VNPS Potowmack Chapter

VNPS Potowmack News

Subscribe to the Virginia Native Plant Society Potowmack chapter listserve! Join on our Yahoo Groups page or send a blank email to vnps-pot-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Subscribe to posts

January Lecture Rescheduled!

posted Jan 21, 2012 3:09 PM by Marty Nielsen

Due to an electrical issue at Green Spring Gardens the talk scheduled for last Thursday, January 19th has been rescheduled for Thursday February 2nd at 7:30pm. So for those who weren't going to be able to make it you have a 2nd chance!

A Bee’s Eye View of Native Plants

Thursday, February 2, 2012

7:30 pm

Green Spring Gardens

4603 Green Spring Road

Alexandria, Virginia

703-642-5173

FREE

Reverse the lens and look at native plants from the perspective of a key slice of life that is tied to these plants...bees. Regionally, there are over 400 species of native bees and many are only found on the flowers of specific plants. Why 400? Why not just one kind of bee? The complexity of color, architecture, and phenology of native flowers is a clue to that relationship. Explore the plant-pollinator relationship from the bee point of view and learn why what we plant has consequences for these fascinating creatures.

Speaker: Sam Droege is a biologist with the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. He is currently working on several projects regarding native bees.

Winter Newsletter Now Online!

posted Jan 19, 2012 8:57 PM by Marty Nielsen

Newsletter

January Meeting - A Bee’s Eye View of Native Plants

posted Dec 29, 2011 2:18 PM by Marty Nielsen

Speaker: Sam Droege is a biologist with the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. He is currently working on several projects regarding native bees. In this talk Sam will reverse the lens and look at native plants from the perspective of a key slice of life that is tied to these plants...bees. Regionally, there are over 400 species of native bees and many are only found on the flowers of specific plants. Why 400? Why not just one kind of bee? The complexity of color, architecture, and phenology of native flowers is a clue to that relationship. Explore the plant-pollinator relationship from the bee point of view and learn why what we plant has consequences for these fascinating creatures.

VNPS programs are free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary.

Program will be held at:

Green Spring Gardens

4603 Green Spring Road

Alexandria, Virginia

703-642-5173

This Virginia Native Plant Society Program is free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary.

Nov-Dec Newsletter

posted Nov 22, 2011 12:13 PM by Marty Nielsen

| Attachments: PotowmackNewsNovDec11.pdf

Winter Solstice Walk

posted Nov 22, 2011 11:51 AM by Marty Nielsen

Sunday December 18, 2011

Chapman Forest, Charles County, MD

10:00am - 3:00pm

The old-age section of Chapman Forest is always a great place to celebrate the winter season and see a remarkable diversity of native trees and spectacular scenery. This year, we will mainly walk the highland areas above the deep ravines and bluffs along the Potomac River from the section near Glymont to historic Mount Aventine. This section of the park is a fascinating and regionally unique meeting ground for plants with a primary range in the inner piedmont and mountains and those of the coastal plain. Along the way we will see many species of oaks, including ancient pagoda, chinquapin, and northern red oaks, ancient beech, 3 hickory species, 2 hackberry species, the National Champion basswood, slippery elm, white ash, ancient sassafras, Virginia hop-hornbeam, bladdernut, and many others. We should also see a variety of birds such as red-headed woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, hermit thrush, wood duck, and bald eagle.

Bring: Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch or snacks and water. Most of the walk traverses rolling, fairly open forest along trails, though some steep grades will occasionally be encountered.

Directions: Take Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210) south from Capital Beltway (495). Proceed south on Rt. 210 for app. 15 miles. Continue on Rt. 210 past the Rt. 227 intersection at Bryans Road (McDonald's, Burger King, and shopping center on right and a builders supply will be on left) and start looking for Chapman Landing Road on right. Take half right on Chapman Landing Road and proceed a couple of miles to entrance to Mount Aventine on right. Park and meet in parking lot at entrance gate.

*Field trip cancelled for heavy-steady snow, sleet, or pouring rain, but not for snow flurries or drizzling rain.

Contact: Karyn Molines mnps@chesapeake.net

November Lecture

posted Oct 23, 2011 8:39 PM by Marty Nielsen

November monthly meeting –

Thurs., November 10 Promoting Native Bee Abundance and Diversity with Native Plants 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Speaker: Maria Van Dyke is the Program Coordinator for Virginia Working Landscapes and is also the Secretariat for Virginia Food System Council. She holds an MS in Ecology and Environment Sciences from UVA with work at Blandy Experimental Farm. Her talk will draw on native plant research she has participated in through Rutgers University, the NRCS Plant Research Center in Cape May and Xerces Society.

