Green Events

Fall & Winter Vegetable Gardening: Extending Your Harvest

Saturday, August 13, 10:30 to noon.  Join us for a terrific session on fall gardening―what to plant when and simple tips for success. Think healthful greens like kale, collards, bok choy and a wealth of lettuces. Fall is a delightful time to garden, with cool autumn days and waning pest populations. Learn inexpensive techniques to extend your harvest and even how you can enjoy some of your crops in the dead of winter! We'll also cover end-of-season clean up, putting your garden to bed and tool care to give you a head start for next spring.  Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria 22304.

Cool Creek Critters

Saturday, Aug. 13, 10 - 11:30 am.  Dress to get wet as we spend some time exploring waterfalls, trying to catch water striders, and taking a closer look at some creek critters. What do they have to tell us? Do different streams in Arlington have different critters living in them? Be prepared to want to keep playing in the creek when the program ends! For information: 703- 228-3403. 

Donaldson Run Park, 4628 26th Street N.  Arlington, VA 22207.  #642826-C

Click here to register.

Cut your Energy Bill, Get Paid

Did your water heater just break? Has your air conditioner been running all month? Time to upgrade your attic insulation?

Arlington’s “Rethink Energy” team is now offering Home Energy Rebates to Arlington residents who cut their energy bills. You can apply for up to $575 in rebate money if you replace your water heater or heating/cooling system with an efficient model, or if you add insulation or air sealing to your home.

Download the application to get started!

Natural Arlington Blog 

Did you know there is a blog with all kinds of local nature and wildlife information?  Sign up for the Natural Arlington Blog. Topics include information on compost and mulch, the eastern gartersnake, and tree identification. The recent post talks about native plant gardening on slopes.

Wednesday Evening Urban Gardening Programs

Wednesdays, 7 PM

Central Library, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22201, United States (map)

This series, taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, is designed to teach gardening skills to a wide audience. 

Topics by date: 

Aug.10       Hydroponics & PVC Pipe Gardening
Aug. 17      Vegetables for Fall
Aug. 24      Preparing the Garden for Winter, Tool Care
Aug. 31      NO GARDEN TALK

Sept. 7, Putting Your Herb Garden to Bed for the Winter; 

Sept. 14, Eat Fresh in December: Cold Frames and Hot Beds; 

Sept. 21, topic to be announced; 

Sept. 28, Inside Arlington Kitchens: Multicultural Cooking Techniques.

No registration required. To confirm topic and room number, check the Arlington Library Events Calendar at http://library.arlingtonva.us or call the library at 703-228-5990.

Take the Summer Rethink Energy Challenge!

Reducing your energy use is easy, saves you money, and helps make Arlington a more sustainable community.  Arlington’s energy team challenges you to Rethink Energy over the next month by trying these simple actions - you could save $75 per year!

Become an Arlington Regional Master Naturalist!

You can make a difference in our community by becoming a Master Naturalist volunteer!  The Virginia Master Naturalist program prepares volunteers to provide education, citizen science, and outreach to conserve and manage natural resources and public lands. Master Naturalist volunteers gain certification through state-approved natural history courses with a local focus. Recognized experts in a wide range of disciplines such as ecology, botany, herpetology, ornithology, forest and aquatic ecosystems, and much more provide fun and interactive training. Volunteers must commit to at least 40 hours of service annually to become certified.

Arlington Regional Master Naturalists will be holding evening and weekend training this fall, beginning September 6 through December 6, 2016 on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington.  Four Saturday field trips will be scheduled at parks around the area. Applications are due Saturday, August 20, 2016.

For more information and to complete an application, visit the Arlington Regional Master Naturalist website at https://armn.org/basic-training/. 

Citizen Science:  Cricket Crawl Prep

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Adults ages 12 and up. Every summer we are serenaded by crickets and katydids. Learn to identify their different calls, how and why they sing, andmore. Then help us census Arlington's cricket and katydid populations as we monitor our parks and backyards for 8 different species. The survey itself, or Cricket Crawl,will take place the evening of August 26th,weather permitting. More information or call 703-228-3403.Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. Free. #642846-C

Bat Fest

Saturday, August 27, 6:30 - 9 pm. Enjoy a thoroughly batty evening and add to your knowledge of local night life! Live bat shows are presented by Leslie Sturges, Director of The Save Lucy Campaign, established to protect and conserve bats in this region. Registration for one of our live bat talks is required. All other activities are on-going from 6:30 thru 9 pm: habitatwalks, games, crafts and much more! For information: 703-228-3403.Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. $8.

