Winter Symposium & Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Short Course Homes and Habitats, February 12th and 13th

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Image: Courtesy of the Winter Symposium & CVNLA Short Course

 

Wednesday, February 12 & Thursday, February 13, 2025
9:00 am – 3:55 pm

In-Person OR Virtually, via Zoom

Click here for more session information and ticket/registration details.

Presented by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, and Virginia Cooperative Extension

Explore the intricate relationships that exist between ecosystems, communities, and humankind, focusing on the importance of the reciprocal relationships between plants, animals, and humans. Learn how, as gardeners and landscape professionals, can steward the land to support our natural ecosystems, foster biodiversity and build resiliency in our changing climate.

Join the sessions on Wednesday, February 12 and Thursday, February 13 to hear a variety of engaging experts including Silvermoon LaRose (Assistant Director of the Tomaquag Museum), Jared Rosenbaum (author of Wild Plant Culture: A Guide to Restoring Native Edible and Medicinal Plant Communities), James Golden (author of The View from Federal Twist: a New Way of Thinking about Gardens, Nature and Ourselves), Jared Barnes, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Horticulture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX), Robert Shaut (Casey Trees), Kasey Yturralde (USDA Forest Service), Jessie Ward (Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories) and many more.

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 SESSIONS

OHKEHTEAU UNNEHTONGQUATASH, PLANT STORIES
Silvermoon LaRose, Tomaguag Museum

WILD PLANT CULUTRE: RESTORING NATIVE EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANT COMMUNITIES

Jared Rosenbaum,Wild Ridge Plants, LLC

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: MICRO PLANTINGS FOR MACRO IMPACT

Dr. Jared Barnes, Stephen F Austin State University

PLANTING TREES IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: ADAPTING TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SHIFTS
Robert Shaut, Casey Trees

THE VIEWFROM FEDERAL TWIST: A NEWWAY OF THINKING ABOUT GARDENS, NATURE, AND OURSELVES

James Golden, Author

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 SESSIONS

CULTURAL CONTROL: AN IPM TOOL FOR PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Jessie Ward, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

SUPPORTING RESILIENT FORESTS AND COMMUNITIES IN A TIME OF CHANGE
Kasey Yturralde, USDA Forest Service

A CELEBRATION OF ECCENTRICITIES – FAMOUS PLANT PEOPLE AND THEIR PLANTS
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery

TINY HOMES FOR TINY INSECTS – ADVANCES IN INSECT GALL DEVELOPMENT
Sarah Melissa Witiak, Virginia State Universit

CHASING THE BLOOM IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

Don Hyatt, American Rhododendron Society

 

Five Lessons We Can Learn from Plants, March 13th

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Image: Courtesy of the Clifton Institute

Thursday, March 13, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 PM

This is a virtual event

This is a free seminar.

Registration is required. Click here for registration details.

A Clifton Institue Presentation

As pet owners, bird watchers, and animals ourselves, we are very familiar with how animal bodies work and what animals need to survive. It’s easy to overlook the plants that are quietly living their lives around us all the time. But there’s a lot we can learn by paying attention to plants. In this Zoom presentation, Co-Director and plant enthusiast Eleanor Harris, Ph.D., will share some of the life lessons we can learn from plants, some of the mind-boggling ways they are different from animals, and some things we all have in common. Consider this a little Botany 101 to kickstart your relationship with plants before the growing season really gets going.

Saving Coral Reefs in the Sunshine State, with Mote Marine Laboratory, Webinar, January 21st

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Photo: Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) by James G. Douglass via iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC-4.0)

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
7 – 8:30 pm
Register here.

Florida’s coral reefs have lost over 95% of their living coral cover over the last 50 years and are on the brink of functional extinction. In Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s (SERC) first evening science talk of the year, Dr. Erinn Muller will reveal how scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory are meeting the dire need for active coral restoration. She’ll touch on methods like coral nursery rearing and outplanting, and present the latest research helping restored corals resist disease and adapt to climate change. She will also highlight the importance of live coral biobanking and cryopreservation. In the race against environmental degradation, Mote scientists have created an International Coral Gene Bank as a “Noah’s Ark for coral species preservation.”

