Photo: PennState Extension Thursday, February 21, 2024 7 – 8 pm Webinar Registration required. The Penn State Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County presents an informational session on deer-tolerant native plants in the Know Your Natives series. Deer can be both majestic and challenging visitors to our gardens. In this webinar, we’ll explore native plants that […]
Image courtesy of FCPS. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is looking for science experts to judge their Fairfax County Science Fairs across the county. Local FCPS Science Fair Judges — Local high schools are looking for judges for their individual fairs. — Judges do not need any prior experience judging but should have a background […]
Feature photo: The author at the Great Falls petroglyph site sitting on a chair-like rock. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas Early in my career I had numerous business trips to the southwest border of the country, and on my personal time, I visited the national or state parks in the area that had […]
By Elaine Kolish, Fairfax County Tree Commission, photo: Plant NOVA Trees It’s fairly common in residential neighborhoods to see trees surrounded by grass or by small mulch beds, often heaped high like a volcano. But did you know that your trees would be healthier and grow faster if you replaced that turf and mulch volcanos […]
Photo: Courtesy of the Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification Thursday, January 18, 2024 7 – 8 pm Webinar Free but registration required. Did you know that the coffee you drink can affect the birds in your backyard? The Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification does more than any other certification program to conserve habitat for birds and other […]
Photo: Julia Blum Tuesday, January 16, 2024 7 pm Webinar Register here. As the planet heats up, non-native species all over the U.S. are pushing north to follow the warmer weather. But the simple narrative doesn’t end there. Dr. Andy Chang, lead marine biologist for Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s California branch, has tracked the movement […]
Article compiled by Jamie Leeuwrik, Chief Ranger – Visitor Experience, Mason Neck State Park, FMN Chapter Co-Advisor Although Lifetime Passes may no longer be purchased to Virginia State Parks, they may be earned through logging volunteer hours. Here is a list of the benefits you may earn by logging hours. Those interested in volunteering at […]
Article and photo by Plant NOVA Natives Residents who are interested in installing solar panels often face a dilemma. Which is better for the environment, solar panels or shade trees? After all, climate change due to burning fossil fuels is threatening the very existence of trees, not to mention human beings, and the timeline for […]
Feature illustration: The Andromeda Galaxy Sky Area. Excerpted from https://in-the-sky.org/skymap.php. The excerpt is set to November 24, 2023 at 9:00 PM from Reston, VA, but any time and location may be selected. Notice the Great Square of Pegasus and the red oval above it. Article by and illustrations courtesy of FMN Stephen Tzikas The Andromeda […]
Photo: Plant NoVa Natives Article by Elaine Kolish, Vice Chair, Fairfax County Tree Commission, Certified Master Naturalist English Ivy is everywhere, in our neighborhoods, along our roads, and in our parks. It climbs over fences, covers sheds, and carpets forest floors. Unfortunately, many people think English Ivy is a benign plant that grows in the […]