Browsing: Outdoors

By Linda Fausz Historic Garden Week takes place this Saturday, April 23 through Saturday, April 30. The Chester Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club of Virginia, will not be conducting any house tours this year, but will be participating with horticulture and design exhibits at the Chester Library beginning Wednesday, April 20 through Saturday, April 30. Several of the club members will have a design, showcasing their talents as a floral designer and/or a specimen from their garden for the horticulture exhibit. Member Margi Fox has been passionate about gardening for years and will be selecting a specimen…

Have stink bugs invaded your garden, backyard and house? Chesterfield produce did not birth these pesky little insects. About five years ago the brown marmorated stink bug migrated into Northern Virginia and began damaging the apple crop and other produce. Now the little vermin has migrated south causing problems right here in Chesterfield. New research is under way at Virginia Tech and a U.S. Department of Agriculture research center in Maryland to lure away the invasive pest by imitating the chemical pheromone it generates when eating. “Adult stink bugs spend the winter under stones or boards, under ground cover or…

The Pocahontas Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society is hosting several field trips in September. The outings are free and open to the public, but there is a limit on the number who can attend. Anyone with an interest in the native landscape is welcome, from novice to expert. On September 19 at 10 a.m. take a walk in R. Garland Dodd Park at Point of Rocks. This has become an annual excursion that allows for comparisons and documentation of the bloom times of different plants from year to year, but you don’t have to be an expert or…

After downpours in the region early early Saturday, more than 600 volunteers braved threatening skies and occasional showers to help cleanup trash in the James River. The James River Advisory Council (JRAC) sponsored the 6th Annual James River Regional Cleanup. The cleanup also serves as the kickoff for James River Week, the James River Advisory Council’s weeklong celebration of the river that will run through Sept. 19 with daily events and programs. “After all the rain, I am amazed at how many dedicated volunteers turned out…” said Kimberly Conley, executive director of the James River Advisory Council. For more information…

The Pocahontas Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists is accepting training applications now until October 30 for the 2016 Basic Training Class, which will be held January 5 to the end of April. The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Become Master Naturalists through 40 hours of basic training and field trips. The curriculum includes: basic ecology, geology, herpetology, botany, ornithology, dendrology, native species, entomology, mammalogy, ichthyology and more. Contact Lesha Berkel at [email protected], or at pocahontasvmn.org.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Saturday, September 26 will offer tours Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. The event offers exploration of the 1,329-acre island refuge and the native plants and animals it supports, All prospective participants must call or e-mail between by September 23 to secure a seat on the boat for a specific time. To reserve your seat, e-mail or leave a message 804-829-9020 including information: preferred reservation time, total number of people in your party and the best way to reach you.Website www.fws.gov/refuge/presquile

Youth 12 to 17 can learn kayaking and water-safety skills through a free program Aug. 19 on the James River. The James River Advisory Council is offering the program as part of its Diversity on the River series. Youth will learn from certified instructors with the Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation. Activities will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Henricus Historical Park in Chester. Participants should wear swim attire and shoes that may get wet. They also should bring towels and sunscreen. Registration is required and can be made by calling 717-6199. For more information, visit www.jrac-va.org.

Summer  boredom setting in? An important part of a healthy as well as entertaining lifestyle, could include learning more about the great outdoors. Recreational opportunities in state parks are endless and easy to see. An entrance fee of five dollars to Pocahontas State Park can entertain a family all day long with scheduled free activities every hour Wednesday through Sunday. On a recent visit to Pocahontas State Park Nature center, we had the opportunity to meet Griffin, the Corn Snake and learn why a carnivore is named after a vegetable. We also met Larry and Boxie, resident box turtles, and …

Local teens from Chesterfield and the surrounding area may sign up to be volunteers at Pocahontas State Park during Teen Volunteer Week, July 6 to 10. Young folks looking to get started or to continue in volunteering, desiring experience working outdoors in a Virginia State Park and looking to fulfill community service hour requirements for high school and college applications may want to apply for this program. The projects will take place at Pocahontas State Park daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from July 6 to 10. Projects may include: trail maintenance, clearing overgrown areas in the park and…

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