Green Events

Lichens 101

Saturday, Apr. 7, 10am - 12pm. Join lichenologist Manuela Dal Forno, a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow, as she reveals the inner workings of lichens. We'll start indoors with a short intro, then hike to ID local lichens. Bring hand lenses. For information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center. $10. #632948-E

Plant Selection, DIY Sustainable Yard Series, Part 4

Tuesday, April 10, 7 – 8:30 pm, Westover Branch Library, 1644 N. McKinley Rd., Arlington 22205.

There’s a perfect selection of plants that will thrive best in the conditions of your site.  Learn how to select appropriate plants for your site, what is meant by a native plant versus a cultivar, and some best practices for planting and maintenance. Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Home Energy Rebates

Arlington's Home Energy Rebates can help you cut your  energy bills! Get up to $575 to upgrade your air conditioner or heat pump with a more efficient model, or add insulation or seal air leaks so your heating system doesn't have to work as hard.

Download the application to get started. You can also receive a rebate to replace your furnace, boiler, or water heater. 

Only Rain Down the Drain!

Polluted stormwater runoff is the number one cause of water pollution in Northern Virginia. Please pick up the dog stuff, recycle used motor oil, and don’t over fertilize your lawn.

Visit Clean Water Partners at http://www.onlyrain.org/

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 posts talks about Champion Trees, Crows, and Invasive Species week.

April is Earth Month in Arlington!

Check out all the great events happening in Arlington in April for Earth Day.

Natural Discoveries: A Firsthand Account of Citizen Science

Thursday, April 12, 7:30-9, Green Spring Gardens

Jim Waggener is a naturalist whose military career offered opportunities to travel and observe wildlife, as well as environmental consequences of human actions around the globe. After retiring, Jim began a study of flora and fauna on several public properties with important natural resources. When development threatened wetlands and unique meadows of an Army laboratory in Woodbridge, he organized the public campaign that led to creation of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Similar work on Lorton Prison’s closure yielded conversion of a large private property on Mason Neck to the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area. His survey – now in its 29th year and drawing volunteers from across the region – continues to document presence (and decline, possible absence) of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and plants at these sites in addition to Lorton/Laurel Hill-Occoquan Regional Park and the Metz Memorial Wetlands Preserve.

Jim founded and was longtime chair of the Prince William Natural Resources Council, and served on the board and as president of Fairfax Audubon Society/Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, for which he began the Audubon at Home project as well as writing and editing ASNV’s books: The Nature of Change and Birds in Northern Virginia. Jim and Joan Waggener reside in Alexandria Virginia.  More information

ACE Potomac Watershed Cleanup

April 14, 10 am – 12.  One of the largest regional events of its kind, the Potomac Cleanup connects people to their local watershed. Help keep one of Arlington's favorite watershed areas trash free! Families, individuals, and groups are welcome.  The ACE Potomac Watershed Cleanup is part of the area wide efforts of the Alice Ferguson Foundation with over 9,000 participants and over 250 sites.

LINK: http://conta.cc/2C1giUT 

Earth Day Festival!

Monday, April 9, 10 am-12 pm

This is a new family-friendly community event featuring an "Ask the Master Gardener" table; topics covered include seed distribution, paper pot making, and transplanting of seedlings.  Please join us! Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington 22204.

Arlington Home Show and Garden Expo

Saturday, April 14, 10 am – 4 pm

This is a family-friendly community event featuring an "Ask the Master Gardener" table; topics covered include composting, soil fertility, and turf alternatives.  Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington 22204.

Aprilfest

Saturday, April 21, 9 am – 3 pm, Walker Chapel, 4102 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, 22207.   This is a family-friendly community event featuring an "Ask the Master Gardener" table with a focus on container gardening. Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Earth Day Cleanup by Bike

Date: Sunday, April 22, 2018.  Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon
Location: Bon Air Park Picnic Shelter, a short walk or ride from the parking lot at 850 N. Lexington Street, Arlington, VA 22205

Bike ride the “Arlington Loop” with ACE on Earth Day. Bring your energy, your bike and your backpack/panniers and join us! The theme of Earth Day 2018 is “end plastic pollution”–join ACE to remove litter from Arlington’s bike trails, helping to keep litter, especially harmful plastics, out of our natural places and streams.

Register online.

Small Space Gardening: Selecting Trees & Shrubs

Monday, April 23, 7-8:30 pm, Barrett Library, 717 Queen St., Alexandria 22314.

