning at the Princeton Botanical ARt garDEN ("Barden" for short)

Sunday workdays, 10-1, recommenced this past weekend. New areas are getting cleaned up and cleared of Japanese honeysuckle.

Stephen Hiltner 3/12/21 Stephen Hiltner 3/12/21

Letter in Town Topics about the Princeton Botanical Art Garden

One thing the Friends of Herrontown Woods has had to overcome is its acronyms. FOHW sounds like faux or foe, but sounds better when turned into the stirring call to action: FOHWard!

Stephen Hiltner 2/20/21 Stephen Hiltner 2/20/21

Herrontown Woods Parking Lot Plowed!

Thanks to director Ben Stentz and the Princeton Recreation Department crews for plowing the Herrontown Woods parking lot!

Stephen Hiltner 2/6/21 Stephen Hiltner 2/6/21

Herrontown Woods--Where To Park After Snows

Please be aware that the Herrontown Woods parking lot has not traditionally been plowed. The Friends of Herrontown Woods is working with the town to change that in the future.

Stephen Hiltner 1/10/21 Stephen Hiltner 1/10/21

Gazebo Docks With Mother Ship

Herein lies the story of the moving of the gazebo and shed, which played out from August through November in that year of years, 2020.