Adults, teens, and families. Register children and adults; children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

6:30 - 7 pm, 30 minutes, for families with younger children. #642856-I

7:10 - 7:40 pm, 30 minutes, for families with younger children #642856-J

7:50 - 8:35 pm, 45 minutes, for adults and families with older children. #642856-K

8:45 - 9:30 pm, 45 minutes, for adults and families with older children. #642856-L

Fall Lawn Care

Thursday, Sept.1, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington 22206. Fall is the ideal time to restore cool-season grass, the most common turfgrass grown on lawns in the Northern Virginia area. This program will describe how to improve lawns and the underlying soil and outline steps for ensuring a beautiful weed-free lawn. Alternatives to turf will also be explored. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Putting your Herb Garden to Bed

Find out which herbs you should prune, pull, protect and bring inside. And yes, you can plant now! Learn tips and techniques to use and preserve all the herbs you’ve just pruned. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

• Tuesday, Sept. 6, , 7 to 8:30 p.m., Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St., Alexandria 22314. 
• Thursday, Sept. 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria 22304. 

Organic Vegetable Garden Taste and Tour

Sunday, Sept. 11,  1 to 4 p.m., Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington 22207. Hosted by VCE Master Gardeners. Enjoy samples from the garden and talk with Master Gardeners about growing vegetables in Northern Virginia―with a special emphasis on planting fall crops and over-wintering vegetables. (Park in the lot and walk past the Nature Center to the garden.) 

Composting Program (in conjunction with the Organic Vegetable Garden Taste and Tour) 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington 22207. Arlington County Horticulture Extension Agent Kirsten Buhls will describe what to put in a compost pile, how to maintain it so the materials break down properly, and how to use compost to enrich and improve garden soil. No need to register.

AutumnFest Celebration at Glencarlyn Library 

Sunday, September 18―Community Garden, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 300 S. Kensington St., Arlington 22204. Free tastes of herbal treats and drinks, a naturalist with critters, balloon artist. Free Master Gardener-led mini-workshops. Hundreds of locally grown sun- and shade-loving perennials, ferns, shrubs, and trees for sale, just in time for fall planting. Rain or shine. Sponsored by VCE Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (Alexandria/Arlington). For information call Alyssa Ford Morel at 703-907-9318 or Judy Funderburk at 703-671-5310.

Tree Selection for Urban Street and Small Yard Plantings

Monday, September 19, , 7 to 8:30 p.m., Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria 22305. Sponsored by the Alexandria Beautification Commission, this program will provide participants with criteria and resources for making decisions about “Right Tree, Right Place.”  Register to attend by contacting the VCE Horticulture Help Desk at 703 228 6414 or mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Screening of the film, Hometown Habitat 

Sunday, Sept. 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington 22201. VCE Master Gardeners of Arlington/Alexandria join with Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment to present this 90-minute environmental education documentary focused on showing how and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems. Entomologist Doug Tallamy, an authority on the misuse of non-native plants in landscaping, provides the narrative thread throughout the film. Seating is limited, so advance registration is requested. Sign up at http://bit.ly/2av1P2g.

Soil Evaluation & Composting

Thursday, Sept. 29, , 7 to 8:30 p.m, Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria 22304. Learn the basics of evaluating your soil and how to turn yard clippings and kitchen waste into black gold that will nourish your plants. As leaves are about to fall, instead of bagging them, learn to use them to create a natural and earth friendly soil amendment for your home and garden. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com

Plug into the first Energy Lending Library in the country!

The collection includes thermal imaging cameras, energy meters and books that will help residents identify areas of energy waste in their homes and provide real solutions.

thermal camera image.

The Energy Lending Library was created by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) in partnership with Arlington Public Library.

The efficiency tools are available to anyone with an Arlington Public Library card and can be checked out like any book or movie.

