Green Events
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
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. 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/.
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.
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Tuesday,
Sept. 6, , 7 to 8:30 p.m., Barrett
Branch Library, 717 Queen St., Alexandria 22314.
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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.
Biophilic Cities: Incorporating Nature in Arlington's Urban Landscape
Thurs., Sept. 15, 2016, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. Registration/ Networking
with light refreshments. Free.
How do humans benefit from being close to nature? How can we foster connections with nature as Arlington County becomes more urbanized? How will these connections improve livability and quality of life? Join us to learn about the benefits of a Biophilic City and how Arlington can participate in this movement. Sponsored by Arlington County’s Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department of Environmental Services
Speakers:
- Timothy Beatley, Professor of Sustainable Communities, University of Virginia School of Architecture
- Stella Tarnay, Advisor, George Mason University, Sustainable Landscape Design Program and Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy
Navy League Building, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201.
Four Mile Run Stream Cleanup
Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment to clean up Four Mile Run! This event is being held in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup and Clean Virginia Waterways Day. Groups, families, students, and individuals are welcome to join us! Volunteers will remove trash and debris from Barcroft Park and along the stream and do a trash tally of items collected.
Thank you for volunteering! Please help spread the word and share information with others who might also be interested in volunteering. Sign up for the clean up.
Questions? Email volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org or call 703-228-6406.
Barcroft Park - 4200 S. Four Mile Run, Arlington, VA 22206 - View Map
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.
Sharing our Space with Wildlife
Sunday, September 18, 2016 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Please join us for a fun and entertaining look at the many other residents of Arlington that you may have overlooked! Alonso AbugaTas, Natural Resources Manager, Department of Parks and RecreaNon will present on resident wildlife in Arlington and steps you can take to support wildlife habitat. Jennifer Kirk Toussaint, Deputy Chief Animal Control Officer, Animal Welfare League of Arlington will present on what to do if you if you encounter an injured wild animal. This presentaNon is in conjuncNon with the David Howell photography exhibit highlighNng resident wildlife in Arlington. The exhibit will be on display during September in the Central Library atrium.
Arlington Central Library Auditorium
1015 N. Quincy Street
(Metro orange and silver line between VA Square and Ballston Metro staNons)
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
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
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