Even if space is tight in your yard, there are a variety of trees and shrubs native to our area that could work for you. We will discuss how to assess your site and soil conditions, how to select trees and shrubs to reshape your small yard into a more sustainable landscape, and how to install and maintain your new plantings.  Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Alexandria Earth Day

Saturday, April 28, 10 am-2 pm, This year's theme is Local Action, Global Impact. The event will include educational exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for all ages.  Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Prescription Drug Take Back Day

April 28, 10 AM - 2PM. The Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will help the public prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. This disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Please note: The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. Only pills or patches will be accepted.   More information.

The Arlington County Police Department will be collecting prescription drugs at the following sites:

Langston-Brown Community Center

2121 N. Culpeper Street
Arlington, VA 22207

Fire Station #9

1900 S. Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, VA 22204

Gunston Community Center

2700 S. Lang Street
Arlington, VA 22206

City Nature Challenge

April 27 - 30.  Join Arlington County naturalists in a fun, global challenge to see which city can document the most species during April 27 - 30. Join an event or make observations on your own using the iNaturalist app to post photos of plants or animals, and the community will help identify which species it is.  Learn more at parks.arlingtonva.us or on iNaturalist.org and search “City Nature Challenge, D.C.” Free.

Barcroft Park - 4200 S Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington Friday, April 27, 10 - 11:30am, RSVP to naturalresources@arlingtonva.us

Gulf Branch Nature Center Friday, April 27, 2 - 3:30pm #632858-L

More information.

Birding Arlington by Bike

Apr. 28, 8:30am - 12:45pm.  Join Arlington Regional Master Naturalists for a bicycle ride around Arlington during spring bird migration. We'll stop at 4 or 5 of Arlington's hotspots to see how many species of birds we can observe on this 22 - mile ride. Beginning birders are welcome. The bike ride may end around 12:45pm, but could vary. For information: armn.org/contact-us. Meet at the parking lot of Barcroft Community Center, 4200 S Four Mile Run Drive. (Rain date: Sunday, Apr. 29). No registration is required.

Local Native Plant Sales

Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale, April 28, 9 AM - 2

Long Branch Nature Center Plant Sale,  May 5, 2018 1:00-4:00pm. 

Earth Sangha Native Plant Sale, May 6, 10 AM - 2 PM

Magnolia Bog Tour

Friday, May 4, 10am - 1pm.    Explore a globally rare plant community – rediscovered fifteen years ago right here in Arlington. Botanist Rod Simmons and Arlington Natural Resources Manager Alonso Abugattas will lead the tour and share the challenges and successes in conserving and restoring this hidden gem. Terrain may be uneven and muddy. For information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Barcroft Community Center by the parking garage, 4200 S Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. $15. #632848-I

Solar + Electric Vehicle Charging Co-op Launches!

Interested in going solar or installing an electric vehicle charger for your home? The Arlington Solar and Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Co-op is now open for sign-ups. Purchasing solar panels or an EV charger with the co-op will save you money through the power of bulk purchasing, and you'll have the support of the group throughout the process. 

Get started with a no-obligation roof screening using the form on the website, and/or attend the first information session at the Navy League Building May 2 at 6:30 pm to learn more. 

Home Energy Rebate Deadline June 18

If you've been thinking of cutting your home's energy usage, now is the time to act! Through June 18, Arlington homeowners can receive up to $575 for:

• Heating or cooling system replacements,
• Water heater replacements,
• And insulation, air sealing, or duct sealing projects.

Visit the website or download the application for details. Projects must be completed with applications mailed or emailed by June 18 to be eligible.

Energy Lending Library

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.

Sustainable Landscape Services

If you are looking for a sustainable landscape designer or installer, consider hiring someone with the new Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification.   The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certification is a new, voluntary credential system for professionals who design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes.  The credential training and examination are based on a core set of standards in sustainable landscaping emphasizing stormwater best practices and conservation landscaping with native plants to benefit the environment.

Do you hire a company to take care of your lawn? Landscaping companies registered with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as Green & Clean Landscapers 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. Learn more about the program and see the full list of companies on the Green & Clean registry.

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, please visit audubonva.org to learn more.  If you have additional questions, please contact Alda Krinsman or Alyssa Ford Morel. Volunteer ambassadors will arrange a site visit and talk with you about ways to enhance habitat in your garden.

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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