Text and photos by Devin Reese, unless otherwise noted. Park Steward Terri McPalmer wielding the weed wrench while Colt Gregory looks on. When I arrived to volunteer for a recent invasive removal event at Fort Scott Park in South Arlington, I was drawn to Park Steward Terri McPalmer’s wheelbarrow full of gloves, poison ivy protection,ContinueContinue reading “Clipping, Pulling, and Uprooting Invasive Plants to Restore Fort Scott Park“
Author Archives: ARMNed
ARMN Ozone Bio-indicator Garden: Report From the 2022 Growing Season
by Leslie Cameron The ozone bio-indicator garden at the Walter Reed Community Center (WRCC) is concluding its second full growing season. Arlington Regional Master Naturalists installed the garden in 2020 and are collecting data on the impact of tropospheric or ground level-ozone air pollution on plants, in cooperation with NASA, the Harvard Smithsonian Center forContinueContinue reading “ARMN Ozone Bio-indicator Garden: Report From the 2022 Growing Season”
Arlington County Fair: Candy Worms, Native Plants, and a “Spotted Lanternfly” Make a Fun Event for Visitors and Master Naturalists Alike
Text and photos by Marj Signer More than two dozen ARMN members shared their love of nature with numerous visitors at the Arlington County Fair, August 19-21 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center. The ARMN exhibit space provided an opportunity for members of the public to learn about their master naturalist neighbors’ passion about nature.ContinueContinue reading “Arlington County Fair: Candy Worms, Native Plants, and a “Spotted Lanternfly” Make a Fun Event for Visitors and Master Naturalists Alike“
Catch that “Running Bamboo” in Fairfax County or Risk a Fine!
By Elaine Kolish During the dog days of summer, it may be difficult to look ahead to January. But for property owners and tenants in Fairfax County with “running bamboo” in their yards, January 1, 2023, is an important date to mark now. On that date, a Fairfax County Bamboo Ordinance goes into effect toContinueContinue reading “Catch that “Running Bamboo” in Fairfax County or Risk a Fine!“
Arlington’s Native Plant Nursery Restores Our Area’s Native Flora
Text and photos by Leslie Cameron. (Photos were taken on a July 12, 2022 workday unless otherwise noted.) Historically, Arlington County is home to 28% of the native plant species in Virginia—representing substantial plant diversity in the county’s 26 square miles. Unfortunately, Arlington has lost an estimated 200 of these native plant species. Though 600ContinueContinue reading “Arlington’s Native Plant Nursery Restores Our Area’s Native Flora”
Getting to Know You: Three Extraordinary Members of ARMN’s Fall 2021 Class!
By Elaine Kolish After a bit of a hiatus in our GTKY series, we’re introducing you to three more individuals in our ARMN family. Let me present Tina Dudley, Dan Huddleston, and Elise Milstein, who completed their Master Naturalist training AND certification requirements in Fall 2021. According to Janet Siddle, ARMN Training Coordinator, “it isContinueContinue reading “Getting to Know You: Three Extraordinary Members of ARMN’s Fall 2021 Class!”
ARMN Summer Chapter Meeting Highlights the Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation and Mini Bioblitz
Text and photos by Rod Mackler, unless otherwise noted. ARMN held its summer chapter meeting in Alexandria’s Four Mile Run Park. The “Arlington Region” for the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists includes Alexandria, Falls Church City, and parts of Fairfax County, as well as Arlington County. It was a glorious day, with temperatures in the 70sContinueContinue reading “ARMN Summer Chapter Meeting Highlights the Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation and Mini Bioblitz”
Stemming Erosion and Shoring Up a Learning Space in the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center Pollinator Garden
Text and photos by Devin Reese The nearly complete retaining wall brings a smile to the face of Master Naturalist Adam Vogel (right). Explains Master Naturalist Valerie LaTortue who stewards the Pollinator Garden at the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center, “Today, we are working on a teaching area and rainwater garden. When it rains hard,ContinueContinue reading “Stemming Erosion and Shoring Up a Learning Space in the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center Pollinator Garden”
It Takes a Village: Native Plant Sale at Long Branch Nature Center
Customer Evelyn picking up plants from Park Naturalist Jaron Winters. Text and Photos by Devin Reese Lots of customers came to Long Branch Nature Center on Saturday, May 7th, to pick up plants they had pre-ordered from the biannual Arlington County Native Plant Sale. When I first arrived to volunteer, I saw several people alreadyContinueContinue reading “It Takes a Village: Native Plant Sale at Long Branch Nature Center“
When Gardening for Wildlife, Pick Local Natives Over Cultivars Every Time
By Nancy Cleeland and Kasha Helget. Photos by Toni Genberg unless otherwise noted. Looking to attract more insects, birds, and other wildlife to your garden by planting native species? Bravo! With only about 10 percent of our region dedicated to conservation lands, private native gardens are essential for maintaining healthy biodiversity. But not all “native”ContinueContinue reading “When Gardening for Wildlife, Pick Local Natives Over Cultivars Every Time”