Photo (c) by Barbara J. Saffir Virginia may be in Phase 3 of re-opening but many volunteers will continue to stay home, especially those in high risk groups. For those who are looking for home-based opportunities, Virginia Master Naturalists has compiled a list of ideas for citizen science projects. • CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, […]
Enjoy their simple, phone-in/curbside pick-up shopping experience to sate that pent-up demand for Green Spring’s outstanding seasonal selections of perennials, woodies and annuals. 1.Download this week’s plant list/order form to make your selections. (New plant lists published each Thursday so check back for new offerings.) 2.Phone in your order at 703.642.5173. Please have your completed […]
Both Hidden Oaks Nature Center and Riverbend Park seek volunteers to “adopt a spot” or “adopt a native plant” gardens in the parks. These independent, outdoor service projects offer plenty of safe physical distancing. Additional gardens will be available later in the summer. See descriptions below for details and contact. Hidden Oaks Nature Center projects […]
Article by Plant NOVA Natives staff Let’s say you want to have a nice lawn, but you also want to be a good steward of the environment. Can you do both? It turns out the answer is “yes.” Healthy yard practices can mitigate many of the problems caused by lawns. Because turf grasses are nonnative, […]
Green Spring Gardens Master Gardeners Unit is seeking applicants for their upcoming Fall 2020 training session. Due to COVID restrictions, they’ve developed a training program that is COVID compliant and meets the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener basic training for Master Gardener certification criteria. If you like gardening (you don’t have to be expert at […]
A December 2019 survey found that around half of the population in Northern Virginia is allowed to telework during a winter storm. Of that population that can telework, only 20% always or mostly take advantage of that opportunity during a winter storm. Similarly, only 23% of people always avoid or postpone non-work activities during a […]
Claudia Thompson-Deahl recommends signing up to start a Sit Spot routine. A Sit Spot is a place on the land that you go to every day or several times a week. It is your special spot that is kind of like an anchor where you get to watch all that is going on in nature […]
During these tough times, nature is bringing much-needed peace and tranquility to us all as spring blooms throughout Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia Conservation Trust wants to celebrate this beauty with you by holding the first-ever Spring Edition of their annual photo contest. The rules are the same as usual with one new twist that all […]
Article and photos by Bill Hafker It’s tough on those of us who thrive on getting with a group of friends to hike, bike, kayak or otherwise just get outside and observe nature, to feel locked out of doing that. However, it is still possible to find ways to stay safe and enjoy the outdoors. […]
By Laura Duval, Research Biologist & Program Coordinator, The Nightjar Survey Network The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network (NSN) is a citizen science-driven research group that has worked to collect long-term occupancy data for this unusual group of birds over the past 12 years. North American nightjars, or goatsuckers, include nine nocturnal (most active at night) and […]