ResOURces Newsletter-Oct 2012

By Fairfax County Park Authority - Monday, October 01, 2012


NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY

 October 2012   Volume 12,  Number 7

Halloween in the Parks

Park goblins and ghosts aren't ghoulish. They're friendly and fun.
 
Well, most of them. We have heard tales.....
 
Whether it's ghost stories, haunted wagon rides, eerie tours, a boneyard for paranormal pets, bats, owls, costumes or pumpkins, it's in a park this month.
 

 

Work is no Grind for this Miller

Mason Maddox has packed 200 years of knowledge into his 15 years as the miller at Colvin Run Mill.

 

If You Listen, You Will Hear

A little silence, a little quiet time in the woods can lead to wondrous moments.  Hidden Pond's Carmen Bishop uses a bird count to guide you to a number of things you can discover by being still.

 

Take Back the Forest: The Sequel

The Fairfax County Park Authority is partnering with REI for a second year of Take Back the Forest.  More than 700 people volunteered last spring when Take Back the Forest debuted on the strength of a $10,000 grant from REI.  Now, REI is awarding the Invasive Management Area (IMA) program a $15,000 grant that will be used for installing boot brush stations and for volunteer outreach.  Take Back the Forest kicks off its second year when REI employees join IMA volunteers to remove invasive species and plant native plants from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on October 19 at Lake Fairfax Park.

 

Residents to Vote on Park Bond

In Fairfax County, the fees that people pay for park programs cover about 60% of the costs of operation the parks. Most of the rest is covered by the taxes paid into the county's general fund.  Those two revenue sources pay for running the parks, but not for new facilities or renovations to old ones.  New facilities and renovations are funded mostly by general revenue bonds approved by voters.  There is a park bond on next month's general election ballot.  Information about that park bond is on the Park Authority's webiste at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/2012bond.htm.

 

Watershed Clean-Up Day is October 13

Be part of the International Coastal Clean-Up on Saturday, October 13, 2012. Several local parks are joining locations around the world for Watershed Clean-Up Day. Volunteer from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at any of these sites. Call ahead for details:

 

Trout Fishing at Lake Fairfax

The fall trout fishing season is under way at Lake Fairfax. See the video under Park Videos at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/. Get the details at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/troutfishing10.htm.

 

Fun in Your Own Back Yard

Get outside. Spend a little time in the outdoors every day. Need some ideas for what to do out there? Here are 365 of them, one for every day of the year. 

 

Something New To Watch at Frying Pan

Here's a chance to watch a pollinator garden develop. As a "thank you" for allowing the Fairfax chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists to use the Visitor Center auditorium for its annual meeting, the Fairfax Master Naturalists (FMN) are refurbishing and expanding the garden next to Frying Pan Farm Park's historic dairy building in the farm yard. FMN designated a garden that uses native host and nectar plants for butterflies and other pollinators. Over two weekends in September, most of the plants in the existing garden were removed and the soil was amended with aged compost. Planting took place the last week of September with donations from Earth Sangha and FMN members. The garden will be completed in the spring with the planting of the expansion area. That area is currently grass, and to prepare it for new plants, newspaper and hot compost from the park have been applied. The area is currently staked off because it is a work in progress, but in the spring plants will be thriving in both the existing and the expanded gardens. Next time you're at Frying Pan, stop by to see native pollinator plants you might want to add to your garden. -- Carmen Bishop, Frying Pan Farm Park

 

Honors For Friends

Friends groups are invaluable to parks, and we're always happy when somebody notices their efforts. On October 19, 2012, the Virginia Conservation Network, the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, will honor Kevin Holland and Scott Birdwell of the Friends of Hidden Oaks as Local Conservation Heroes for their leadership in the Community Wildlife Habitat program.

 

What is a Mastenbrook Grant? 

It's something good for you and the parks.  It's funding for your idea and your project.  Read more. 

 
 
