A determined and energetic group of allies put their hearts, souls, and backs into transforming a tangled, rocky slope into a smooth bed ready for native plants on Saturday August 17th. Their combined efforts transformed a large embankment alongside the W&OD Trail in Arlington where it runs past Bon Air Park. Project coordinator Patrick Wegeng,ContinueContinue reading “Take Back the W&OD Trail in Bon Air Park”
Tag Archives: stewardship
Homeowners save wildlife by creating a green network across Northern Virginia
By Leigh Pickering In the past month, seven local properties have joined the ranks of homeowners creating a green network for wildlife in Arlington and Alexandria. This critical work is intended to blunt the impact of habitat loss in our area by providing small sanctuaries desperately needed for the survival of wildlife in our increasinglyContinueContinue reading “Homeowners save wildlife by creating a green network across Northern Virginia”
“Grasses for the Masses” workshops
By Kasha Helget ARMN volunteers conducted two “Grasses for the Masses” workshops at the Fairlington Community Center in February, 2013 in a program sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for Virginia residents all over the state. During the workshops, a total of 35 individuals, families, and teachers received simple kits and instructions to grow underwaterContinueContinue reading ““Grasses for the Masses” workshops”
Seed Cleaning Begins
By Rodney Olsen On Monday, Feb. 4, master naturalists and sundry others gathered at Long Branch Nature Center for the first Earth Sangha seed cleaning of the winter season. Fourteen people in all enjoyed conversing while preparing Common milkweed, Deertongue grass, and Virginia wild rye seeds for spring planting. For those of you who wishContinueContinue reading “Seed Cleaning Begins”
ARMN sponsors third annual seed-cleaning extravaganza
By Rodney Olsen On Feb. 4, Feb. 11, and Feb. 25, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at Long Branch Nature Center, ARMN will sponsor the equivalent of a quilting bee or a barn-raising. THE EXTRAORDINARY THIRD ANNUAL EARTH SANGHA SEED-CLEANING EXTRAVAGANZA Please join the Monday gatherings of Master Naturalists for this vital service inContinueContinue reading “ARMN sponsors third annual seed-cleaning extravaganza”
A fun day battling against English ivy
By Sue Dingwell Who would have thought that on a freezing day in January on a bare-tree, brown slope of an urban park you would find an occasion for laughter, joy, and triumph? Not me. I had dressed for the weather in my waterproof boots, and brought along my ivy-fighting tools to join the ARMN Master Naturalists in the mighty battle against English ivy at Barcroft Park on the MLK Day of Service. On the Barcroft Park website, twenty-two lines are given to the description of amenities at the park, which include playing fields, picnic tables, and so on. What they don’t mention is that the park is also the site of several 200-year-old trees, more than 45 acres of native woodlands, and a magnificent magnolia bog with several species of endangered plants. On this wintry morning, our little group was surprised to find an unexpected flood of participants pouring in toContinueContinue reading “A fun day battling against English ivy”
Join ARMN for MLK National Day of Service events
Throughout the year, ARMN volunteers contribute to a myriad of service activities that benefit our neighborhoods and communities. For Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, ARMN inivites you to join our dedicated volunteers to honor Dr. King’s legacy by participating in two of our focus service projects to restore habitat in Barcroft Park and in Tuckahoe Park. Barcroft Park January 19th at 9:30 am Our main focus will be to clear ivy off the trees so that IPC (Invasive Plant Control), Arlington County’s contractor, willContinueContinue reading “Join ARMN for MLK National Day of Service events”
ARMN celebrates successes in 2012
By John Bernard and Jim Hurley The Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) had our monthly Board meeting and end-of-year Chapter meeting on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the Fairlington Community Center. The Chapter meeting also included an art show and party. Over 60 people attended, including at least 54 ARMN members. ARMN members brought and displayed their artwork which included photograph porfolios and other creations. After the businessContinueContinue reading “ARMN celebrates successes in 2012”
Rod Simmons on ecological restoration
By Monique Wong How useful is the idea of planting on public lands as a part of ecological restoration? How do we create a solid conservation agenda for a natural area that is degraded in various ways? How do we know that we are getting it right? What are the pitfalls of using cultivars? What are theContinueContinue reading “Rod Simmons on ecological restoration”
Top 10 Tips for Holiday Waste Reduction
By Kent Taylor 1. Reuse foam peanuts. Most packaging materials for shipping can be used more than once. 2. Compost your leftover food. It’s easy and makes for a great fertilizer! 3. Wrap creatively. Use comics, old maps, sheet music, fabric/wallpaper scraps. And use fun tins and food boxes you crush and recycle for giftContinueContinue reading “Top 10 Tips for Holiday Waste Reduction”