VNPS-POT CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING & A MEADOW WALK Sunday, October 9

posted Oct 7, 2011 9:18 PM by Marty Nielsen

NATIVE MEADOW RESTORATION IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION

VNPS-POT CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING &

A MEADOW WALK

Sunday, October 9

Green Spring Gardens

The public is welcome to attend this free program.

1:00 to 3:30 pm. Meet your fellow members; help elect officers; vote on the budget for 2012 and enjoy an exciting presentation by Jeff Wolinski who is a consulting ecologist in private practice, based in Lovettsville, VA.

Jeff works with several large landowners in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania to develop habitat management plans that address wildlife, aesthetic, and water quality concerns. Jeff will share his experiences in creating and enhancing native plant meadows in the mid-Atlantic. He will discuss his choice of plants and their relationship to the successful establishment of a meadow, as well as the necessary practical steps to create and sustain a successful meadow ecosystem.

Directions to Green Spring Gardens: From Interstate 395, exit at Route 236 West (Little River Turnpike); turn right at Braddock Road and go one block north to park entrance: 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria.

Following the meeting: Meadow walk at Wakefield Park, led by Jeff Wolinski. On the walk, Jeff will point out important meadow plants and discuss ecological restoration challenges facing a landowner – whether the meadow is a quarter of an acre back yard, a meadow on a utility line, or a multi-acre restoration project.

Directions to Wakefield Park will be provided at the meeting.

Questions may be directed to Diana Carter: dcarter1776@yahoo.com

Monthly Meeting Lecture: Oct 20th, 7:30pm

posted Sep 28, 2011 7:41 PM by Marty Nielsen

VNPS Monthly Meeting Lecture: Oct 20th, 7:30pm, Green Spring Gardens

Hear Dr. Joan Maloof's impassioned plea to preserve and support the few untouched stretches of forest that remain east of the Mississippi River. Professor Maloof will discuss her new book, "Among the Ancients: Adventures in the Eastern Old Growth Forests," including descriptions of how 26 majestic forests and their rich diversity of life persevere despite the challenges of modern development. She also will illustrate the vital link between these old-growth forests and humanity's survival. This program is co-sponsored with the Fairfax County Master Naturalists.

Upcoming Native Plant Sales

posted Sep 19, 2011 9:22 PM by Marty Nielsen

If you didn't get enough at the VNPS sale, check these out:

*LONG BRANCH NATURE CENTER FALL PLANT SALE Fall Saturday, 9/24/2011, 1:00 PM
- 3:00 PM*
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to help wildlife by growing
native, and support Long Branch Nature Center at the same time! The vast
majority of our plants are native, propagated right in our own gardens and
our prices can't be beat! We will feature sun-loving and
butterfly-attracting plants and also have a nice selection of wildflowers,
shade lovers, ferns, and even a few shrubs. Rain date is Sunday, September
25, same time. Fee per plant as marked. Payment can be made by cash or check
(sorry no credit cards). For information call 703-228-6535 Long Branch
Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd.

* *

*ParkFairfax Native Plant Sale, Saturday, September 24, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m.*

12 to 14 vendors from 4 or 5 states (VA, MD, PA, WV & SC) make this event
the largest native plant sale in the D.C. metro region! If you have enjoyed
this sale in the past, please come again--the number of vendors in future
sales will stay only as high as supported by local demand! Find native
perennials, shrubs, and trees for sun or shade! Several vendors specialize
in some aspect of native plants, such as native azaleas, fruiting shrubs, or
wetland plants. A few do not come here for any other plant sale. A list of
the vendors can be downloaded from the sale website at
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~sknudsen/
*3601 Valley Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302*

* * *EARTH SANGHA NATIVE PLANT SALE, SUNDAY OCTOBER 2, 10am to 2 pm*

"Earth Sangha will be holding a local-ecotype native plant sale of both
woody and herbaceous plants on Sunday, October 2nd from 10 am to 2 pm at its
Wild Plant Nursery in Springfield (for driving directions check:
http://www.earthsangha.org/dca/wpn.html). All of their nursery stocks
(about 40,000 plants and 150 species) are currently available, are of
local-ecotype, and are grown from the seed that they personally collect from
local forests and meadows.

This is a wonderful opportunity to both support an organization which
provides critical restoration of our natural lands, while also purchasing
plants that are normally available only for native restoration projects. The
Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) will be partnering with Earth
Sangha in organizing the sale. Information and details about helping with
the sale will be on the calendar on the ARMN website: http://armn.org/

VNPS Notecards

posted Sep 14, 2011 12:50 PM by Marty Nielsen

VNPS has been working with a local artist on notecards featuring Virginia native plants. Look for them on sale at our plant sales and meetings. Perfect for friends and family!

1-10 of 42