Text and photos Leslie Cameron unless otherwise noted. Created in 1994 through federal legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Harris Wolford and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is observed across the country each year and is referred to as “A Day On, Not a Day Off.” The ArlingtonContinueContinue reading “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: “A Day On, Not a Day Off” in Potomac Overlook Regional Park”
Category Archives: Service Projects
2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Environmental Events
Please join your friends, neighbors, and fellow environmental stewards in participating in the following habitat restoration events during Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Enjoy the satisfaction of helping to restore these natural areas. Dress in layers for cold weather, bring work gloves, your own tools, if possible, your own water, and face mask. Please alsoContinueContinue reading “2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Environmental Events”
A Wild Turkey Moves to South Arlington
Text and photos by Leah Pellegrino, unless otherwise noted. In mid-November, residents of a South Arlington condo community welcomed a new, if unusual neighbor—a female Wild Turkey! No one quite knows where she came from, and no male (Tom) turkey has been spotted along with her. She spends her days in a wooded area nearContinueContinue reading “A Wild Turkey Moves to South Arlington”
Impact of White-Tailed Deer on Arlington’s Forests
by Leslie Cameron and Bill Browning In mid-November, ARMN members Bill Browning, Jeff Elder, Steve Young, and Leslie Cameron met with Arlington Parks and Recreation Conservation and Interpretation Manager Rachael Tolman to evaluate a deer “exclosure” in Gulf Branch Park. L-R: Rachael Tolman, Steve Young, Bill Browning, Jeff Elder at damaged Gulf Branch deer exclosure.ContinueContinue reading “Impact of White-Tailed Deer on Arlington’s Forests”
ARMN Ozone Garden Work Continues at Walter Reed Community Center
by Barbara Hoffheins, Todd Minners, Terri McPalmer, and Jon Bell In 2020, Arlington Regional Master Naturalist (ARMN) volunteers initiated the Ozone Garden with the cooperation and support of Arlington County Parks at Walter Reed Community Center (WRCC) located at 2909 16th St S, Arlington, VA 22204. (The beginnings of this project were reported in anContinueContinue reading “ARMN Ozone Garden Work Continues at Walter Reed Community Center”
Habitat Restoration at the Fairlington United Methodist Church
Text and images by Leslie Cameron, unless otherwise noted. On a recent sunny workday in October, volunteers worked to remove invasive plants and plant native shrubs in a habitat restoration area adjacent to the Fairlington United Methodist Church (FUMC), at 3900 King Street in Alexandria. FUMC Habitat Coordinator and Extension Master Gardener Anne Wilson, withContinueContinue reading “Habitat Restoration at the Fairlington United Methodist Church”
On-going LDS Volunteering Having a Huge Impact in Five Arlington Parks
By Tina Dudley Since October 2020, Cindy Lund has been assigning young men and women from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to work with ARMN Park Stewards for on-going, weekly volunteer service. Master Naturalist Glenn Tobin first met the LDS missionaries and Cindy, an LDS coordinator, through Trudy Roth of NationalContinueContinue reading “On-going LDS Volunteering Having a Huge Impact in Five Arlington Parks”
ARMN at the Arlington County Fair!
By Devin Reese Arlington County resident “Ace” visiting the ARMN table. Photo by Devin Reese. During the weekend of Aug. 21-22, ARMN volunteers staffed an information table at the Arlington County Fair. Adjacent to the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and 4-H Youth Development tables, we were in a great spot for collaboration and outreach withContinueContinue reading “ARMN at the Arlington County Fair!”
Battling Invasives at Glencarlyn Park
Text and Photos by Devin Reese, except as noted. Arlington Regional Master Naturalists have a vendetta against invasive plants because of the damage these invaders do to ecosystems. Invasive plants outcompete native plants, disrupting age-old relationships with insect pollinators and typically reducing the biodiversity of an area. Go on an invasives removal field trip withContinueContinue reading “Battling Invasives at Glencarlyn Park”
Revitalizing the Pollinator Garden at the Buddie Ford Nature Center
Text and photos by Leslie Cameron Arlington Regional Master Naturalists joined Extension Master Gardeners and community volunteers on July 17th in an ongoing effort to revitalize the pollinator garden next to the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center in Alexandria. This hillside pollinator garden contains native plants local to the area, including Upland Ironweed (Vernonia glauca),ContinueContinue reading “Revitalizing the Pollinator Garden at the Buddie Ford Nature Center”