Prepare for Flooding
Flooding can be a very costly disaster. Flooding can occur not only in identified high-risk areas, but may also occur in areas that may not have been identified as high risk. More than 20 percent of flood claims are from low to moderate flood risk areas.
Get tips to reduce your risk of flooding here.
Flood Resilient Arlington News
In response to escalating inland flooding and flood risk, the County has been
working on several fronts to improve flood resilience. Read the latest March, 2022 update!
Central Library Garden Talks
Garden talks for May and June are listed below. Summer dates will be listed shortly. All talks are free and are sponsored by Friends of Urban Agriculture and Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Garden Talks are at the Plot Against Hunger Garden near the 10th Street entrance to the library (near the tennis courts).
Topics include Balcony gardening, Good bugs/Bad bugs, Vertical gardening, Irrigation, Vegetable gardening.
8th Annual Arlington Solar and Electric Vehicle Charger Co-op
- Let’s go solar together! Create your own energy and save some money doing it with the 8th Annual Arlington Solar and EV Charger bulk purchase cooperative.
- Sign up for a no-risk free assessment to see if you are a good candidate for solar roof panels or an electric vehicle charger.
- Register for virtual information sessions (July 12, or August 23 to learn more about solar, EV charging and the co-op process.
Visit our website for more information: bit.ly/3tAi0G7
Local Native Plant Sales
Dreaming of spring and new plants for your garden? Here are some upcoming native plant sales: Native Plant Sales
Tree Canopy Fund - Apply by June 24!
Deadline: midnight on Friday, June 24
Tree Type: review the available species list here. The goal of the Tree Canopy Fund is to plant large canopy trees wherever possible on private property. Do you have space on your property for a large canopy tree? If so, then please fill out the Fall 2022 Tree Planting Application Form.
Before You Apply: please review the Tree Canopy Fund Guidelines for Fall 2022 and the Background Material and Resources page for more information about this tree planting program and different tree species.
Firefly Festival
June 19, 7:30-9:30 PM. Come celebrate summer’s natural night lights as we learn about these bioluminescent beetles on Sun., June 19 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Activities include bug hunts, games, crafts, walks and talks about fireflies. Bring a picnic blanket and dinner as we wait for sunset and the natural lights to come out. This event is cancelled if raining. Meet at Fort C.F. Smith Park. Registration is required, and you can sign up here. This event costs $7.
The Urban Naturalist
June 21, 7-8 PM. Please join us for “The Urban Naturalist” a virtual presentation featuring Charisa Morris, National Science Advisor at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
We are continuing our Pollinators and Plants series with a presentation by Charisa Morris with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Charisa is a DMV native, and has worked for the USFWS for over 20 years. She has focused on endangered species management, migratory bird conservation, and working to empower others to conserve species and habitats. In addition to loving animals, she is an avid gardener and has worked in her own yard to create pollinator gardens that help native species. She’ll share some of her own experiences and tips in this talk!
Charisa was the scheduled featured speaker for EcoAction Arlington's Fourth Annual EcoExtravaganza, but unfortunately could not attend due to COVID19 complications. We are pleased to offer this rescheduled virtual presentation.
The suggested donation for this program is $15. The program is free for everyone who bought a ticket to the 5/19 EcoExtravaganza. More information
Gulf Branch Stream Resilience Project Meeting
Wednesday, June 22, 6:30-8 PM. Gulf Branch is a high priority for a stream repair and resiliency project because of habitat degradation, active erosion and infrastructure concerns. For more information about the project, including past meeting materials, please see: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Project-Types/Environment-Projects/Gulf-Branch-Stream-Project
- Hear project updates
- Learn how community input has shaped the current plans
- Provide comments and feedback
- Click here to join the community meeting on Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30 PM
For the meeting event, please see: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Sustainability-and-Environment/Events/Gulf-Branch-Project-Meeting
Summer Solstice Celebration
June 24, 6:30-8:30 PM. Join EcoAction Arlington for our Summer Solstice Celebration! Volunteers will participate in trash cleanup and work in the pollinator garden. Bluemont Park, N. Manchester and Wilson Blvd, Arlington
Partnering with Pollinators
Friday, June 24, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE. National Pollinator Week is the perfect occasion to discuss the small animals that perform such an important role in our home landscapes. Join Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills to learn about the characteristics of pollinators and the plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region that will attract them and fill their needs, whether your garden space is large or limited to a patio or balcony. Best gardening practices for pollinators and special considerations for designing containers of native plants will also be explained. Elaine is a co-coordinator at the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden and a creative force behind the resource Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic on mgnv.org. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes/ to receive link to participate.