Dr. Muller is an Associate Vice President for Research, a Senior Scientist, and the Coral Health and Disease Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory and the Director of Mote’s International Coral Gene Bank – a ‘Noah’s Ark for coral species preservation’. Dr. Muller’s research focuses on identifying corals that are resilient to major threats such as climate change and coral disease to help inform Mote’s coral restoration activities. Dr. Muller has studied coral health and disease for the last 20 years, researching reefs around the world including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys and Saudi Arabia. She has over 70 publications in peer-reviewed journals, co-authored several book chapters, been a mentor for over 50 undergraduate interns and graduate students. She also helped co-create a research-based after school program for high school students in the Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Vernal Pools from Ice Age to Space Age, Webinar, February 13th

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Photo: Vernal pool  by Michael Hayslett

Thursday, February 13, 2025
7 – 8:30 pm
Register here.

Join Virginia Native Plant Society Potowmack Chapter and vernal pool expert Michael Hayslett who will present “Vernal Pools from Ice Age to Space Age.”

A vernal pool is a form of temporary, freshwater wetland that contains water for a portion of the year and supports a fantastic array of wildlife and plants, some specially adapted for these habitats and many being rare species in Virginia. Vernal pools are often found in the floodplain of a stream, in seasonally-flooded woodlands, as sinkhole ponds, or where rainwater and snow collect in forest depressions.
[https://virginiavernalpools.com]

Mike Hayslett pioneered vernal pool awareness in Virginia. With over 30 years of traveling the state educating, studying pools, and advising on these freshwater wetlands, he became known as “Virginia’s leading vernal pools expert.” He promotes conservation of these unique habitats, and helps communities and landowners better understand, appreciate and manage their vernal pool wetlands and related wildlife.

Calling All Teachers: Apply for NVBA’s Hog Island Scholarship by February 25th

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Photo: Walker Golder/Audubon Photography Awards, Atlantic Puffins 

Each year Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA) offers a full scholarship and transportation to “Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week” at National Audubon Society’s Hog Island Camp in Maine.

Hog Island Audubon Camp has offered environmental education programs for adults, teens, families and conservation leaders since 1936. While there, educators learn interdisciplinary hands-on methods and approaches to environmental education while immersed in the natural world. Educator’s Week in the coming year is August 10-15. To learn more and apply, click here.

Please help spread the word by sharing this with any teachers you know in northern Virginia. Thank you!

Restoring Mussels to Our Rivers, In Person Only, February 23rd

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Sunday, February 23, 2025
3 pm (informal social hour begins at 2 pm)
Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria VA

No RSVP needed

Mussels are nature’s water-based “cleanup crew.” One adult mussel can clean up to 10 liters of water per day.

Friends of Dyke Marsh is hosting Dean Nauioks of the Potomac Riverkeeper to describe Potomac Riverkeeper Network’s 50 Million Mussel Project (https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/50-million-mussel-project/). Their goal is to restore this important bivalve to the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.

This presentation is cosponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited, Friends of Mason Neck State Park, Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation, Friends of Little Hunting Creek and the Prince William Conservation Alliance.

Ranger at the Refuge: Tundra Swans, Dec 7th (Other Dates Available)

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Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge

 

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers. Each year, these incredible birds undertake a remarkable migration from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra to warmer winter habitats. Along the way, they face numerous challenges, including harsh weather and finding suitable feeding areas. During your visit, you’ll learn about their impressive strength and stamina as they fly thousands of miles to return to the tundra they call home.

Where

Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA 22079.

Please note: There are two observation deck locations: the Woodmarsh Trail or Great Marsh Trail. 

The Woodmarsh Trail offers a scenic 2.5-mile loop that winds through diverse habitats, providing the perfect backdrop for bird watching.

The Great Marsh Trail is a 1.3-mile accessible paved trail, making it suitable for all visitors, including those with mobility challenges. This trail allows everyone to experience the marsh ecosystem up close while enjoying the accessibility of a paved surface.

When

Meet rangers stationed at the observation decks at either the Woodmarsh Trail or Great Marsh Trail) – Jan. 1, 2025. 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meet rangers stationed at the observation decks at the Woodmarsh Trail – Jan. 4, 2025. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet rangers stationed at the observation decks at the Woodmarsh Trail – Jan. 5, 2025. 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Meet rangers stationed at the observation decks at the Great Marsh Trail – Jan. 18, 2025. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet rangers stationed at the observation decks at the Great Marsh Trail – Jan. 19, 2025. 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Other details

Standard parking or admission fee applies: No.
Extra fee: No.
Registration required: No.
Children welcome: Yes.
Phone: 703-339-2385
Email Address: [email protected]

Event types

National Events | Outdoor/Nature/Natural History

 

Building Back Bird Diversity: Best Management Practices That Really Work!, Webinar, December 17th

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Graphic: Evan Barrientos/Audubon

Tuesday, December 17, 2024
7 – 8 pm
Register here.

