Tag: gardening
Watch the Green Grow program encourages residents to protect the watershed
A native garden in Annandale. Fairfax County residents who take actions to protect the watershed – by not using toxic chemicals on their lawn or replacing invasives with native plants, for example – can chart their efforts on an interactive map. The map is part of the Park Authority’s Watch the Green Grow program, which … Continued
Fairfax County supervisors to consider banning plastic bags for yard waste
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is holding a hearing Feb. 23, 4 p.m., on a proposed ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags for yard waste collections. The proposed change is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in streams and soil, contaminating the environment.
Flowers for your vase: Go local
Elegance Formula Sweet Pea Mix from Johnny’s Seeds catalog. By Marie Reinsdorf Spring is on the way, and Culpeper County flower grower Bob Wollam is starting his sweet peas in a hoop house. They go in now to beat the heat but must be undercover where the soil won’t freeze. Sweet peas have a heavenly … Continued
Native seedling sale starts this week
American Beautyberry Orders open Feb. 2 for the 2021 native seedling sale hosted by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. Seedlings can be picked up April 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and April 17, 9 a.m.-noon at the Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet Club, 3516 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church.
With winter weather on the horizon, TaskTeens is available for snow shoveling
A teen gets the work done. [TaskTeens] TaskTeens, the online service that matches homeowners with teens available for yardwork, is ready for winter. The company, run by a high school student, has about 260 teens from all over the Northern Virginia area ready to perform all kinds of outdoor work. During the summer, most of … Continued
Gardeners encouraged to grow extra produce for food banks
People stuck at home are doing more home gardening, while local food banks are running out of fresh produce, due to the economic hardships resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Belvedere Elementary School environmental education teacher Stacey Evers put those two trends to together to launch Grow a Row FC, a program that encourages local gardeners … Continued
Rental goats clear out Annandale homeowner’s overgrown yard
Daffodil Cindy Carlson’s wooded backyard in the Sleepy Hollow Woods community in Annandale had gotten overgrown, and she didn’t want to use chemicals on the weeds or have people do the backbreaking work, so she invited Clover, Peanut, Snuggles, and five of their friends to take care of the problem. Clover et al are goats, … Continued
Annandale homeowners highlighted on Sustainable Garden Tour
The 2020 Sustainable Garden Tour features 11 incredible gardens from all over Fairfax County, including a native garden oasis and wildlife habitat created by Annandale residents Jeanne Kadet and Mike Perel. The annual garden tour, sponsored by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, is virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A … Continued
Green Spring Gardens offers curbside pickup for plant sales
The Green Springs plant shop. Green Spring Gardens is now offering phone orders and curbside pickup of plants from its Garden Gate Plant Shop. Gardeners who want to shop at Green Spring can go to the park’s website to access an order form listing the shrubs and perennials available, along with their size and price. … Continued
Yard waste collection to start next week
This is how Fairfax County wants people to bundle yard waste. Fairfax County will resume yard waste collection pickups the week of May 25, and started special pickups on May 18. The county had cut back on waste collection in March to protect sanitation workers during the pandemic. Yard waste – including grass trimmings, leaves, … Continued
TaskTeens matches homeowners with teens for yardwork
TaskTeens lets teens sign up for yardwork. [TaskTeens] TaskTeens is a new online service that connects homeowners who need yardwork done with local teens who can do the work. If it sounds similar to TeenServ, reported in the Annandale Blog in February, it is. TeenServ was created by three students at McLean High School. One … Continued
Community gardens reopen
The Bo White Gardens at Pine Ridge Park in Annandale. The Fairfax County community gardens have reopened, as of Wednesday, April 29. The garden plots will be available seven days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., weather permitting. “Since only the garden plots will be open and not the other park amenities, such as fields, shelters, … Continued
Gardeners urge Park Authority to reopen community garden plots
A sign closing the parking lot at Pine Ridge Park, barring access to the Bo White community gardens, as well as all other park facilities.. Many gardeners who rent plots from the Fairfax County Park Authority are unhappy that the community gardens are closed. All parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, picnic areas. and parking lots are … Continued
Fairfax County phasing out plastic bags for yard waste
Plastic bags like these will be banned for yard waste. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors took action Feb. 25 to begin phasing out the use of plastic bags for yard waste. The plastic bag ban will apply to residents whose yard waste is collected by private companies, as well as the county. This change … Continued
Native seedling sale underway
Common buttonbush The annual native tree and shrub seedling sale is underway. The sale is sponsored by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District with the goal of adding more native plans to the environment to prevent soil erosion, cleanse the air and water, provide a habitat for wildlife, and cool the climate. Eastern … Continued