Volunteers sort through a stream sample for macroinvertebrates. Photo by Jennifer Fletcher, City of Alexandria Communications. By Devin Reese Urban streams get dirty—from trash, discharges, and street runoff. Yet, they have the potential to be the lifeblood of communities, offering a place for fishing, boating, picnicking, biking, birdwatching, and various activities that attract people toContinueContinue reading “Citizens Help Gauge the Health of Alexandria’s Streams”
Category Archives: Stewardship
What’s Eating You, Emerald Ash Borer?
By Roderick Mackler Most of you have at least a passing familiarity with the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The bright green beetle is decimating the ash trees on the eastern half of North America, from Ontario to Virginia. Females lay their eggs in the crevices in the bark of ash trees (several species ofContinueContinue reading “What’s Eating You, Emerald Ash Borer?”
Many Hands Make Light of Heavy Work in Mt. Jefferson Park
Text and photos by Devin Reese unless otherwise noted Volunteers and their children install mulch for a new trail between plantings. Mt. Jefferson Park and Greenway in Alexandria is a remnant right of way for the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad train line from a time when Potomac Yard was still a wetland (see 1945ContinueContinue reading “Many Hands Make Light of Heavy Work in Mt. Jefferson Park”
2025 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events
Although the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service coincides with Inauguration Day in 2025, there are many volunteer events to help heal our environment during the weekend of Jan 18-20, 2025. Below are nearby opportunities to remove non-native invasive plants and help restore natural ecosystems, while enjoying time outdoors with community members in ourContinueContinue reading “2025 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events”
Leaving a “Legacy on this Planet”: A Collaborative Tree-planting Event and Demonstration
by Devin Reese (text and photos) Saturday, September 28th was an unusual day in Alexandria’s Mt. Jefferson Park. A four-part collaboration (between the City’s Urban Forestry department, Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria, Alexandria Beautification Commission, and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) inspired more than two dozen people to lend a hand in planting trees. ByContinueContinue reading “Leaving a “Legacy on this Planet”: A Collaborative Tree-planting Event and Demonstration”
Reestablishing Itea virginica at Little Hunting Creek
By Matt Bright Founded in 1997, the Earth Sangha operates a volunteer-based ecological restoration program for the greater Washington, DC, region. The program is designed to conserve and restore the native plant communities that are essential to the region’s ecological health. At the heart of the program is our Wild Plant Nursery, the region’s mostContinueContinue reading “Reestablishing Itea virginica at Little Hunting Creek”
2024 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Domain (Wikimedia Commons). Volunteer to help heal our environment on Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service Weekend, Jan 13-15, 2024. There are many nearby opportunities to remove non-native invasive plants and help restore natural ecosystems, while enjoying time outdoors with community members in our area’s beautiful parksContinueContinue reading “2024 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events”
Seasons of Care for Arlington Central Library Gardens
Text and photos by Devin Reese, unless otherwise noted. Arlington Central Library Native Plant Garden. Photo by Todd Minners. If you take a walk around the Arlington Central Library, you can’t miss the gardens. Even on a fall day when deciduous plants have let go their leaves and annuals have died, the mosaic of treesContinueContinue reading “Seasons of Care for Arlington Central Library Gardens”
It Takes a Community to Nurture a Habitat
Text and photos by Jackie Rivas Our natural world is under siege by invasive plant species that outcompete native species for sunlight and water, quickly overwhelming the native habitat and eliminating food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. We have a biodiversity crisis, and these invasive species are part of the problem. Fortunately,ContinueContinue reading “It Takes a Community to Nurture a Habitat”
Bluebirds Find New Homes in Barcroft Park
By Liz Macklin Early this spring in Arlington’s Barcroft Park, in clearings far from busy athletic fields, volunteers installed two boxes for nesting Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis). Painted white to minimize heat from the sun, the boxes sat atop tall metal poles with baffles attached to prevent hungry snakes and other predators from climbing. WireContinueContinue reading “Bluebirds Find New Homes in Barcroft Park”