Join Northern Virginia Bird Alliance for Justin Proctor’s presentation on bird-friendly best management practices to apply across rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. His talk will explore strategies, technical assistance, and cost-share programs that can greatly simplify and accelerate your adopting and putting into effect practices that increase habitat and biodiversity on your property. Specific practices to be covered include how to convert lawns into functional grasslands, transitioning to zero emission landscaping equipment, reducing and refining landscape management, dark skies lighting, and many more.

Justin Proctor is a conservation biologist with the Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes program. He is based in Front Royal, VA. He coordinates the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, working to assist producers and landowners in adopting a suite of best management practices for bird conservation on their landscapes. Justin has spent 15+ years working in the fields of science, education, and conservation, affording him opportunities to conduct ornithological research across the western hemisphere. Justin is excited to be a part of an initiative that takes science and turns it into action that benefits biodiversity, landscape resiliency, farmer livelihoods, and local communities.

Project Learning Tree – How to get Involved

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Project Learning Tree® (PLT) is an international program that works with thousands of teachers each year, giving them award-winning environmental education curriculum materials and training to help them weave the environment into their everyday lesson plans and take their students outdoors to learn.

Virginia PLT is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Forestry Association, and the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources & the Environment. Project Learning Tree is one of the cornerstone environmental education curricula and its current guides contain activities that are engaging, hands-on, & aligned with the state’s education standards.

VMN is working to build volunteer involvement in Project Learning Tree, which is a fantastic environmental education curriculum for youth. Involvement by VMN volunteers can include taking the PLT educator workshop (learning to use the curriculum for youth programs), taking the PLT facilitator training (learning to train other educators, such as fellow VMN volunteers in how to use the curriculum), facilitating programs for youth using the curriculum, and/or giving training workshops for other educators (for those who complete the facilitator training.)

To this end, our FMN Chapter has approved PLT as a CE Provider and established Activity Service code E003: Project Learning Tree Facilitator.
FMN CE hours may be recorded for taking the required training and then service hours may be recorded for actually preparing material and teaching the curriculum.

Project Learning Tree has two components where VMNs can be involved:

1. The educator workshops are eligible for continuing education hours per the discretion of the local chapter. Those are offered around the state at various times throughout the year.

2. Part two is adding an Outreach service code for trained PLT instructors for when they actually teach course criteria. They can’t teach until they have been trained. PLT sessions could be arranged with schools or county nature centers.

Educator Workshops may also be arranged for a specific chapter, which segues to the ‘big ask’ of this article. FMN Wendy Cohen, is a certified facilitator and has volunteered to lead a workshop for our chapter. PLT likes to have at least ten people attend these workshops. Because of the preparation required to develop a chapter workshop, FMN would like to gauge the potential interest of our membership.

FMN is targeting the workshop for the February/March 2025 timeframe.

FMN is not asking for a commitment at this time but if there is potential interest on your part to participate in a workshop, please respond with a ‘Yes, I am interested in a workshop in [Feb or Mar or either]’ to the following email address:

Jerry Nissley (Hours co-chair) – [email protected]

Results will be communicated in January 2025.

Acknowledgements:

Cover photo by Kara Zimmerman – Bigleaf Magnolia leaf found by Isaac. Kids love nature programs.

Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) 2025 Internship Opportunities!

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Image: Virginia Working Landscapes and Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) is a program of Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) that promotes the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land use through research, education, and community engagement. Interns will have a unique opportunity to develop skills in wildlife biodiversity research, native species conservation, and sustainable land use practices on Virginia’s working landscapes, while connecting with professionals in the Smithsonian’s network.

Benefits of interning with VWL: 

  • Participation in current research on grassland biodiversity in Virginia.
  • Participation in multiple projects that will reinforce their skills in biodiversity monitoring and conservation.
  • Connections with partnering conservation organizations working in various areas of conservation.
  • Exchange of ideas with researchers in different science areas at NZCBI.
  • Participation in seminars, VWL workshops and events, and other educational activities at NZCBI.

They are currently accepting applications for an Avian Point Count Internship, Grassland Plant Ecology Internship, Cavity-Nesting Birds & Arthropod Research Internship, and Conservation Storytelling Internship!

Please click here to learn about each position and how to apply.

At VWL, they value the strength that comes from a variety of perspectives and experiences, and we are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive space for our entire team. As such, we encourage individuals from all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for our internship opportunities.