Photo: FMN Jerry Nissley Hidden Oaks Nature Center 7701 Royce Street, Annandale VA Contact volunteer coordinator [email protected] Front Desk Wednesdays, 9am to 1pm or 1pm to 5pm If you love nature and enjoy talking to people, consider volunteering at Hidden Oaks’ front desk. You will welcome visitors, orient them to the park, answer questions, and […]
Saturday, September 21, 2024 11 am – 3 pm Leopold’s Preserve 16290 Thoroughfare Road, Broad Run, VA The highly anticipated Fall Festival at Leopold’s Preserve, is proudly brought to you by the White House Farm Foundation and Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. Here are some of the festivities you can expect: Nature Adventures: Join guided hikes, explore trails, […]
Photo and article by Plant NOVA Natives We all know the climate is getting hotter. The week of July 22 included the world’s two hottest days in recorded history. At the same time, the average annual rainfall in Virginia has risen, as a warmer atmosphere tends to hold more moisture. Since it also creates more […]
Photo: Earth Sangha Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays 9 am – 12 noon 6100 Cloud Drive, Springfield VA Register here. Earth Sangha propagates local ecotype native plants for sale and distribution in Northern Virginia. They are a non-profit and rely heavily on volunteers to keep their plants growing. They have plenty of repotting to do, in […]
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Tuesday, August 20, 2024 7 pm Webinar by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Free Register here. How do plants make a living? That question has propelled botanist Dennis Whigham for his nearly 47-year career with the Smithsonian. Orchids were especially bewitching. Join Dennis for a journey of discovery through the orchid […]
Photo: Smithsonian Associates Monday, August 26, 2024 6:45 – 8:15 pm Smithsonian Associates Webinar $20 members/$25 nonmembers Register here. Some stories that people tell about octopuses almost defy belief. These animals are said to steal from fishermen, escape from aquariums, invent tools, play with toys, make friends, and hold grudges. How many of these tales […]
Photo: SERC Tuesday, July 16, 2024 7 pm Hosted by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Register here. From frogs to salamanders, amphibians are secretive but essential to our health and the function our ecosystems. But despite their critical role, amphibians are facing a crisis: Over 40% are threatened with extinction. How can we reduce that […]
Image: American Bird Conservancy Thursday, July 25, 2024 4 pm Presented by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) Register here. Seabirds were humans’ first companions when we ventured onto the ocean. With adaptations for long flights over open waters, seabirds like the Laysan Albatross endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth. They are champions of the […]
Photo: Rick Ahrens (NABA) The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) has run the Butterfly Count Program in the United States, Canada, and Mexico since 1993. Each of the approximately 450 annual counts consists of a compilation of all butterflies observed at sites within a 15-mile diameter count circle in a one-day period. The annually published […]
Article and photo by Plant NOVA Natives Dense plantings between properties are a valuable amenity, so much so that they are mandated for many building projects. A mixed hedge consisting of native plant species has the added value of supporting the songbirds in our communities. Privacy screens don’t always work out as planned, though, so […]