Choose a Green & Clean Landscaping Company  

Do you hire a company to take care of your lawn and property? Landscaping companies registered with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as "Green & Clean" agree to follow landscaping practices that will reduce the amount of fertilizer runoff into our streams and rivers. Such practices include testing the soil for nutrient content before applying any fertilizer, adhering to caps on the amount of nitrogen applied to grass throughout the year, sweeping up any fertilizer that lands on hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways, and recycling grass clippings back into the soil. To learn more about the program and see the full list of companies on the Green & Clean registry, please visit http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/wqagree 

If you contract with a landscaping company that uses your County-provided collection services to dispose of yard waste, you are responsible for coordinating with your contractor to ensure that any yard waste is placed in your County-provided yard waste cart, paper bags, bundles or household containers and set out for collection after 5 p.m. on the day prior to your service day. Your contractor may not set out yard waste in plastic bags for collection. Plastic isn't compostable and won't be collected. Only biodegradable paper yard waste bags will be collected.

Turn Your Yard into a Wildlife Sanctuary!

Would you like to turn your garden into a welcoming space for birds, butterflies and other native wildlife and help enhance the value of our urban green spaces?  Get free advice on how to make your yard more wildlife friendly!  The Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary certification program assists homeowners in restoring their home’s natural habitat by providing information on sustainable gardening practices. These practices include using native plants, removing invasive species, reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers, and creating space for native flora and fauna.
  
Audubon at Home ambassadors will visit and consult with you on suitable native plants, landscaping, water retention, or other best practices. To learn more about the program in Arlington or Alexandria, you can contact Elizabeth Gearin, egearin@egearin.com, 703 980-2258. Volunteer ambassadors will arrange a site visit and talk with you about ways to enhance habitat in your garden.
 
For further information about the Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary program, you can visit the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia’s website at http://www.audubonva.org/index.php/audubon-at-home-audubon-at-home

Invasive Plant Removal Events

Help protect our watersheds and keep Arlington County parks beautiful. There are several monthly invasive plant removal events sponsored by Arlington County Invasive Plant Program. For more information and to register, email Sarah Archer or call 703-228-1862. See a map of these locations.

• First Saturdays @ Haley Park, 9 am – 11 am
• Second Saturdays @ Gulf Branch Nature Center, 2 pm – 4:00 pm
• Third Saturdays @ Tuckahoe Park, 10 am – 12 pm
• Third Sundays @ Long Branch, 2 pm – 5 pm
• Fourth Saturdays @ Benjamin Banneker Park, 10 am – 12 pm
• Fourth Sundays @ Ft. Bennett Park, 10 am – 12 pm

Take the Guess Work Out of Choosing Native Plants for Your Yard!  

Maybe you know a little about native plants and how they are important for the ecological functioning of our landscapes, including assisting our sagging populations of butterflies and other pollinators. Maybe you know nothing about natives and just want some new ideas for beautifying your landscaping. Whatever your goal and whatever your knowledge level, the Plant Nova Natives website includes terrific, picture-filled, and easy to follow information that will help you choose native species that are suited to your property and available at local nurseries. On the website, you will find a colorful guide to local native species, a list of local businesses that supply natives, and links to organizations that will come to your property and offer customized landscaping recommendations.

Tree Care Resources

Concerned about your trees? The pruning of medium to large trees is best left to qualified arborists both in terms of evaluating the need, and applying the treatment. While well executed pruning can reduce the risk of storm damage, poorly executed pruning can increase the risk. And always deter tree topping as a risk reduction treatment.

For a list of certified arborists in this area: http://www.goodtreecare.com and look for the Find an Arborist tab.
 
Selecting and Working with an Arborist:  http://www.extension.org/pages/66492/selecting-and-working-with-an-arborist

Tips for Checking and Caring for Storm Damaged Trees:  http://www.extension.org/pages/66211/tips-for-checking-and-caring-for-storm-damaged-trees
 
Storm Damage and Tree Pruning http://urbanforestry.frec.vt.edu/stormdamage/resources/pruningbroch.pdf
 
VA Dept. of forestry has some tips also at http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/damaged/storm-trees-prepare.htm