Wildlife of Glencarlyn Park
Jun. 25, 1-2pm Join a naturalist for a walk along the creeks of Glencarlyn Park to learn about and possibly see, the many different species of wildlife living here. Ages 8-12. Free. Long Branch Nature Center. 642922-B
Save the Date: W&OD Trail Cleanup with Bike & WalkArlington
Saturday, July 9, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
W&OD Trail
Join Bike & WalkArlington as we clean up a portion of the W&OD Trail from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, July 9. We’ll start our work on the trail just across from the Barcroft Community Center and head toward Columbia Pike. All supplies, including free snacks and drinks for volunteers, will be provided. All you need to do is show up ready to work! To be notified when registration opens, click here to subscribe to the WalkArlington newsletter.
Climate Conscious Gardening
Friday, July 15, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE. As our changing climate brings more unpredictable weather patterns, gardeners play an increasingly important role in serving as stewards of the environment. Extension Master Gardeners Elaine Mills and Elizabeth Collaton will present five categories of practical actions homeowners can take in their own backyards to either mitigate or adapt to changes in our climate. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes/ to receive link to participate.
Biophilic Communities
July 20, 7-8 PM. Deep Dive: A natural history topic that scratches more than just the surface. Adults. As Arlington strives toward a more biophilic community, we will explore what a biophilic community is, how we can work towards biophilia, and see examples of success in other communities. 642842-D
Insect Pest Management for the Veggie Garden
Friday, July 22, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE. Join Kirsten Conrad, Agriculture/Natural Resources Extension Agent for Arlington and the City of Alexandria for a class on recognizing common injurious insects in your vegetable garden. Learn how to attract and encourage beneficial insects to assist you in fighting off these pests. Kirsten will cover tips and tricks for limiting and even preventing damage from insect pests on your vegetable crops. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes/ to receive a link to participate.
Marvelous Moths
Jul. 27, 7-8pm. Celebrate National Moth Week with a virtual introduction to the world of moths! Moths are a large and spectacularly diverse group with amazing life histories. Learn how to identify moths, where to find them, and why they are more important than you might think. Free. Virtual 642852-D
Composting with Kids! Is the Rot Thing to Do!
Sunday, July 31, 10:30 am, Fairlington Small Space Garden, 3308 S Stafford St., Arlington, 22206
Kids will learn composting basics by creating a Soil-arium. Captain Compost, the superhero of soil will be there to “cook” some fun for your garden.
Ages 5-10. Limited to 15 kids due to space constraints. First come/first served.
Rain Gardens for Homeowners
Rain gardens, also known as bioretention areas, are attractive landscape features that allow rain water and snow melt to infiltrate into the ground. A layer of mulch and plants intercept water running off streets, driveways, and rooftops, slowing its flow and removing pollutants before the water reaches local streams, the Occoquan River and the Potomac River, drinking water supplies for the region. Watch the webinar video!
My Tree Counts
Every tree planted makes a difference to the health of our communities and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and partners want to highlight tree planting projects from across the state. Submit your tree planting to show that your tree counts towards Virginia’s efforts to #ProtectOurBay! We’ll share these stories on the Community Tree Map and social media with #MyTreeCounts. MyTreeCounts
Forestry and Natural Resources Plan
The Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP) is an update to the 2004 Urban Forest Master Plan and the 2010 Natural Resources Management Plan. This plan will collectively address the conservation, planting, and management of trees and unique ecosystems in Arlington County.
The scope of this project includes an analysis of Arlington’s existing conditions and planning for a greater future. Research methods in the forms of benchmarking, focus groups and community engagement will help inform many components of this plan. This plan will cover topics regarding impacts and opportunities related to Arlington’s tree canopy, natural lands, urban development, wildlife, recreation, public education and stewardship among others. Sign up for updates on this process here!
Backyard Habitat Webinars
Join David Mizjewski from the National Wildlife Federation for webinars on Backyard Habitat and Saving Pollinators. David is one of the leaders of the Garden for Wildlife movement, writing a best-selling how-to book on the subject, hosting the Animal Planet series "Backyard Habitat" and doing thousands of media appearances promoting native plants and natural gardening to support birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
