By Cliff Fairweather Long Branch naturalist Cliff Fairweather reveals the secrets beneath the surface of winter freeze. In summer, the ponds at Long Branch and Gulf Branch Nature Centers are a lively places. Green Frogs and bullfrogs sit along the edge or float in the water. Turtles bask on logs and rocks. NorthernContinueContinue reading “Under the Ice”
Category Archives: News
Application Period Open for ARMN Spring 2015 Training Class
Taking the ARMN basic training course changed my life. It opened up so many opportunities to meet great people, get outdoors, and educate the community about nature and its preservation. ~a current ARMN-certified master naturalist Have a passion for nature? Want to learn how to channel that passion and share it with your community? ApplyContinueContinue reading “Application Period Open for ARMN Spring 2015 Training Class”
MLK Day Service Opportunities
The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is now nationally recognized as a day of service. On January 19, join ARMN volunteers and other like-minded community members at these earth-friendly projects at the times and locations listed. You can also take advantage of upcoming weekend service opportunities listed here in the spirit of Dr. King. WeContinueContinue reading “MLK Day Service Opportunities”
Restoring Upper Lucky Run: Marginal Mess to Native Meadow
Author Jim Hurley is the outgoing ARMN service committee chair. Here, he describes the transformation of a small patch of Arlington County parkland. Text and photos by Jim Hurley In January 2009, after years of looking at a tangled jungle of invasive shrubs and exotic vines climbing into stressed trees along a 100-yard wooded margin onContinueContinue reading “Restoring Upper Lucky Run: Marginal Mess to Native Meadow”
Meet the Litter Critters
Cliff Fairweather Park Naturalist, Long Branch Nature Center It happens every autumn, the leaves turn color and then drop to the ground. So why don’t the leaves pile up to the branches, along with all the twigs, branch, and logs that fall throughout the year? A vast army of organisms recycles all that organic materialContinueContinue reading “Meet the Litter Critters”
Five Favorite Woody and Perennial Native Plants
Just in time for the fall native plant sales (See sidebar), ARMN volunteer Kasha Helget shares some of her favorites for landscaping. by Kasha Helget I grow a number of native plants in my yard, but there are some real standouts that deserve special recognition. Here are five each of shrubs and perennials and theContinueContinue reading “Five Favorite Woody and Perennial Native Plants”
Going Batty at Gulf Branch
We’ve all heard of Christmas in July, but how about Halloween in August? The annual Gulf Branch Nature Center Bat Fest on Saturday, August 16, definitely had the feel of a Halloween preview with its celebration of all things bat. The planet’s only true flying mammals got their moment in the sun…er, dusk…with aContinueContinue reading “Going Batty at Gulf Branch”
A Red-shoulder’s Red Letter Day
by Mary Martha Churchman On July 11, a Red-shouldered Hawk soared into the trees at Turkey Run Park, as an excited crowd of about forty fans––including ARMN members––watched and applauded and four local TV news channels filmed the release. The bird’s journey to that moment began one evening in early April, when Mark Stein wasContinueContinue reading “A Red-shoulder’s Red Letter Day”
ARMN Announces Fall 2014 Training Class
Arlington Regional Master Naturalists is offering a Fall 2014 Basic Training Course beginning September 8 through December 8, 2014, on Mondays from 9 am to 3 pm at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington, and other locations around the county. (Please note that here will be no class on October 13.) Classroom training will beContinueContinue reading “ARMN Announces Fall 2014 Training Class”
Confessions of an Invasives Hitman
By Steve Young For years, while mercilessly killing non-native invasive plants at Long Branch Nature Center, I have harbored the admitted fantasy that the invasives removal will magically reveal some cool, unexpected native plants. And to be sure, I have seen some nice native plants and have been able to track how many of themContinueContinue reading “Confessions of an Invasives Hitman”