Entries by Janet Quinn

Advancing Equity in Urban Greenspace, webinar June 21st

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 7 pm Register here. Join the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center at their next Earth Optimism webinar and hear from Atiya Wells, founder of the nonprofit Backyard Basecamp in Baltimore City. Atiya will highlight the importance of equity in landscape design, creation and community cultivation. With the Bliss Meadows project, Backyard Basecamp […]

Native Groundcovers and Trees: The Perfect Pairing!

Photo and article by Plant NOVA Natives Native groundcovers are becoming increasingly popular, for good reason: even if they have minimal time for gardening, people want to use native plants to support our local birds and butterflies. To avoid invasive non-native groundcovers such as English Ivy, Vinca, Yellow Archangel, and Japanese Pachysandra, they turn to […]

Bluebird Monitor Coordinator Sought

Photo:  J. Quinn The Virginia Bluebird Society is looking for one or two volunteers to join a small team that works together to fulfill the duties as the Fairfax County Coordinator. The job entails being the County Coordinator contact for some of the trails in the county, sending out reminder emails to trail leaders in […]

DIY Insectary Garden

Feature photo:  Last summer the monarda bloomed beautifully! At the top you can see the beginnings of the asclepias incarnata (the mauve colored flower cluster). Article and photos by FMN Kate Luisa This story begins at the very end of the summer of 2019. I have a fairly small back yard with a patio and around the […]

Clean the Bay Day, June 4th

Saturday, June 4, 2022 9 am – Noon See a full list of sites to find one near you. (Mason Neck State Park and Huntley Meadows are options) Register here. Clean the Bay Day has been a staple for Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay community since its inception more than three decades ago. On June 4, thousands […]

FMN CE Hike: Hold a Wild Bird, Stunning!

Article by FMNs Barbara Saffir and Janet Quinn; all photos by Barbara Saffir Lions, and tigers, and bears?  Heck, no — but holding wild birds, snakes galore, and close  encounters with yellow birds that glow like the sun were some highlights during a recent Fairfax Master Naturalists’ continuing education hike.  Hike leaders Barbara Saffir and […]

Butterfly Gardening with Native Plants, May 5th

Photo:  Virginia Native Plant Society Thursday, May 5, 2022 2 – 3pm Tyson-Pimmit Regional Library, Meeting Room 1 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church No signup is required. Most people know that monarch caterpillars can only eat milkweed plants, but many aren’t aware that other caterpillars have similarly restricted diets. Margaret Chatham, a local native plant […]