Events in the Parks

 Park Calendar of Events

 Oct. 10: Kids Korner, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.
 Oct. 11: Pages Through Time, at Historic Huntley,, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 11: Kids Korner, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.
 Oct. 11: Pages Through Time, at Historic Huntley, 1:30 p.m.
 Oct. 13: Fall for Trees Festival, at Riverbend Park, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 13: Teas of Africa, at Green Spring Gardens, 10:30 a.m.
 Oct. 13: Safari Saturday, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 10:30 a.m.
 Oct. 13-14: Scarecrow Making Workshop, at Colvin Run Mill, 1 and 2 p.m.
 Oct. 14: The Big Sit, Birds on the Move, at Riverbend Park, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 Oct. 14: Wagon Ride, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.
 Oct. 15: Nature Quest, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 17: Homeschoolers at Huntley, at Historic Huntley, 1:30 p.m.
 Oct. 18: Kids Korner, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 18: Storytime in the Forest, at Huntley Meadows, 1:30 p.m.
 Oct. 18: Boo-stravaganza, at Frying Pan Farm Park, 6 p.m.
 Oct. 21: Grain Grinding Demonstration, at Colvin Run Mill, 12 noon-3 p.m.
 Oct. 21: Wild Side Wagon Ride, at Huntley Meadows, 2 p.m.
 Oct. 22: Nature Quest, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 22: Feeding Day, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 3 p.m.
 Oct. 22&29: Homeschoolers Days, at Sully Historic Site, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 23: Junior Robotics, at Frying Pan Farm Park, 3:30 p.m.
 Oct. 24: Homeschoolers at Huntley, at Historic Huntley, 1:30 p.m.
 Oct. 24: Digital Photography, at Frying Pan Farm Park, 6:30 p.m.
 Oct. 25: Storytime in the Forest, at Huntley Meadows, 1:30 p.m.
 Oct. 26: Haunted Pond, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 7 p.m.
 Oct. 28: Lizards, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 10 a.m.
 Oct. 28: Family Backyards: Toad Abodes, 1:30 p.m.
 Oct. 29: Nature Quest, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 10 a.m.
 Nov.  1: Pages through Time, at Historic Huntley, 10 a.m.
 Nov.  1: Pages through Time, at Historic Huntley, 1:30 p.m.
 Nov.  1: After School on the Farm, month-long program, at Frying Pan Farm Park 
 Nov.  3: Colonial Day, at Sully Historic Site, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 Nov. 3-4: Kiln Club Pottery Show and Sale, at Colvin Run Mill, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 Nov.  4: Blacksmith Demonstration, at Colvin Run Mill, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
 Nov.  4: Wild Side Wagon Ride, at Huntley Meadows, 2 p.m.
 Nov.  4: Wild Side Wagon Ride, at Huntley Meadows, 4 p.m.
 Nov.  5: Bird Study Merit Badge, at Huntley Meadows, 8 a.m.
 Nov.  5: Volunteer Service Camp, at Riverbend Park, 9 a.m.
 Nov.  5: Little Acorns, at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 11 a.m.
 Nov.  5: Art Merit Badge, at Huntley Meadows, 1 p.m.
 Nov.  5: Venturers, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 2 p.m.
 Nov.  6: Bird Study Merit Badge, at Huntley Meadows, 8 a.m.
 Nov.  7: Kids Korner, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.
 Nov.  7: Homeschoolers at Huntley, at Historic Huntley, 1:30 p.m.
 Nov.  7: Wildlife Wednesday, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 4:30 p.m.
 Nov.  8: Kids Korner, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.
 Nov. 10: Safari Saturday, at Hidden Pond Nature Center,, 10:30 a.m.
 Nov. 10: Harvest Creations, at Sully Historic Site, 1 p.m.
 Nov. 10: Founding Gardeners, at Green Spring Gardens, 1:30 p.m.
 Nov. 10: Harvest Creations, at Sully Historic Site, 3 p.m.
 Nov. 11: Wagon Ride, at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.
 Nov. 14: Homeschoolers at Huntley, at Historic Huntley, 1:30 p.m.
 Nov. 17: The Teas of India, at Colvin Run Mill, 3 p.m.
 Dec.  6: Brandywine Holidays, through Green Spring Gardens, 11 a.m.
  
 
 

Cuddle Up With One of These Web Pages:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

   This is a Fairfax County Park Authority Publication.         
If ADA accommodations and/or alternative formats are needed, please call (703) 324-8695.

If you signed up for E-News, you'll receive ResOURces when it contains information on the topics you requested.  If you'd like to receive ResOURces each month it is published, subscribe by signing up for E-News at http://parktakes.fairfaxcounty.gov/enews/sign_up.asp  and select the Natural Resource Management box.   ResOURces' email addresses are: ResOURces@fairfaxcounty.gov or david.ochs@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Fairfax County Park Authority | Fairfax, VA 22035 | 703-324-8695 | Fax 703-324-3996 | TTY 703-803-3354 | www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources


 

 

© FAIRFAX COUNTY PARK AUTHORITY
[ 12055 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 927, Fairfax, VA 22035 ]  [ 703-222-4664 ]
Comments to FCPA Webmaster

 

Contact Us: General (Office of Public Affairs) | Technical (Web Administrator) | Directed Inquiries (County Agencies)
Phone: 703-FAIRFAX (703-324-7329), TTY 711

Accessibility | Awards | Mobile | Using this Site | Web Disclaimer & Privacy Policy

Official site of the County of Fairfax, Virginia, © Copyright 2009