Walk With a Naturalist on Government Island

Please join us on Saturday, March 16 at 9AM to learn about the birds, wildflowers, and trees of Government Island.  We will meet at 191 Coal Landing Rd, Stafford, VA. 22554

Walk With a Naturalist on Government Island

Please join us on Saturday, March 16 at 9AM to learn about the birds, wildflowers, and trees of Government Island.  We will meet at 191 Coal Landing Rd, Stafford, VA. 22554

Central Rappahannock Chapter Adopt-A-Highway

The next time you are driving along Lake Anna Parkway in Spotsylvania, don't forget to notice our new adopt-a-highway sign.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Central Rappahannock Chapter recently adopted this section of road.  We had our first road clean-up event on Saturday, February 2, 2013.  Ten volunteers braved the cold and traffic to help rid the county of trash and debris.  They made good progress, met other naturalists with similar interests, and had a very satisfying morning.

Central Rappahannock Chapter Adopt-A-Highway

The next time you are driving along Lake Anna Parkway in Spotsylvania, don't forget to notice our new adopt-a-highway sign.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Central Rappahannock Chapter recently adopted this section of road.  We had our first road clean-up event on Saturday, February 2, 2013.  Ten volunteers braved the cold and traffic to help rid the county of trash and debris.  They made good progress, met other naturalists with similar interests, and had a very satisfying morning.

Volunteers - Please update your hours!

All volunteers are requested to update their hours on the Virginia Master Naturalist Volunteer Management System site.  Please do this even if you do not have enough hours for certification (40 hours). 

The hours we volunteer are proof to the agencies that sponsor the Master Naturalist program that the money and time they give to the  program are well-spent. The Master Naturalist program could be discontinued if these agencies and the state legislature feel that they are not getting good value.

Please have your hours entered by December 31, so they can be included in the chapter's year end report.

Volunteers - Please update your hours!

All volunteers are requested to update their hours on the Virginia Master Naturalist Volunteer Management System site.  Please do this even if you do not have enough hours for certification (40 hours). 

The hours we volunteer are proof to the agencies that sponsor the Master Naturalist program that the money and time they give to the  program are well-spent. The Master Naturalist program could be discontinued if these agencies and the state legislature feel that they are not getting good value.

Please have your hours entered by December 31, so they can be included in the chapter's year end report.

Government Island

The nature walk at Government Island on September 17 was another success. The weather was beautiful and the park held more new wonders for the participants. Each time I enter the park, I see something new. Each season brings new stages in the plant cycle, and new visitors of the animal variety. This time we saw a beautiful great white egret out on the marsh. Not the first time I have seen one of those beauties there, but not an everyday sighting. Along the edge of the parking lot we saw turtlehead blooms. Along the path there was plenty of stilt grass (invasive) competing with lady's thumb for the honor of lining the asphalt path. Some consider lady's thumb to be invasive, also. But I would rather see lady's thumb over stilt grass any day. Speaking of invasive species, I will be contacting Stafford Parks to discuss the problem of the amount of invasive species at Government Island. It has been a "disturbed" are for hundreds of years. The invasives are overtaking the natives, without question.

 

The best find of the day was the strawberry bush at the end of the walkway, on the marsh side. A strawberry bush was displaying its red "strawberries", some of which had opened to show the orange berries on the inside. I had never observed this plant at this stage of its cycle. A brilliant display. Most of the strawberry plants at the island are small, pathetic things barely holding on.

There will not be a walk in October, but I hope to see you on Saturday, November 17 at 8 AM.

Maria Cannata, Master Naturalist