nature Archives - Page 7 of 13

Environmental Film Festival Oct. 31

October 26, 2016

#arts, #community events, #entertainment, #environment, #nature, #NOVA

Here’s something fun to do on Halloween that doesn’t involve dressing up or pumpkins – Attend the free Environmental Film Festival at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College. It’s Oct. 31, 1-4:30 p.m., in the Ernst Center. NOVA and the Fairfax County Restoration Project invite the public to “learn about a brighter environmental future … Continued

Native plant garden in Annandale is collaborative project

October 15, 2016

#education, #environment, #gardening, #nature, #water, #youths

The Packard Center A new native plant garden is springing to life near the Hidden Oaks Nature Center through the combined efforts of the Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), students at Poe and Luther Jackson middle schools, and volunteers. The new garden is located at the site of … Continued

Improvements to White Gardens to start this summer

June 3, 2016

#gardening, #history, #nature, #parks

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is starting work this summer on improvements to the John C. & Margaret K. White Gardens, a 13-acre park in Falls Church between Annandale Road and Sleepy Hollow Road. The Whites had cultivated rhododendrons and azaleas on the property, which they purchased in 1939. After John died, Margaret sold … Continued

New Master Plan approved for Green Spring Gardens

June 2, 2016

#gardening, #history, #nature, #parks, #Recreation

One of the ponds at Green Spring Gardens. A revised Master Plan for Green Spring Gardens calls for a potential expansion of the Horticulture Center, an outdoor classroom, a greater focus on historic preservation, and improved pedestrian and bicycle access. The new plan, approved by the Park Authority Board in April, serves as a guide … Continued

Residents discuss options on future of Lake Accotink

May 17, 2016

#environment, #infrastructure, #Lake Accotink, #nature, #parks, #Recreation, #stormwater, #streams, #wildlife

About 100 people attend a meeting at Kings Glen Elementary School in Springfield on the future of Lake Accotink. Members of the public heard about five options for dealing with the silt build-up in Lake Accotink, including the possibility of severely limiting the size of the lake or even transforming it into wetlands. Dozens of … Continued

Lake Barcroft celebrates Earth Day

April 26, 2016

#community events, #environment, #Lake Barcroft, #nature, #water, #wildlife

Kent Knowles, president of the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia, with a gyrfalcon. Lake Barcroft residents celebrated the community’s seventh annual Earth Day Sunday with a birds of prey demonstration, native plants and seeds, barge rides, and displays from organizations that promote sustainability and protect the environment. Lake Barcroft supports at least 22 fish species, including … Continued

A week of free activities at Green Spring Gardens planned for early May

April 23, 2016

#community events, #gardening, #nature, #parking

The Historic House at Green Spring Gardens. Green Spring Gardens is hosting free events every morning May 1-6 during its celebration of Visitor Appreciation Week. Each event will be followed by afternoon refreshments in the Horticulture Center. Here’s the lineup: On Monday, May 2, at 11 a.m., visitors are invited to join Green Spring Master … Continued

Volunteers clean up Oak Hill Park

April 10, 2016

#nature, #parks, #volunteers

Volunteers cleared a trail that had been overgrown. Oak Hill Park in Annandale is looking a lot nicer, thanks to the efforts of a group of neighbors who formed the Friends of Oak Hill Park. The group organized volunteers to clean up trash and remove invasive plants and established a working relationship with Fairfax County … Continued

Invasive insects destroying local ash trees

March 24, 2016

#environment, #gardening, #nature, #wildlife

This pest is killing ash trees. [Emerald Ash Borer Network] If you have an ash tree, it’s most likely infected with the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that has killed millions of ash trees in the United States since 2003. The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is urging residents to … Continued

Park Authority urged to protect the natural resources at Lake Accotink

March 15, 2016

#environment, #Lake Accotink, #nature, #parks, #trails

The marina area at Lake Accotink. People who enjoy Lake Accotink Park want the natural resources preserved and don’t want more paved surfaces. At least that was the theme of a community meeting March 14 hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority. More than 130 people crammed into the cafeteria of Cardinal Forest Elementary School … Continued

Scene around A-Town: Frogs!

February 28, 2016

#animals, #nature, #parks, #streams, #trails, #wildlife

I’ve walked along the Holmes Run Stream Valley trail several times a month for years and never saw anything like this: On Sunday, Feb. 28, a large puddle next to the trail was filled with hundreds of very loud frogs. This was on the part of the trail in Annandale near Round Tree Park. The … Continued

Fairfax County to revise master plan for Lake Accotink

February 26, 2016

#community events, #environment, #Lake Accotink, #nature, #parks, #Recreation, #streams, #water

The Fairfax County Park Authority is beginning the process of revising the master plan for Lake Accotink Park. A public meeting on the plan revision will be held March 14, 7 p.m., at Cardinal Forest Elementary School. Fairfax Board Chair Sharon Bulova; supervisors John Cook (Braddock), Jeff McKay (Lee), and Pat Herrity (Springfield); and members … Continued

Friends group forming for Oak Hill Park

January 28, 2016

#nature, #parks, #volunteers

An overgrown trail in Oak Hill Park. [Glen Erickson Bell] Oak Hill Park in Annandale has long been neglected by the Fairfax County Park Authority. Nearby residents have done some maintenance on their own over the years, but now Glen Erickson Bell is mobilizing his neighbors to become more active advocates by creating a friends … Continued

An upsurge in coyote sightings

January 12, 2016

#animals, #nature, #police, #wildlife

A coyote pup seen last summer in Falls Church. [FCPD] There’s been an increase in coyote sightings in Fairfax County in recent months. The animals are now considered “established and widespread” in the county, states a post in the Fairfax County Police Department blog. Coyotes could prey on free-range cats and small dogs, so residents … Continued

Scene around A-Town: Nature in action

January 1, 2016

#nature, #street scenes, #wildlife

Eddie Haskell Carlstrom took this photo of what looks like a Cooper’s hawk feasting on a squirrel in his backyard in Broyhill Crest in Annandale on New Year’s Day. There has been a sighting of a bald eagle off Evergreen Lane. If anyone gets a photo please send it in.

Tag: nature