The Greening the Greenway initiative is growing

By James Albright

The Greening the Greenway initiative is expanding its efforts to bring native plantings to Annandale. The project started last November with plantings in front of the ACCA Child Development Center on Columbia Pike.

The organizers are now identifying new locations along Columbia Pike for a spring planting project. The goal of Greening the Greenway is to create a series of gardens along the road using only plants native to the Northern Virginia ecosystem.

This effort grew out of community concerns about the loss of green spaces, the increased pace of impervious development, and the need to reduce the “heat island” effect of uninterrupted pavement.

Related story: New native garden graces Columbia Pike

Greening the Greenway takes its name from the still-developing Annandale Greenway community trail. The central part of the Greenway travels through the urban core of Annandale along Columbia Pike.

During the first year of Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez’s term, the Greener Mason Advisory Committee proposed enhancing the Greenway with plants along the length of the trail, which extends for more than a mile between Annandale Community Park and Green Spring Gardens.

The Greening the Greenway effort is an outgrowth of that recommendation, focusing on the central portion of the trail most in need of “greening” – between Evergreen Lane and Medford Drive.

The spring phase of the initiative calls for plantings at up to seven locations. Greening the Greenway’s partner, EarthSangha, is providing a significant discount on select native plants. EarthSangha’s Wild Plant Nursery is the region’s most comprehensive effort to propagate native plants directly from local forests and meadows.

The Greening the Greenway planting project will take place over a single weekend at the end of March or the beginning of April.

Landowners and businesses along Columbia Pike and adjacent to the Annandale Greenway are encouraged to join the initiative as potential planting sites. Each property owner or tenant will only need to provide access to the area and be willing to water the new plants, especially during periods of low rain.

Related story: Committee suggests ways to make Mason District greener

Volunteers will bring plants to the sites and clean up afterwards. While the effort is intended to be free to interested property owners and tenants, donations will not be refused. In addition, the planting weekend could serve as an excellent community-building opportunity for employees.

Thus far, the Greening the Greenway initiative organizers have funded the project and done all the work. With the expansion of the project this spring, we are seeking more community members to help with the planting.

Potential volunteers should contact [email protected]. Greenway organizers will share information about specific ways to help as our workdays get closer.

The overall cost of the spring plantings is expected to be around $1,000. If readers are interested in supporting Greening the Greenway, the remaining costs can be offset by making an online donation to EarthSangha.

To ensure your donation is reserved for this project, enter “Greening the Greenway” in the “First Name” box of the “In Honor/Memory of” section of the donation page. Donations to EarthSangha are tax-deductible. 

While you’re exploring the EarthSangha website, check out the other great work they are doing across Fairfax County.